Youth Perspectives on Climate, Peace and Security

Ulster University (INCORE & TJI), The John and Pat Hume Foundation, John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace, InternationalFund for Ireland (IFI), and Interpeace are proud to present the fifth seminar of the Youth, Peace and Security Leadership Seminar Series. This event took place on Tuesday 25 October 2022 (3.45pm – 5pmGMT+1), the seminar, named Youth Perspectives on Climate, Peace and Security explored environmental peacebuilding and how climate action promotes peace and conflict resolution.

Reflecting on the seminar series that commenced in March 2021, Professor Brandon Hamber, the John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair inPeace, said:

“It is fantastic to see the Youth, Peace and Security Leadership Seminar Series reach its fifth seminar. The series was created to promote the positive contribution of youth to maintaining and promoting peace. Over the previous seminars we have covered a wide range of topics such as youth practice and women in peacebuilding. With the upcoming COP 28 taking place in November, this is a crucial time to focus on the topic of Climate Change and its relationship with Peace and Security.”

The speakers who took part in the seminar are:

Anupah Makoond – a data and programme analyst at the UN Peacebuilding Fund. She is the author of ‘Beneath the Wakashio Oil Spill: Exploring the linkages between youth marginalization, environmental disaster, and resilience for peace in a small island state’

Nisreen Elsaim – the Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. She is a junior negotiator with the African group of negotiators and is also the general coordinator for Youth and Environment – Sudan (YES) platform.

Rosalind Skillen – a climate activist currently studying her master’s in environmental policy at University College Dublin. Alongside her post-graduate studies, Rosalind works for the environmental charity, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, partnering with community groups to develop climate mitigation and adaptation plans and is also a columnist at the Belfast Telegraph.

Chaired by Danica Damplo – the Youth, Peace and Security Program Manager at Interpeace.

Rosalind Skillen, one of the three speakers taking part in the seminar, has had experience representing the views of young people at global climate change conferences that includes COP26. Ahead of the seminar she said:

“I am looking forward to discussing environmental peacebuilding at the seminar, and demonstrating how climate action promotes peace and conflict resolution across Ireland. The seminar series is agreat opportunity to educate individuals on important global topics, and how they impact us locally.  I hope that everyone takes home some learnings.”

When asked to sum up the seminar, the Interpeace Youth, Peace and Security ProgramManager and chair of the seminar Danica Damplo said:

“I am delighted to be chairing the fifth seminar of the Youth, Peace and Security Leadership Seminar Series that will explore the intersecting topics of climate, security, peacebuilding, and youth leadership. This seminar will feature insights from three brilliant women speakers who bring a level of expertise and experience that will enrich an increasingly urgent discussion. I look forward to learning from our speakers and the engagement from our audience.”

Youth Perspectives on Climate, Peace and Security took place on Tuesday 25 October 2022 at 3.45pm – 5pm (GMT+1).