2012 Securing Our Arctic Future

Goals:

• Engage and connect Arctic Youth to take ownership of their role in securing the future of their region
• Generate innovative recommendations and actions for a sustainable North, for consideration by all levels of government.
• Advance regional efforts and programs to train the next generation of Arctic leaders
• Position Canada at the forefront of shaping emerging northern leaders, at the beginning of its chairmanship of the Arctic Council

Rationale:

Canada’s north the majority of the population is under the age of 30. Never has it been a more critical time to inspire, engage, and train such a large generation of young people to meet the environmental, social and economic issues facing the Arctic Regions. First, the Arctic is increasingly affected by climate change resulting in negative consequences for northern communities. Second, the increasing probability that the Northwest Passage will be ice free in the summers has resulted in a global debate over the future of Arctic security and development.  Third, the geo-political fabric of the north is also shifting, as countries begin to lay claim to exclusive economic zones in northern waters, as indigenous groups secure increase self government, and as the interest in the Arctic increases by not Arctic states. These are unprecedented challenges that this generation will inherit. We believe in order to secure the future of the Arctic, we need to empower and train these young people to be vehicles for change. 

2012 is a key date in Canadian northern affairs. First, it is lead up to Canada assuming the chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2013; second, it is Canada’s International Polar Year (IPY) wrap up; and finally; 2012 is the target date for GHG emissions reductions under the Kyoto Protocol. There is no better time than now to encourage northern youth awareness, understanding and engagement in the decision-making processes which directly affect their lives. Such a gathering is of critical importance considering that youth are the leaders of tomorrow and there is an immediate need to help them develop the skills required to be strong leaders and have their voices heard today.

Objectives:

• Develop a new understanding of and capacity for leadership among Arctic youth, by delivering a hands on program of vision setting, consultation and consensus building, gathering input from experts, and drafting recommendations for moving forward.
  • Help participants shape a shared vision of sustainability for their region: “The Future We Want”;
  • Train youth on how an intergovernmental process works by creating a model Arctic Council exercise
• Support the engagement of youth across the region through advance web dialogues and web casting of the Summit
• Strengthen the influence of northern youth:  provide the opportunity for youth to present their concerns and solutions to key politicians and decision makers, both in person and in resulting conference reports, media coverage, and web-based communications
• Sustain youth engagement and peer to peer support for taking on leadership roles through appropriate follow up mechanisms
• Provide guidance for the Canadian Government chairmanship of the Arctic Council on the role and views of Arctic youth in regional agenda setting and decision making.