Dozens of young people from across southern Ontario trudged through the early morning rain on Friday, Oct. 9, for a full day of environmental activism training at University College. As things gear up for the UN climate change conference in Denmark, the Countdown to Copenhagen Climate Action and Lobbying Training Day aims to teach university and high school students everything they need to know about how to make an impact.

“Youth are very creative, have a lot of energy, and are very flexible to move with the demands of the movement,” said Carly Joynt, regional coordinator for Sustainable Campuses of Ontario. “Especially with Copenhagen, action needs to be taken swiftly, and they can do that,” she said, in reference to the panel to be held from Dec. 7 to 18, which representatives from 190 countries are planning to attend.

Participants learned how to lobby the government, get favourable media attention, develop a campaign plan, and organize direct actions. Representatives from Greenpeace, the Sierra Youth Coalition, Climate Action Network Canada, 350.org, and the Rainforest Action Network of Toronto led workshops.

Fourth-year U of T student Lauryn Drainie, an organizer for the Climate Action Network, kicked things off by speaking about the urgent need for a new international climate change agreement. To avoid irreversible climate change, global emissions have to peak by 2015 and then drop off from there, according to the International Panel on Climate Change.

By refusing to sign on to significant emission reduction targets, the Harper government has been holding back progress on negotiations, said Drainie, who emphasized that youth can bring change. “Politicians are particularly afraid of youth,” she said. “We’re going to be voting for a really long time.”

“I’m from Kitchener-Waterloo, which is a swing riding. Lobbying MPs could really make a difference, depending on whose ear you get,” said Griffin Carpenter, the president of Wilfrid Laurier’s Green Party campus group, who wanted to learn more about how to lobby elected officials.

Several participants, like U of T botany student John Velazquez, are new to environmental activism. “My experience began a few hours ago,” said Velazquez.

U of T will send a delegation of students to Copenhagen to participate in the negations. The registration is now closed, but those interested can stay informed through the Climate Action News website at www.climateactionnetwork.ca