The JAE joins the IUCN Climate !

In June 2022, two members of the Young Ambassadors for the Environment (YAE)—Manon Bourhis and Éloïse Leguérinnel—joined the Climate Action Commission (CAC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as volunteer expert members.

A commission born out of the Marseille Congress

The CAC is the newest of the IUCN commissions. Created at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille in 2021, its interim chair and steering committee were appointed in 2022. Chaired by Dr. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal—former Peruvian Minister of the Environment and President of COP20—the commission's mission is to promote appropriate, effective, fair, and nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, based on the best available scientific evidence and indigenous knowledge systems.

Its vision is of a world where global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and where society adapts to manage climate risks in ways that strengthen socio-ecological resilience and promote equitable outcomes for all.

Two JAE at the heart of international climate expertise

The inclusion of Manon and Éloïse in this commission illustrates the growing recognition of the JAE's commitment within the IUCN's global network. By joining a network of international experts working on the intersecting issues of climate and biodiversity, they are helping to make the voices of young people heard in discussions on nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, and the convergence of climate and biodiversity agendas.

This appointment is a continuation of the close ties between the JAE and the IUCN, which are evident both through the Education and Communication Commission (CEC) and through the association's representation at major events such as the World Conservation Congress, the COP biodiversity and climate conferences, and the European Cities Forum.

For the JAE, this is an important step: participating not only in negotiation forums, but also in the places where the scientific and technical expertise that fuels global environmental action is developed.