The purpose of this academy is to increase the national participation of young people as key players in the construction of sustainable development alternatives and resilient to climate change, in the public, private, academic and civil society sectors.
Week 1: Welcome
Ligia Castro de Doens, Director of Climate Change of the Ministry of the Environment of Panama, welcomed the participants, pointing out that business, governmental, municipal, academic and civil society leaders are being formed who, based on technical-scientific information, will be able to make decisions within their fields of action.
Winfried Weck, country representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told the new students: "unfortunately, climate action policies often react too late. So more thought must be given to how we live with climate change, how we are going to prepare for it. You, as a new generation, will see a planet that is changing."
Week 2
Two modules were addressed during this week: Module 2 - Mitigation: Actions in the face of the climate crisis and Module 3 - Adaptation: Actions in the face of the climate crisis.
Module 2 provides an introduction to the climate actions that are carried out in a national and international context in terms of mitigation.
Under this module we studied topics such as:
- Introduction of Carbon Markets
- Program: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Module 3 provides an introduction to climate actions that are carried out in a national and international context in terms of adaptation.
Under this module we studied topics such as:
- Climate change scenarios
- Monitoring and evaluation system for adaptation and loss and damage.
- Corporate water footprint, municipalities, projects and product.
- Nature-based solutions (NBS)
During this week, information on the National Climate Transparency Platform (PNTC) https://transparencia-climatica.miambiente.gob.pa was shared.
Week 3
During this week, Module 4: Youth Participation in Climate Action was addressed.
Module 4 provides knowledge in the area of leadership and effective communication of causes, in order to influence science-based decision making and climate action.
Under this module we studied topics such as:
- How climate change impacts children and youth.
- Skills and aptitudes that need to be developed or honed to lead climate action
- Tools for citizen participation
- Climate finance and financial mechanisms available to carry out a climate action proposal
- Types of ventures or innovations to implement a climate action proposal
The event was attended by top level speakers such as:
- Carolina Guerra from the Youth and Climate Change Organization, who, being a graduate of the First Academy on Climate Change for Young Leaders, shared about youth and climate action.
- Lina Muñoz from Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, who shared about the Escazú Agreement, its importance and how it is a key tool for citizen participation in environmental issues.
- Virginia Fernandez from the Ministry of Economy and Finance who shared concepts on Public Financing: loans and climate change.
- Sandy Watemberg from Marea Verde, Mayerlin Arandia from Panamá Capital de Emociones, Juliana Lujan from Clandestino. They shared, from their experiences, what needs to be taken into account to create green projects, ventures and companies that are sustainable.
Week 4: Presentation and awarding of diplomas
There were 29 students who completed their participation in the Climate Change Academy for Young Leaders.
Prior to the presentation of the certificates, the young people presented the final projects that were elaborated with information from the Climate Vulnerability Study and Pre-design of Adaptation Measures for the Hydrographic Basin of the Chiriqui Viejo River.
Diana Laguna, Panama's Vice Minister of the Environment, was pleased with the impetus of each representative and expressed that, beyond the knowledge obtained, this space is fundamental for a human transformation that lays the foundations for actions to protect the country's natural resources.
Tayna Lorenzo, 18, received a certificate for her participation in the Climate Change Academy for Young Leaders. She said that "my expectations exceeded everything I thought. I was able to broaden my knowledge about Panama's progress in the fight against climate change. I tell young people not to set limits, when you think that no one will support us, someone will be waiting for us to approach".
Finally, Yadira Gratacós, project coordinator of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, extended her congratulations for approaching the world and science education. She added that each of those present "are multiplying agents and leaders within their environment who leave an important mark".
After this, the 29 young people will become part of the Alumni program, focused on further strengthening their capabilities.
