Global Youth Climate Summit
Together for Tomorrow: One Planet, One Future
Rewatch the live-show from the Global Youth Climate Summit here!
Watch youth voices from around the world and their connection to water!
Save the date! – 7th november
9.00 am – 11.30 am CET: Celebration of Youth Voices | 12.30 pm – 2.45 pm CET: Online Workshops
This year’s theme
Water
Water is the foundation of life. With 97 percent of Earth consisting of water, and 60 percent of the human body, water is an essential part of our existence.
It is a resource that connects us. It is also a resource that faces growing challenges. Whether it concerns our threatened oceans, access to clean drinking water, or melting ice caps, water plays a crucial role in both our present and future.
This year, we seek to hear YOUR voice as we ask the question: What is your connection to water? How does water affect your life, do you experience a change in the access to water due to climate changes, and what do you dream of for our water resources in the future? Join the discussion and share your thoughts.
Together we can create a deeper understanding of the importance of water and work towards solutions that protect this life-giving resource.
Share your voice
What is your connection to water?
As part of our theme “Water” we invite you to express your thoughts and experiences of your connection to water in a short video. Whether it’s a personal story, a reflection on the importance of water in your life, or your hopes for our water resources, we want to hear from you!
Be a part of something bigger – your contribution makes a difference.
Here are the guidelines for recording your video
Orientation: Please record your video in landscape/horizontal format.
Length: The video should be between 30 seconds to 2 minutes long.
File Size: Ensure the file size is no larger than 1 GB.
What happens when i uploaded the video?
Your video will then be validated and put on the map by the Klimatorium team when you have sumbitted the form. It can take some time before it will appear on the map.
Inspiration for your video
Reflections on water
97% of Earth consists of water, around 60% of the human body consists of water. Water is essential. Water is life. But what is water to you? Below sub-categories might help you reflect on your connection to water.
The ocean is essential to life on Earth. The ocean is a continuous body of salt water that is contained in an enormous basin on Earth’s surface. 97% of Earth’s water is ocean. The ocean influences climate and weather patterns, the carbon cycle and the water cycle by acting as a huge heat reservoir.
We can only survive 3 days without water! Drinking water or potable water is water that is safe for ingestion, either when drunk directly in liquid form or consumed indirectly through food preparation. Most people living in the EU enjoy very good access to high quality drinking water, thanks in part to over 30 years of EU policy on drinking water quality but on a global scale at least 1.7 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces.
Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth’s surface in rock and soil pore spaces. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers. In some areas of the world people face serious water shortages because groundwater is used faster than it is naturally replenished. In other areas groundwater is polluted by human activities.
Water is essential for all forms of life. It is a basic human need and access to clean water is a fundamental human right. 70% of our human body consists of water. Water is the main component of our blood and is used to remove waste, protect the brain and control temperature.
Access to safe and adequate water has been identified as an essential component for protecting, maintaining and promoting public health and reducing the total burden of diseases. Insufficient water intake or limited access to water can result in dehydration, which negatively impacts physical and cognitive abilities as well as bodily functions.
Precipitation is the joint definition for any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls from the clouds; rain, snow, hail etc. Precipitation is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing fresh water on the planet. Global warming is causing changes to weather, increasing percipitation in some gographies and reducing it in others, resulting in additional extreme weather.
Insights from Space
With Andreas Mogensen
As part of this year’s Global Youth Climate Summit, we are thrilled to welcome Danish ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen. He will share his unique perspective from space, offering insights into his reflections on our beautiful blue planet from when he spent nearly 7 months as a commander on a spaceship positioned 400 km from earth.
His time in space deepened his understanding of our planet and its interconnectedness, and his clear vision of earth being one planet with no visible boundaries highlights the importance of global cooperation in tackling challenges like climate change.
Got a question for Andreas Mogensen?
Two of you who submit a video under the theme “What is your connection to water?” will have the chance to ask Andreas Mogensen a question during the conference. This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with an astronaut and learn from his unique experience.
Program
9.00-11.15 am CET(Part 1)
ESA astronaut & Youth Voices
9.00 am, CET
Welcome
9.10 am, CET
Greeting from EU Commission
9.30 am, CET
Celebration of Youth Voices
10.00 am, CET
ESA-astronaut Andreas Mogensen presentation & Q&A
11.00 am, CET
Joint action against plastic in our waterways
11.15 am,CET Lunch & bio break
12.30-1.30pm,CET(Part 2) – workshop 1 Pressurized water systems
1.45-2.45 pm,CET(Part 3) – workshop 2 Wetlands
Online Workshops – Read more here
See you next year!
Greetings from | EU COMMISSION
From the EU commission we will get an insight into two of their departments: Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV).
GET AN INSIGHT INTO:
The European Commission
The European Commission is the main governing body of the European Union (EU), responsible for proposing new laws, managing EU policies, and ensuring that member countries follow EU rules. The EU Commission works to protect the rights and welfare of people in Europe, covering everything from the environment to the economy.
DG CLIMA
The Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) leads the European Commission’s efforts to fight climate change at EU and international level. Its key mission is to formulate and implement EU climate policies and strategies, so that the EU can turn into the first climate-neutral and climate resilient continent by 2050.
DG ENV
The Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) is the branch of the European Commission dedicated to protecting Europe’s environment. Tackling pollution, preserving nature, managing water and mitigating climate change are just some of its tasks.
Joseph Slattery
DG ENV – EU commission
Monica Pisani
DG CLIMA – EU commission
Make a difference
Online workshops
Workshop 1: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm CET | Pressurized rain-water systems
About the workshop
Climate change is significantly impacting urban infrastructure, with periods of drought and intense rainfall straining outdated sewer systems. Upgrading these systems is often costly and spatially challenging in modern cities. Therefore, alternative solutions like permeable surfaces, retention ponds, and rain gardens, collectively known as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), are essential. These solutions manage large water volumes locally, but they can occupy considerable space. To address this, vertical solutions are being explored to optimize space usage in urban areas.
EDUCATIONAL LEARNINGS
- Identify and understand the basic principles ofrainwater management in cities
- Understanding methods tohandle rainwater sustainably above the surface.
- Designand propose solutions for vertical pressurized rain
- Collaborate in teamsfind innovative solutions
Workshop 2: 1.45 pm – 2.45 pm CET | A world without wetlands is a world without water
About the workshop
In this workshop, we will discuss wetlands and their importance to us humans, as well as their current state and future potential in regard to water security.
EDUCATIONAL LEARNINGS
- Understanding of wetlands as important ecosystems
- Understanding different types of wetlands in different regions of the world
- Discussing wetlands current state and their future potential in regard to water security