Guyana will be represented in the person of Suphane Dash-Alleyne when the inaugural United Nations (UN) Youth Climate Summit gets underway in New York City on Saturday, September 21.
The historic event will be a platform for young leaders to showcase climate change solutions at the UN, and to meaningfully engage with decision-makers on the issue.
The event is expected to be the largest gathering of young climate leaders in the history of the UN.
Over 7,000 young people between the ages of 18 to 29 applied to attend the Youth Climate Summit. Dash-Alleyne was selected to attend the Summit after demonstrating commitment to addressing the climate crisis and displaying leadership in advancing solutions.
The Youth Climate Summit will feature a full-day of programming that brings together young activists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who are committed to combating climate change at the pace and scale needed to meet the challenge. It will be action oriented, intergenerational, and inclusive, with equal representation of young leaders from all walks of life.
“Youth are showing us the way on climate action,” said Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Action Summit, Luis Alfonso de Alba. “I am eager for young climate leaders from all over the world to take their rightful place on the global stage and participate in this historic moment.”
Dash-Alleyne is currently entering her second year of studies at the University of Guyana as she is pursuing a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies. She currently holds a Associate Degree in environmental science from the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination. She is a dedicated environmental activist, a passionate volunteer and youth advocate. She was one of four young ladies sent to Jamaica in 2016 to represent Guyana in the Caribbean Youth Climate Change Summit where she delivered a presentation on climate change effect on Guyana. Her advocacy did not stop there as she continued to ensure that Guyanese youths were educated about the effects of climate change on their country through volunteering groups such as the Eco-Trust Society of the University of Guyana and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network in which she is an active member. This young woman believes that it is the job of Guyanese youths to fight for a climate secure future and has dedicated her life to ensuring her dream becomes a reality.
“We as Guyanese youths have the responsibility to ensure our voices are heard, as climate change will drastically affect our future in this beautiful land we call our home” she noted.
