Youth participation at the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns. Forum held in Bilbao from a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

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1 Youth participation at the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns Forum held in Bilbao from a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on 12 April 2016 Outcome document Co-creation is the art of creating together This document seeks to compile the main ideas and reflections generated in the Youth Forum held on 12 April 2016, in the run up to the 8 th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns. Workshop_12 April Pg. 1

2 8 young men and 8 young women from different points of the Basque Country played a leading role in the forum. Specifically, they were: Iraide Alonso Carlos Martín Olatz Tueros Pablo Albero Inés Aranguren Mikel Peña Andrea Paramo Jon Serrano Beatriz Salas Jon Cereceda Mari Fraya Aguirre Josu Garate Itzel Torres Aitor Cañamero Aitor Martínez Ane Leizeaga IES Kantauri BHI Santurtzi Somorrostro Irakasgunea Muskiz Colegio Calasancio Bilbao IES Dolores Ibarruri BHI Abanto-Zierbena Egibide Vitoria-Gasteiz Lizardi BHI Zarautz La Anunciata Donostia Olazabal BHI Legazpi Eskerrik asko guztioi! Thank you for your input giving content and meaning to this Forum. It has been a pleasure! Workshop_12 April Pg. 2

Structure of the document On the basis of the different phases or moments of the workshop, this outcome document is structured as follows: Moment 1.

3 Structure of the document On the basis of the different phases or moments of the workshop, this outcome document is structured as follows: Moment 1. What do we believe a Sustainable City or Town to be? What do we think that means? Moment 2. From our perspective as young people, what are the main challenges that we face today to be sustainable? Moment 3. What are the levers for change? What are the resources that we have today and which are fundamental for change? Moment 4. Messages for the people taking part in the 8 th Conference. The contents and outcomes created by the Forum in each phase are as follows: Workshop_12 April Pg. 3

4 Moment 1. What do we believe a Sustainable City or Town to be? What do we think that means? After an initial individual refection, each participant shaped their ideas using the different parts and figures available on the work table. Thus, the images and forms created were used to express what each young participant considered a sustainable city or town to be. The results are as follows: The Sustainable City or Town: Brings people and their needs to centre stage - The individual and their needs are at the centre of decision making. Assumes that working for sustainability is necessary - Sustainability is not a whim, but rather something necessary, mandatory. It is not an option, but rather the only possible way. Respects, cares for and coexists with its environment in balance and harmony - There is communication, connection and coexistence with Nature and Biodiversity. - There is collective awareness about caring for the environment. - The natural resources are used with respect and care. Is committed to renewable energies Workshop_12 April Pg. 4

5 - It researches and develops the opportunities arising from solar, wind, earth, sea energy, etc. - It minimises greenhouse gas emissions. Minimises and manages waste - Waste is well managed and the vast majority is recovered as raw material. Develops urban planning that is compact, diverse and connected to the environment - It is committed to compact planning rather than dispersion. - It searches for relations and connections with the surrounding environment. Nature is also in the city. - It prioritises relationship spaces: human and friendly squares, parks, streets... - It fosters the use of public and collective transport. Supports and fosters the local production and consumption of food - It has a network of organic allotments. - It aims for food sovereignty. - It minimises long-distance transportation of food. Develops the circular economy - It uses waste from some phases as raw materials for others. - It uses natural resources efficiently. Researches to find news solutions and creative methods - New solutions that enable cities to be more sustainable; we are trapped by our own economic model regarding some issues. - It uses technology to generate more efficient solutions. Is committed to collaborate and team work as the way forward Educates, trains and empowers people - Education for sustainable development is integrated in the school and embraced by society. - There is investment in education, within reach of everyone. Workshop_12 April Pg. 5

