LOGIN REGISTERGLOBAL

ENGLISH | SPANISH

 

 

AIESEC Mexico's International Press Room

Climate Change - Who Cares?

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (December 2, 2009)

The Topic of the Century through the eyes of tomorrow's leaders from over 120 countries.

  

Climate change is the greatest threat of all, and the problem is man-made. That is the opinion of “tomorrow’s leaders”, more than 3,000 university students and young professionals in 122 countries. However, while almost all of them are very concerned about climate change, not so many feel engaged in climate change issues. 

Next week today’s leaders will meet in Copenhagen to determine how to deal with future climate change challenges. Ultimately their success depends on the leaders of tomorrow. Young people’s views on climate change are key to understanding and shaping the future.Kairos Future, the international futures research and strategy development firm, and AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run organisation, surveyed global youth in November 2009 to find out what tomorrow’s leaders really think. 
 
Everyone should get more involved 

Young people are the leaders of today who will deliver on the promise of tomorrow. Let’s Act NOW!, commented Aman Jain, Former President of AIESEC

Three out of four respondents feel that people and organisations who should do something about climate change are not doing enough. Nine out of ten respondents think that companies should take greater responsibility to limit climate change. They also think that everyone needs to contribute to solving the issue, but only 20% describe themselves as very engaged in climate change issues. There is no equal sign between attitudes and behavior. 

There is a tendency towards “Somebodyelseism”, someone else is expected to take action. Evidently fears and convictions do not automatically transform into action, says Mats Lindgren, CEO and founder of Kairos Future, and a former environmental researcher. They believe that politics and business have the power to act, and that they are obliged to do that.

More than six out of ten believe that the solution to climate change is political rather than technological. 
 
Global north should deal with problems at home first 

The notion of “climate debt” is often discussed in relation to climate change, whereby the Global North is expected to repay their ecological debt to the Global South, subsequent to a long history of over-exploitation and excessive consumption. It can be argued that the greatest marginal effect is achieved by investing in developing nations, where relatively small changes can have comparatively large impact on the environment. However, the majority of survey respondents does not share that view. 

The young people in our survey lean heavily towards the opposite perspective, that rich countries should deal with environmental problems in their own countries before focusing on environmental problems in the developing world, says Anna Kiefer, Project manager of the climate change survey and Director of Kairos Future International. There are not any big differences in viewpoint between young in the Global North and the Global South in this regard.

Friends determine engagement in climate change 

So what would make tomorrow’s leaders globally engage more in climate change? Well, lack of money, time and information are not the main obstacles to involvement in climate change issues. 

– Tomorrow’s leaders would be more engaged if people around them got involved, says Anna Kiefer. It seems to be very important what your friends do and who sets an example. 

In many countries, the absence of necessary infrastructure to support a climate smart living leaves people without options. It is not up to them if they choose public transportation or not, because it simply does not exist. Yet, the majority of actions taken even in the western world constitute discussions and intellectual involvement. 

The recipe for saving the planet is a social act more than anything. Trust in science to save the world is vanishing, climate and seasons are more important issues than ever and opinions change with the change of seasons; people adapt to politicians and people around them. The Age of Reason is abandoned and we find ourselves in the Age of Season. 
 
Further revelations… 

Further analysis and statistics will be revealed at a youth event at COP15 on the afternoon of December 11th hosted by PlanetCall (www.planetcall.org). 
 
About the survey 

Kairos Future, the international research and consulting firm dealing with futures research and strategy development, together with AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run organization, have surveyed young people around the world about their views on climate change. Data was collected in the month of November 2009. 

The questionnaire was distributed in English via e-mail and AIESEC web pages to AIESEC members globally. 3,119 replies were gotten (48% women, 52% men) from 122 countries. Most of the respondents in the survey are students (75%) in the fields of economy, commerce, social sciences and technology. 83% of them were born in 1985 or later (most of them around 1988), 17% were born in 1984 or earlier. A majority of them are planning on becoming managers in the future (56% “yes definitely”, 32% “maybe”).

Further information 

For further information or to obtain a free report with survey results, please contact: 

Anna Kiefer, Project Manager of the Climate Change survey and Director Kairos Future International 
E-mail: anna.kiefer@kairosfuture.com 
Tel: +46 70 547 25 02 
www.kairosfuture.com

Contact AIESEC's Communication Vice President in Mexico
Joel Rao |  Vice President Communications | AIESEC in Mexico
E-mail: Joelr@aiesec.org.mx
www.aiesec.org.mx

New Survey: Tomorrow's Leaders on Climate Change.

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (November 23, 2009)

Tomorrow’s leaders are concerned about climate change, but not committed. With 3,000 replies from students and recent graduates in 122 countries we know what views tomorrow’s leaders have of climate change!

International futures research and consulting firm Kairos Future has in collaboration with the world’s largest youth-run organization, AIESEC International, conducted a survey asking young people around the world about their views on climate change. Data collection has just been finalized and the results from this unique and our most global survey ever, will be presented on 2 December 2009.

Global warming and climate change dominate public debate worldwide and the world is closely following the preparations and outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Future generations will be the ones who will deal with the consequences. Are they prepared?

