For delegates, the greatest benefit of attending the either APEC Summit or the UNFCCC Conference of Parties is the access to world leaders and foreign policy makers. These forums are the premier mechanisms for dialogue in their respective areas: the former on the Asia-Pacific region and the latter on the international coordination of responses to climate change.
APEC
APEC consists of twenty-one Pacific Rim states and is the Asia Pacific's premier regional forum, which aims to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region. Since 1993, an annual 'Economic Leaders' meeting has been held, with the host country rotating annually. Nearly all constituent heads of government/heads of state attend the Summit. Australia hosted APEC in 2007, while the United States of America is the host of the Summit for 2011.
Global Voices' delegation to the 2011 APEC Summit in Honolulu, United States of America will be run between the 7th November and the 13th November. You can read more about APEC here.
UNFCCC
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (or UNFCCC) aims to provide an intergovernmental platform to mitigate the effects of climate change. Membership is almost universal across the world with 194 countries listed as members of the UNFCCC. Member-states attend an annual 'Conference of Parties' to assess the level of progress in mitigating the effects of climate change and establishing legally binding obligations for countries to reduce their emissions.
Global Voices' delegation to the 2011 UNFCCC COP in Durban, South Africa will be run between the 24th November and the 10th December. You can read more about the UNFCCC here.
Benefits to delegates
For delegates, the greatest benefit of attending the either APEC Summit or the UNFCCC Conference of Parties is the access to world leaders and foreign policy makers. These forums are the premier mechanisms for dialogue in their respective areas: the former on the Asia-Pacific region and the latter on the international coordination of responses to climate change. Further, it is a working demonstration of international diplomacy in action, dealing with issues ranging from regional economic integration and free trade to developing mechanisms to mitigate the effects of climate change. Throughout their experience with Global Voices, delegates will be able to develop a deep understanding of the complex issues at the heart of these forums, while connecting with other like-minded young people from across the country. Read the full report here.
Source: Youth Leadership.org.au.