6 Moment 2. From our perspective as young people, what are the main challenges that we face today to be sustainable? What are the key points today? What are the main challenges or priority areas of action? And the response constructed by the group was as follows: Main challenges today: To generate greater social consciousness and awareness - By educating, training on the issues and awareness-raising - Forming networks of individuals and stakeholders working for sustainability. - By fostering the action and commitment of the public and of the socio-economic stakeholders. - By integrating sustainability and all its development in formal education: sustainable economy, sustainable habits Workshop_12 April Pg. 6

7 Main challenges today: To progress towards a more sustainable economy - Based on greater social demand for new solutions, forms, work methods, sectors of activity, - By generating greater awareness in companies and adopting specific commitments. - By reducing environmental impacts to the minimum. - By prioritising environmental and social interests also in companies. - By investing economic and human resources, etc., in technology to facilitate the development of new solutions. To invest more in research and technology - To generate more efficiency solutions in all fields: transport, energy, waste management, social care, circular economy - By bringing R&D&I closer to the training centres: VT, University - By generating a technological culture from the school. To connect the citizens and the governments - By bringing the policies and action of the governments to people and society. - By involving the general public in defining, developing and assessing sustainable policies. - In short, by building bridges. To put the health of people and the environment in centre stage - By generating low-polluted areas and environments. - By fostering the adoption of healthy habits: use of public transport, promoting healthy and local food - By developing related research. And all of this keeping in mind that our generation is fundamental. We will be living with the consequences of climate change, of the depletion of resources such as oil and we will therefore be the generation that needs to step up and lead and manage the changes needed. There is no other. The process will be slow but we will step-by-step generating a network of people, stakeholders committed to the only possible option: The only way is sustainability no matter what. Workshop_12 April Pg. 7

8 Moment 3. What are the levers for change? What are the resources that we have today and which are fundamental for change? Based on these answers, the group of young people worked on a collective response as a Forum. Levers for change: Now is the time - Young people are aware of what changes are needed. It is in sight. Every day we see the consequences of a model that does not work. - When looking at the steps already taken, we are forward-looking in the need to progress. We have the ability to work together - We know that collaborative work and cooperation between people generates an unstoppable force. The force of society that does not have to wait for government, but which in itself is capable of driving and fostering changes. Accumulated experience - There are governments, cities, towns, etc that are taking significant steps. That experience is needed to continue progressing and developing new ways and paths. Workshop_12 April Pg. 8

9 Levers for change: Research and technology - They are necessary tools to generate solutions applied to different fields such as transport, urban development, energy, caring for the elderly, etc. Solutions that, little by little, are emerging. - In this regard, economic, human, etc. resources need to continue being allocated to keep advancing along this path. - Furthermore, technology helps to foster networks and connections between people around the world: to drive changes, to generate social demand, to share knowledge Commitment and collective and individual action - We need to delve further into the coherence between what we already know and our collective and individual action. We have knowledge but we need to go further in practice and in sustainable action. - Co-responsibility in our decisions and actions. Workshop_12 April Pg. 9

10 Moment 4. Messages for the people taking part in the 8th Conference The Forum ended with each young participant being asked to write what their message would be to send and share with the delegates at the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns. And the literal words and messages written by the 16 young men and women are as follows: We have the ability to change the present and particularly the future, and so improve health, education and, overall the quality of life of society. We have sufficient resources to do so, including renewable energies, the development of technology and awareness-raising among young people. Nature is not our enemy, but is our friend. Therefore, society must act to work in partnership with and not against it, maintaining or improving what we have through research and seeking to eradicate the destruction with the resources that technology provides. We are the generation that can change the future, and, therefore, we must make society aware of the current problems. We therefore need new technologies and also research. So, we are asking the government to invest in renewable energies to avoid a bad situation in the future. It is now the time to create sustainable towns and cities; and cooperation is essential to do so. We have to change our mindset together and raise awareness together. If we can achieve this, we will have incorporated sustainability and we will not imagine any other model of society that is not sustainable. Workshop_12 April Pg. 10

