What did Student Energy do at COP27?
Thousands of young people, scientists, experts, frontline and Indigenous activists gathered at this year’s COP 27 to confront the challenges of the climate crisis and work to draw the line toward a just and equitable transition together. During those two weeks, Student Energy shared youth perspectives toward climate action and pushed for a shift in the global agenda towards a better climate future.
Student Energy worked with key partners, including Sustainable Energy for All, the Government of Canada, and NYU Abu Dhabi, to make sure that youth can participate in person at COP 27 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Student Energy had a delegation of 16 young leaders who worked on side events, brought key messages to world leaders, and participated in programming throughout the conference. Countries represented include Canada, India, Jordan, Brazil, Paraguay, Nigeria, Trinidad, Uganda, Spain, UAE, Poland, and the UK.
SE team were speakers, hosts, and facilitators in various events during COP 27. The team included:
Meredith Adler – Executive Director
Helen Watts – Senior Director of Partnerships
Shakti Ramkumar – Director of Communications & Policy
Abdullah Khair – Partnerships Manager
Grace Young – Alumni & Community Manager
Eduarda Zhogbi – Student Energy Senior Advisor
Vaughn-Xavier Jameer – Chapters Associate
Oluwadabira Abiola-Awe – Partnerships Associate
Danielle Kehler – SevenGen Manager
Launch of the Energy Transition Skills Report Initial Findings
Student Energy, in partnership with Ørsted, launched initial findings from the Energy Transition Skills Report at COP 27. The report contains survey results and recommendations from around 5,000 young people globally on how to create accessible and inclusive entry points for youth to enter and stay in careers that accelerate the global energy transition. The findings were delivered by Shakti Ramkumar, Student Energy’s Director of Communications & Policy, at the Danish Pavilion last November 16th.
The Energy Transition Skills Project was launched this year to identify the needs of ready young people for energy transition jobs.
Launch of the Youth Impact Framework Initial Findings
With the recent developments of the Youth Impact Framework in place, Student Energy, with the Global Covenant of Mayors, shared the initial findings at COP 27. The findings were discussed by Shakti Ramkumar at the UNFCCC Innovation Zone last November 10th.
The Youth Impact Framework is a set of impact measurement tools and indicators to help youth climate advocates, project leaders, and founders measure and communicate the impact of their initiatives to incorporate youth-inclusive project design principles, by recognizing the impact of youth contributions to SDG 7 and across the Sustainable Development Goals.
International Student Energy Summit (SES) 2023 Abu Dhabi: Uniting the Energy Transition Announcement
More than 1,000 young people have already pre-registered for the International Student Energy Summit 2023 (SES 2023) during its first week since the launch. The Student Energy Summit team, led by Grace Young, announced the International Student Energy Summit 2023 at the UAE Pavilion last November 15th.
SES 2023 will be a transformative space for intergenerational collaboration in the energy sector. For the first time, the summit will come to the United Arab Emirates from November 9 – November 12, 2023, and will be hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). With the theme Reimagining the Future, 600+ young people, industry experts, and world leaders from over 100 different countries will gather in Abu Dhabi, making it the world’s largest youth-led energy conference hosted in the Middle East. In collaboration with local and global partners, SES 2023 will empower a new generation of energy sector leaders and highlight the success story and the vision of the UAE’s energy transition.
We were speakers, hosts, and facilitators at these COP 27 events:
November 8
How can clean energy mitigate climate change, accelerate development, and support food security?
