WYCJ at the GCA Youth Dialogue on Adaptation Action

On the first weekend of September, in a sunny Rotterdam, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) organized its first Youth Adaption Dialogue. A hundred delegates from more than fifty countries gathered to learn from young change-makers, policymakers, architects, prominent public figures, and the city of Rotterdam itself on what is at stake when it comes to adaptation. 

The Global Center on Adaption 

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is located in Rotterdam and was founded in 2018. It generates policies, research, communications and provides technical assistance to governments and the private sector. Its work centres on climate adaptation, promoting locally driven adaptation to the devastating effects of climate change across the world. 

In their own words, the GCA “are an international organization working as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future.

We were lucky enough to be shown a presentation on the building of the GCA’s office, located on the Rotterdam waterfront, proud to hold the title of ‘largest floating office in the world’. The GCA recently played host to scores of world leaders, including Akinwumi Adesina (President of the African Development Bank), Macky Sall (president of Senegal and chair of the African Union), Mark Rutte (Prime Minister of the Netherlands), Ban Ki Moon (former Secretary General of the UN) and scores of other leaders for a historic conference pledging to drastically boost adaptation funding for Africa.  

Adaptation

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines adaptation as: 

“the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate or avoid harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In some natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects.’’ 

Adaptation is distinct from mitigation which concerns addressing the causes of climate change. Adaptation is about how society can alter its architecture, transport links, suage systems, energy generation etc. to face the challenges posed by climate disaster but making sure to do so in a way that is sustainable and builds for future generations. One of the guiding themes of the dialogue was that adaptation could not be something that leaders commit to by a certain date, it must happen now. The time for future speculation of how society would adapt if climate disaster befell us has passed. We are in the red zone, and urgent adaptation action for climate relief is needed now. This, along with other messages encouraging youth to stand up to leaders and be counted, and to channel the insight of regional GCA communities the world over were the key messages the dialogue offered.

What did we do?

World’s Youth for Climate Justice campaigners were present at the dialogue to continue our work and raise awareness on an ICJ AO. WY4CJ reps wore t-shirts advertising the cause and engaged with other delegates to discuss the intersection between adaptation campaigning and international law. 

Our representatives took part in discussions on regional adaptation solutions, climate communication, and how to make climate studies an integral part of the basic educational package for students today. 

Most notably, Mert Kumru presented the WY4CJ publication to the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, her excellency, Amina Mohammad, whom we are hopeful could become a champion of our cause. 

Key takeaways: what should boost the youth? 

In the words of Amina Mohammed, don’t agonize, organize! It’s hard to think of a better takeaway to glean from our time in Rotterdam. We can’t bury our heads in the sand. Adaptation is a present concern, and the problems caused by climate disaster will only get worse without drastic action. It was fascinating to meet delegates working to foster adaptation solutions from all four corners of the world. International cooperation is the only way we will get through this climate crisis, and the GCA is a shining light on this front. 

It’s crucial that the WY4CJ reps keep showing up to these kinds of events to make sure that our movement to yield an advisory opinion on climate change from the ICJ continues to get the spotlight it deserves. The battle goes on!