Alumni Activities on Climate Justice and the Rights of Future Generations
Among all the important causes that bring us together, none is more urgent than the fight for climate justice and the rights of future generations. Our collective efforts in support of climate justice and the rights of future generations began in mid-2023, and we are determined to keep this momentum going.
Read more to know about our progress so far and how you can take part.
In 2023, the GCA formed a Taskforce comprised of one alumni representative from each region. Together, we began exploring ways to spearhead activities concerning climate justice and the rights of future generations at the alumni level. We firmly believe that alumni like you are invaluable resources, and by uniting you and providing the platform to lead such initiatives, we aim not only to advance climate justice and safeguard the rights of future generations but also to empower the alumni community as a whole. These objectives have been our guiding principles throughout.
Meet the GCA Taskforce.
The alumni taskforce includes one alumna/alumnus from each region of the Global Campus Alumni. The alumna/alumnus functions as a focal point for her/his alumni association, and helps facilitate our activities on climate justice and the rights of future generations.
Our commitments:
The Alumni Taskforce had its first meeting on the 22nd of May. In mid-July 2023, the 7 representatives of the Alumni Taskforce listened to and met with experts and inspiring individuals at the 3d edition of the Venice Global State of Human Rights Conference. This gathering included prominent figures from the UN, Council of Europe, EU, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and Right Livelihood. It was made clear that the climate crisis is inseparable from geopolitical, economic, and social crises, and climate action is intertwined with human rights action. Solutions already exist, just as many human rights mechanisms. However, they demand relentless advocacy and inclusion in every agenda. As the UN Secretary-General emphasized, “Our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once”. This is where we, as a global alumni network, see our role.
After our active participation in the conference and subsequent discussions, we reached the following conclusions:
- We must inspire action and involve as many young people as possible in the climate crisis discourse. They are not just consumers of today but future decision-makers who will bear the consequences of inaction or slow action on the climate crisis. Young minds can breathe new life into the human rights discourse, rekindling its spirit by ‘recapturing imagination’ and bringing innovative approaches to old problems.
- As Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated at the conference, “We have to broaden the edges of the human rights field”. We must challenge the power of ignorance and those who exploit it, forming strong bonds with civil society. We need new norms that unite people in confronting the status quo of the climate crisis, reinvigorating human rights as a force for protecting the planet.
- It is essential to recognise environmental crimes, such as knowingly damaging ecosystems, infrastructure, and livelihoods, as well as actions leading to forced displacement, as crimes against humanity. We lend our support to the acknowledgment of ecocide as a crime against humanity and actions focused on climate litigation.
- We acknowledge the need to view mother earth as more than just a resource to be owned. Instead, we should adopt a trustee mindset, ensuring the preservation of our interconnected resources. In addition to enforcing existing laws and regulations, new ones should be enacted as we discover the interdependence between various disciplines.
- The Conference’s most potent message was to never stop fighting. Despite global pledges to address climate change, the business-as-usual model of economic growth persists. Existing laws and human rights mechanisms often lack strong implementation. Although environmental case law is advancing, execution remains slow and challenging. A focus on protecting human rights, rather than mere promotion, becomes vital at this point, as stated by conference speaker Vitit Muntarbhorn (UN Special Rapporteur on Cambodia). We must establish effective monitoring, evaluation, and accountability mechanisms like never before.
As Global Campus Alumni, we commit to being an active force for learning and change.
Our vision is clear: a healthy, sustainable planet where present and future generations live in dignity and where human rights are respected.
We have since made the following commitments as Global Campus Alumni:
- To strengthen connections among the 4000+ alumni and raise awareness about climate justice and the rights of future generations. We aim to strengthen collaboration among alumni networks worldwide, leveraging the knowledge, experience, and willingness to bring about change. Our diverse alumni are represented in governmental, non-governmental, UN agencies, international organisations, and academia, which gives us a unique opportunity to advocate more effectively for human rights.
- To mobilise our alumni as agents of change, empowering them to identify and address climate justice challenges at local, regional and global levels. To lead concrete actions that create meaningful impact; this can be achieved through capacity building, sharing experiences, and engaging with GC experts, Right Livelihood Laureates, and beyond.
- To build upon diversity, inspirations and successes in our alumni network to further climate justice and the rights of future generations, giving the space for alumni with diverse specialisations (music, painting, photography, etc), to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. We believe in the power of both individual and collective action.
To read the alumni outcome document, please follow this link.
Global Campus Alumni for Climate Justice and the Rights of Future Generations Panteion University, Athens 17 – 19 April 2024
The Global Campus Alumni (GCA) recently organised their largest three-day event in years in Athens, Greece. This gathering followed the participation of a “taskforce” consisting of seven alumni from each GC region in the 2023 High-Level Conference in Venice. Subsequently, they planned a year-long alumni programme focusing on climate justice and the rights of future generations. Despite its small size, the taskforce has successfully engaged with over 50 alumni from around the globe, who have been actively involved in various on-the-ground activities. The majority of these alumni attended the conference hosted by Panteion University, a longstanding member of the Global Campus. The event provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the progress of the alumni and to expand their voluntary efforts.
Some activities under the spotlight:
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“Climate Justice and Future Generations – A Beginner’s Guide”, by the EMA Alumni Taskforce on Climate Justice and the Rights of Future Generations.
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ERMA Alumni Activities including the Voices for Tomorrow series.
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ERMA Alumni presentation on climate disinformation.
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Podcast by the HRDA Alumni: Children’s Rights and Climate Change in Africa.
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LATMA Alumni presentation on Climate Justice and Education.
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Photo gallery by the CES Alumni- to be launched soon.
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Presentation on Identifying trends, practices and opportunities to build a shared regional narrative around climate justice – by the ArMA Alumni.
Many activities are still developing and we will continue to engage the alumni community as this collective initiative unfolds.
Photo Gallery
Welcome by EMA Director for Panteion University Prof. Daniella Maria Marouda, UNESCO Chair, Human rights democracy and Peace
Part of the session Greece in the fight for Climate Justice and Child Rights – Youth Participation_Stories from the field
Part of the session Greece in the fight for Climate Justice and Child Rights – Youth Participation_Stories from the field
Part of the presentation of alumni associations by the leaders of alumni associations in all regions- Davina Murden joining online
Presentation and Q&A with Dr. Christos Giannakopoulos, Research Director at the National Observatory of Athens, IPCC National Focal Point for Greece
Alumni exchange with Nikos Chrysogelos, Deputy Mayor of Athens for Climate Governance Social Economy
Presentation and Q&A with Dr. Christos Giannakopoulos, Research Director at the National Observatory of Athens, IPCC National Focal Point for Greece
Take part.
As Global Campus Alumni, we stand together for human rights. The spirit of taking initiative and putting human rights foward is at the core of what we do. We aim to be collaborative and encouraging of the alumni participation in all regions of the Global Campus and beyond. We hope to engage people and partners beyond the alumni.
If you are interested in joining our activities on climate justice and the rights of future generations, please do not hesitate to fill this form. We will get back to you around September/October after the Task Force has validated the action plan.