Shakti speaking
Danish Pavilion, hosted by Danish Chamber of Commerce
November 9
Compact presentation at the SDG 7 Pavilion
Dabira speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion
Youth Financing Done Right: How to best structure youth-financing program in developing countries
Dabira speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion
Youth Leadership for the Energy Transition
Grace Young facilitating, Joyce facilitating
IRENA Pavilion, hosted by IRENA
Just sustainability, Circular Economy and Social Justice: employment and social policies to support a just green transition across the globe
Shakti speaking
EU Pavilion (Blue Zone – Area B – Hall 4), hosted by EC DG EMPL
November 10
Launch of the Energy Transition Commission
Eduarda moderating, Helen speaking, Arsenii speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL
Youth in the Energy Transition – Panel Discussion
Abdullah speaking
Atoms4Climate Pavilion, hosted by International Atomic Energy Agency
Teaching for the Transition
Grace speaking, Mira moderating
IRENA Pavilion, hosted by IRENA
Youth Energy Compact Showcase
Dabira speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL
Empowering Youth in Climate and Sustainable Energy
Abdullah speaking
Green Zone, hosted by Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Energy for Change Panel Event with Fortescue Future Industries
Benji and Natalia speaking
Mineroo Pavilion, hosted by Mineroo and Fortescue Industries
Investing in Youth for a Just Energy Transition
Grace moderating, Eduarda speaking, Vaughn speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy and Carbon Trust
Fireside Chat with Simon, CEO of GEAPP and Dabira
Dabira speaking, Meredith supporting
GEAPP Office, hosted by GEAPP and Student Energy
Launch of the Youth Impact Framework with the Global Covenant of Mayors
Shakti speaking
UNFCCC Innovation Zone, hosted by Student Energy and GCoM
November 11
Just Transition Session
Kajol speaking
UNDP COP27 Hour
Dabira speaking
UN Broadcast Center, hosted by UNDP
Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy Event
Meredith moderating
Wind and Solar Pavilion Zone D, hosted by Enel Foundation
Panel Discussion – Energy Transition, Green Jobs and Skills
Dabira speaking
WMB Pavilion, hosted by National Grid
Net Zero Urban Program: Calling for solutions and a coalition of the willing
Helen speaking
Global Goals Room – Innovation Zone, hosted by KMPG
November 12
There is No Food Security Without Clean Cooking
Shakti speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by Clean Cooking Alliance
Achieving NDC Targets through Clean Cooking Action
UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, hosted by Clean Cooking Alliance
Capacity Building: Energy Literacy to Power a Greener Future The Commonwealth Secretariat
Helen speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat
November 14
Where is the Money for a Gender Just Transition
Dabira speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by UNIDO
The role of partnerships across generations and countries in the just transition
Helen speaking
Nordic Pavilion, hosted by Danish Youth Delegates and the Danish Youth Climate Council
The Renewable Energy Sector as a Catalyst for Gender Equity
Eduarda speaking
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by GEAPP
Achieving Energy Security, Independence, and Sustainability with Renewables focused Local Action
Vaughn speaking
Multilevel Action Pavilion at COP 27, hosted by Scottish Gov, Cities & Regions in UNFCC process
Meeting between youth representatives and Mary Warlick, IEA Deputy Executive Director
Dabira and Eduarda
SEforALL Networking Reception: Women and Youth at the Forefront
SE attending
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL
November 15
Game Changers Accelerating the Global Energy Transition
Eduarda speaking
Climate Action Rooms, hosted by IRENA, Marrakesh Partnership
Unlocking Potential: Working with Young People for a Just Transition
SE as Lead Organizer
We Mean Business Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy and We Mean Business
Africa’s Just Energy Transition: Scaling Up Renewable Energy Minigrids for People and Planet
Dabira speaking
UNDP Pavilion, hosted by UNDP, the GEF, the Rocky Mountains Institute, and the African Development Bank
Green Jobs in the Energy Transition
Vaughn speaking
We Mean Business Pavilion, hosted by the National Grid/WMB
Student Energy Summit 2023 Abu Dhabi: Uniting the Energy Transition
Grace speaking, Benji speaking
UEA Pavilion, hosted by SES 2023 Team
COP27 Energy Day Implementation Lab “A cleaner power sector by 2030: Scaling renewable and storage-based systems.”
Eduarda speaking
Lotus Room (Action Room 2), hosted by GWEC, IRENA, Renew Power, WBCSD
Indigenous & Youth Leadership in Canada’s Road to Net-zero
SE as Lead Organizer
Canada Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy & SevenGen
November 16
Orsted Energy Transition Skills Launch
SE as Lead Organizer
Danish Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL and Orsted
Meeting with Fiona Bezos Earth Fund
Shakti and Dabira
Canada Pavilion
Meeting with Nicolo at Enel
Shakti and Helen
Global Covenant of Mayors Interview
Helen
November 17
Meeting with Global Affairs Canada
Dabira, Helen, Akil, Irena pitching
SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy and SEforALL
Youthtopia Instagram Takeover
Shakti hosting on Instagram
Hosted by Youthtopia/Melati Wijsen