UWC Dilijan and UNDP Armenia co-host Armenian Local Conference of  Youth Ahead of COP 29 

ArmInfo. UWC Dilijan and UNDP Armenia Co-Host Armenian Local Conference of Youth Ahead of COP  29 Dilijan, Armenia - October 29, 2024 On October 27, UWC Dilijan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Armenia co-hosted the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Armenia ahead of COP 29 on the  theme "Climate Justice: What It Means in the World and in Armenia".

It is the second year in a row that UWC Dilijan qualified to hold  this conference. Initiated by a group of UWCD students committed to  contributing to solving urgent environmental and sustainability  issues, LCOY Armenia was attended by approximately 140 participants  aged 14-18 from over 20 schools. They represented Yerevan, Gyumri,  Vanadzor, Ijevan, Dilijan and other places. Among the special guests  were representatives of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic  of Armenia.

LCOY serves as a platform for youth to engage in a meaningful  dialogue on climate justice, empowering them to take action and  advocate for a sustainable future in Armenia and beyond in the  context of how climate action affects those who are especially  vulnerable to climate change implications. The conference opened with  remarks from Adam Armanski, Head of UWC Dilijan and Natia  Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, who  emphasized the critical importance of engagement of youth in climate  action globally and locally in Armenia.

"You are not just the leaders of tomorrow - you are the leaders of  today. Your voices, your choices, and your activism have the power to  shape a sustainable future. It is your innovation, energy, and  creativity that will drive change. UNDP is actively working both  globally and locally here in Armenia to promote sustainable  solutions," Natia Natsvlishvili said in her remarks to the youth.

A special video message from Mary Robinson, Chair of the Elders,  former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of  Ireland, was followed by the keynote address delivered by Kiri Atri,  External Relations Officer at UNHCR in Armenia. Kiri Atri focused on  how climate change affects refugees and displaced populations, as  well as migration forced by climate.

The participants then took part in a panel discussion and breakout  sessions with and led by prominent Armenian experts on climate and  environment, including Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP Climate Change Senior  Adviser; Vigen Shirvanyan, Disaster Risk Reduction / Climate Change  Officer at UNICEF Armenia; Vardan Melikyan, former deputy minister of  environment and environmental advisory partner; Lusine Manucharyan,  Senior Adviser on Sustainability and Climate Change at Zangezour  Copper and Molybdenum Combine.

The sessions explored various dimensions of climate justice, how it  affects children and youth, focusing on Armenia's achievements and  specific vulnerabilities, the role of international cooperation in  addressing climate change and the importance of youth activism in  creating more equitable conditions.

The conference featured a site visit to energy efficient retrofitted  buildings in Dilijan by the State subvention programme, the community  with co-financing of UNDP- Green Climate Fund Project. UNDP's Diana  Harutyunyan and Andre Ohanian who led the visit demonstrated this  tangible example of how to mitigate the impacts of climate change  through more sustainable solutions.

There were also hands-on workshops, most of them led by youth, that  allowed young people to share their experiences in contributing to  sustainable practices in everyday life - from methods for recycling  paper to making soap from leftover oils to taking advantage of plants  in the wild.   

LCOY Armenia was concluded with a statement ratified by the  participants for presenting to YOUNGO, the UN platform which  spearheaded local conferences of youth around the world to engage  youth as activists for climate change issues.

About LCOY

LCOYs take place in over 120 countries LCOY is an initiative of  YOUNGO, the Official Youth Constituency of the United Nations  Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its aims are to be a  space to boost youth climate action locally and create an input into  the international conferences. It represents a national version of  the international Conference of Youth (COY), which takes place before  the Conference of Parties (COP), the annual UN-Climate Change  Conference.

About UWC Dilijan UWC Dilijan is the first international boarding  school of the UWC education model in the region. The school opened in  2014 in the Armenian town of Dilijan and currently has 220 students  from over 80 countries and 80 staff members from 15 countries. UWC  Dilijan is part of the UWC movement, which comprises 18 international  schools and colleges as well as national committees in almost 160  countries.

UWC Dilijan was initiated and masterminded by impact investors and  entrepreneurs Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend with the support  of other Founding Patrons. Its admissions policy is in accordance  with the UWC movement. Students are accepted through a selection  process and enrolled regardless of socio- economic background, on the  basis of demonstrated need. Over 90% of students receive full or  partial scholarships. 

The UWC Dilijan academic programme - The International Baccalaureate  (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) - is an assessed two-year programme for  students aged 16 to 18. UWC Dilijan has around 1,000 alumni in 120  countries.