For further information please contact:
AIESEC's Communication Vice President in Mexico
Joel Rao |  Vice President Communications | AIESEC in Mexico
E-mail: Joelr@aiesec.org.mx
www.aiesec.org.mx

Further information on AIESEC is available at www.aiesec.org.mx

Further information on Kairos Future is available at www.kairosfuture.com

World's Largest Youth-Run Organisation joins with Robert Swan to Debate Climate Change on the Road to COP-15

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (November 09, 2009)

Today, AIESEC joins 2041 to celebrate the homecoming of the Voyage for Cleaner Energy yacht. Robert Swan, OBE will join in discussion with Aman Jain, president of AIESEC International to further explore the need for youth education and action around climate change. Panelists also include Maayke Damen, the first youth representative in the Dutch delegation for the UN; Eric van Eerdenburg, director and initiator of the popular annual festival Lowlands and Prof. Wouter van Dieren, President, IMSA Amsterdam. The panel discussion will take place from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal.

Robert Swan states “To celebrate the return of our brave yacht '2041' after 10 years on 'The Voyage for Cleaner Energy', I look forward to debating with the leaders of tomorrow and seeing 2041's inspiration drive the young people of The Netherlands into action to save our planet”.

“Young people are the leaders of today who will deliver on the promise of tomorrow. Lets Act NOW!” commented Aman Jain, President of AIESEC. One third of 2041’s most recent Inspire Antarctic Expeditions were AIESEC members from China, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, Ecuador, Sweden and India.

Both AIESEC and 2041 are hopeful that today’s youth will raise their voices as we head towards important negotiations at COP15.

AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-run organization, present in 107 countries around the world. AIESEC’s international platform enables young people to explore and develop their leadership potential for them to have a positive impact in society. 2041 was founded by polar explorer, environmental leader and public speaker Robert Swan, OBE to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take action for a more sustainable world. Swan has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change.

Further information on AIESEC is available atwww.aiesec.org

Further information on 2041 is available at www.2041.com

AIESEC Partners with One Young World to Attract Future Global Leaders to World’s Largest Youth Leadership Summit

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (August 26, 2009)

550 Young Leaders from Every Continent Invited to Join One Young World Initiative Endorsed by Kofi Annan, Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof and more

Today 550 young leaders from 107 countries were invited to join the One Young World initiative. One Young World (www.OneYoungWorld.com) is a global nonprofit organization that serves as a platform to raise the voice of the next generation of world leaders on global issues. It has commenced global outreach to bring together 1500 young leaders from 192 countries. AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run organization, is now partnering with One Young World to help create the world’s largest youth leadership summit to be hosted in London, UK on February 8-10, 2010. The partnership launch was held at the Palace of the Golden Horses hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One Young World is inviting AIESEC members from each of the organization’s 107 member countries to serve as delegates to the 2010 inaugural summit.

Social media channels are the single most effective route to reaching the next generation’s future global leaders,” commented Lucian Tarnowski, CEO of BraveNewTalent.com, One Young World’s delegate outreach partner who was present to announce the AIESEC partnership. “Our partnership with AIESEC demonstrates the power of this medium as a way of engaging youth in almost every country in the world. This is like a global search for 1500 young Obamas.

Aman Jain, the former President of AIESEC International added, “Given the magnitude and scope of conversations at One Young World, AIESEC is a strategic partner to further our cause with youth leaders around the world.”

Through the usage of AIESEC’s presence on various social media channels such as Youtube, Twitter and the AIESEC blog, the Forum will engage over 10,000 young people in live discussions.

One Young World will also be attended by current world leaders, including One Young World Counsellors Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bob Geldof. The One Young World Annual Summit will be a yearly global gathering of future leaders that is truly representative of the world’s population – weighted for the first time ever to reflect the most populated regions and countries, and not necessarily the richest or most politically influential.

Counsellor Bob Geldof commented, “This One Young World idea says surely there’s a way we can get ahead of the game and plot the way we would like it to be, rather than reacting to the events that happen to us.”

One Young World is open to young leaders born since 1984 from every country in the world. They will come together to have a combined voice around the Environment, Politics, Business, Healthcare, Media and Interfaith Dialogue.

We want to see this world a different kind of world,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu, One Young World Counsellor. “We want to see a peaceful world, a more compassionate world, a caring world; and so we appeal to you, please send the best that you have who will be the next generation of leaders.

What is the stand of today’s youth in shaping the world that they will one day lead?

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (August 25th, 2009)

This the question over 500 young leaders from 107 countries will address during the first ever Global Youth to Business Forum, thanks to AIESEC; the world’s largest youth-run organization. These discussions will harvest a forward-thinking global youth stand on the topics Entrepreneurship in the Crisis, Climate Change & Sustainability and Labor Mobility & Diversity.

Through the usage of AIESEC’s presence on various social media channels such as Twitter, Youtube and the AIESEC blog (http://theaiesecblog.wordpress.com/). the Forum will engage over 10,000 young people in live discussions. The output from the event will be presented to key global policy organizations and distributed to the public via www.aiesec.org.

The day will culminate in an open panel discussion facilitated by corporate leaders where all participants are given the opportunity to have their voices heard. The discussions on Entrepreneurship in the Crisis, Climate Change & Sustainability and Labor Mobility & Diversity will bring together over 500 delegates, 38,000 virtual participants and 50 corporate leaders, an unmatched confluence of individuals to declare the truly global youth stand we need to shape the world.