11 If we want a future, we have to create a sustainable world. It is no longer a whim, a mere desire; it is the only way possible. The challenge is complex and the path to achieving it slow, but we must strive ahead, all of us together, making sure we always cooperate. This awareness has to be disseminated through education and put into practice, so that each person can do their bit. We can create a better future between us. If the world continues this way, everything is in danger: both for us and for future generations. This message needs to reach people and we better get it, because it is a real problem. You can't just think, "well, someone will do something", no, something has to be done and it has to be now. There will be many people who think that this issue does not affect them, but what will happen to your children? Even though change is not immediate, change will be important in the future. There are no great dreams, but small dreamers. Everything is possible with effort and between us all, change is in our hands: in short, is this the world that we want to leave to our children? Progressing is possible and if we work together, young and old alike, we will be able to turn incredible proposals into reality. If 2 heads are better than one, I cannot imagine what we could achieve all together. A sustainable municipality is not an option, it is our future. There may be people more expert in this, but in any case, it is up to everyone to look after the environment, like a society, working together and making progress. We can only achieve this goal with everyone's commitment. We need to work together and try to achieve the goal. We need to fight for our future. The young people of Euskal Herria know that our generation is fundamental for the future of our towns and cities. And we are ready to be able to drive change! Workshop_12 April Pg. 11

12 Commitment. This is what the young people and the society of Euskal Herria, Europe and the world want. That what is signed in this Conference is actually applied. That everything said here will not just be a lot of talk. If not, you will feel our lack of interest and stagnation. It is true that some sacrifices are needed, but we are sure that we will happily make them for the good of the environment to be able to guarantee our future. We are the future. We have really improved, but there is still much that can be done. We can achieve great things with the help of everyone and supporting each other, even though the path is long". "Towns and cities, both small and large alike, will be together from today and until Friday to talk and discuss the challenges and also the resources, the strengths we have. But that alone is not enough, because even though thinking is important, doing is even more so. We all know about the current situation of the planet, we are aware of it. But even though we have done a great deal to protect it, there is still much more to do; and we need the help of everyone for those improvements, we need to work together to protect the environment and biodiversity". It is up to all of us to achieve a better world; so, when it comes to acting, we have to think about the - positive or negative - effect that our actions have, about what we can do to improve the world... Think globally, act locally. The thing is that the planet is not at its best right now; it is telling us that we need to take action or we will disappear. So, why aren t we taking that action? The answer is easy, because money is more important than our existence. Money has become so important that it is standing in the way of very good project, because we are losing money. But the key question would be: how important would money be if there was no life on the planet where we live, due to our hunger for money? We have to realise that we must look after the environment, without putting a price on it; otherwise, the evolution that has taken so long will disappear in just a few years. Workshop_12 April Pg. 12

Thank you very much to all! Iraide - Carlos - Olatz - Pablo - Inés - Mikel - Andrea - Jon - Beatriz - Jon - Mari - Josu - Itzel - Aitor - Aitor - Ane Thank you for making this Forum a reality.

13 Thank you very much to all! Iraide - Carlos - Olatz - Pablo - Inés - Mikel - Andrea - Jon - Beatriz - Jon - Mari - Josu - Itzel - Aitor - Aitor - Ane Thank you for making this Forum a reality. Thank you for your thoughts and work. Thank you for making it easy. This document is yours. Zorionak! (Congratulations!) We hope to see you at the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns Pablo, Inés and Jon will make your wishes, requests and commitments be heard. Workshop_12 April Pg. 13

Please send your responses by to: This consultation closes on Friday, 8 April 2016.

Please send your responses by to: This consultation closes on Friday, 8 April 2016. CONSULTATION OF STAKEHOLDERS ON POTENTIAL PRIORITIES FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN THE 2018-2020 WORK PROGRAMME OF HORIZON 2020 SOCIETAL CHALLENGE 5 'CLIMATE ACTION, ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND