Though global climate change is a daunting issue for many to think about, an entire delegation of young people dedicated themselves to environmental policies over winter break.
David Solheim, the president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska, spent 16 days in Bali, Indonesia as a part of a youth delegation at the U.N.'s negotiations on climate change to press for changes in global sustainability policies.
The conference was attended by leaders in politics, business and environmental industries, including representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Renewable Fuels Association. It also included groups of young people ages 13 to 26 from high schools, colleges and the business world.
Solheim, a senior economics and international studies major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, attended the conference with the U.S. delegation of 21 young people.
Richard Graves, the communication coordinator for the youth delegation, said the international delegations made an impact on industry and world leaders.
"We were meeting with world leaders and seeing the creation of one of the first world agreements to tackle global warming," he said.
The U.N. and others promised after the conference to launch climate change negotiations, dubbed the Bali Roadmap, for 2012 and beyond.
Solheim said a usual day at the climate negotiations included meeting with other young delegates, hearing lectures on environmental topics and attending official proceedings. He also coordinated blogging efforts for the delegates, using the U.N. Foundation's blog as well as others.
While in Bali, Solheim said he saw sustainability first-hand in a school made from bamboo and partly powered by a water wheel.
Graves said global warming is a topic for the next generation. Young people will inherit the problems of climate change, he said, so they are the ones that must put an heavy interest in it.
"On the global climate change problem, something that is so huge, it can seem overwhelming," he said. "But we learned that even if you're a student, you can have a pretty significant impact on what happens."
Solheim said the geographic differences between the delegates seemed small when faced with such an alarming issue.
"We were able to get along on so many issues. So, if we can get along, certainly the people making the decisions can try," he said.
At the conference, student delegates brought the attendees to tears, Graves said.
"(We) helped shape the narrative of what happened there," he said.
Back at UNL, Solheim said he'll use the conferences to influence ASUN plans this semester, including one to start the formation of a Chancellor's Commission on Sustainability. It will also have an effect on Focus the Nation week, where UNL will host environmental lectures and talks with policy makers.
Solheim said the important thing involving a change in climate policy would be the months before the presidential election.
"It all starts with electing the right people at home," he said. "The international community is almost begging the U.S. to step up."
