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