United on Climate Diplomacy Day

This month, ten young citizens from Germany, France and Morocco were selected to discuss their views on the future of sustainability and wildlife conservation during a debate with diplomatic figures and experts from the German government, media, NGOs and youth organizations.

The event was held under the motto ‘Climate Diplomacy of the Future’ and its goal was to heighten youth perception and opinion of the current and urgent matter of climate sustainability.

The topic of climate diplomacy has received greater attention since the first-ever universal and legally binding global climate deal was reached by 197 states at the end of the UN Climate Change Conference in 2015. Climate diplomacy deals with measures taken in order to ensure a responsible and sustainable future based on the UN sustainable development goals.

Cultural diplomacy continues to play a very important role in the achievement of these goals, as the different cultural views and perspectives on the matter of sustainability must be taken into account and embraced in order to protect the climate, natural resources and biodiversity, which all form part of our common heritage.

This link between culture and climate is exemplified by flora and fauna often being used as national symbols of pride on flags and coats of arms all over the world and often form part of countries’ national identity and culture; such as Mount Ararat for Armenians, Mount Fuji for the Japanese, the kangaroo for Australians and the rooster for the French.