OTTAWA (August 25, 2009) - University of Guelph student David Lawless will participate in the World Climate Conference in Geneva from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. He will join five students from the UK, Ethiopia, Kuwait, Colombia and the Maldives to discuss the implications of climate change at the UN’s World Meteorological Organization’s World Climate Conference-3.
As part of the British Council’s Global Changemakers initiative, these young people will represent the voice of their generation during the conference. All of them are actively involved in their countries and communities to spread awareness of the effects of climate change and address these effects in constructive ways.
“I hope that the World Climate Conference will provide opportunities to show scientists and business leaders that youth have an important role in shaping policies that affect our generation,” says David Lawless, who is originally from Owen Sound, Ont. “The experience of meeting other youth from around the world who have also been affected by climate change will not only be inspiring but also tremendously motivating -- expanding my vision for future initiatives.”
Since 2007, Global Changemakers has been working on creating and supporting a network of young community activists, social entrepreneurs and volunteer workers around the world, helping them create Community Action Projects designed to tackle issues such as poverty, human rights violations, HIV/AIDS and climate change. In addition, each year, a number of Global Changemakers is chosen to represent the network in high level events to act as advocates and to raise decision-makers’ awareness of key issues on the global agenda.
Founded at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2007, Global Changemakers have partnered with and participated in World Economic Forum events, as well as the Clinton Global Initiative and Global Humanitarian Forum. Individual supporters include HMQ Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, President Bill Clinton, and the actress Emma Thompson.
David Lawless is a 19-year-old undergraduate student studying ecology at the University of Guelph where he is on the College of Biological Sciences Board of Directors as a Student Governor. Committed to environmental causes, David helped found Guelph’s Net Impact Environmental Chapter and has worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources undertaking extensive habitat restoration projects, monitoring endangered species and conducting climate change research across Canada. Last summer, he was part of the top-placing Canadian team at the North American Envirothon competition in Arizona. In January 2009, he attended the British Council’s “Road to Davos” Forum in England and is now founding a Global Changemakers Community Action Project with youth from this conference to help mitigate the effects of a changing climate on water ecosystems in local communities. Currently, David works at Parks Canada as a bilingual nature interpreter and biosphere researcher, leading hikes and doing studies on the ecology of the Niagara Escarpment.
The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organization to promote education and cultural relations. It is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Until Aug. 27 - Margret Brady, Programmes & Communications Manager, British Council Canada, tel: 1(613)364-6237 or cell 1(613)301-5922, margret.brady@britishcouncil.org
After Aug. 27 - Dr. Matt Kimmich, Head of Community Affairs, Global Changemakers, on +41 (0) 31 560 3792
e-mail matt.kimmich@britishcouncil.ch
Katherine Hermans, Head of Communications, Global Changemakers, on + 41 (0) 31 560 or + 41 (0) 78 922 3792
e-mail katherine.hermans@britishcouncil.ch
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