FOR RELEASE     #08-270
October 29, 2008

WHITEHORSE – The Government of Yukon is providing financial support to a young Yukon resident so she can attend the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, Environment Minister Elaine Taylor announced today.

Lia Johnson, 21, will be part of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (CYCC) delegation traveling overseas for international climate change negotiations. She will receive $3,500 to attend the UN ‘COP14’ conference in Poznan, Poland, from December 1–12.

Johnson was selected by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition from among 70 applications that came in from across the country. There are 25 members on the Canadian delegation.

“The government recognizes the importance of involving youth in our efforts to understand and respond to climate change,” Taylor said. “Lia will represent the interests of youth admirably and we are fortunate that she will be able to express the Yukon experience as opportunities present themselves.”

The CYCC’s goal is to educate and engage Canadian youth (18–26) in international climate change activities, promote a strong climate regime, spearhead the path towards emissions reductions, and ensure that Canada commits to doing its fair share.

“Youth might seem to be limited by our age or our lack of access to funding, but we are actively engaged in our own communities and are working towards climate protection at the local level,” Johnson said. “We will inherit the climate system in whichever way current governments decide to leave it so it’s important we have the opportunity to contribute to the international process.”

Climate change is a priority for the Yukon government.

“Yukon is working to minimize the negative impacts of climate change through mitigation, adaptation and recognizing new opportunities presented by climate change,” Taylor said. The Yukon government will have representatives in the federal government’s delegation at COP14.

Johnson will make presentations about youth and climate change to schools and other interested organizations upon her return. For more information about the CYCC go to www.ourclimate.ca.

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