Focusing Youth on the Relationship Between Weather and Climate for World Meteorological Day 2014

World Meteorological Day is celebrated every year on March 23 and as we experience ever more extreme weather events attributable to climate change, this day has acquired an ominous importance. This year's World Meteorological Day theme is “Weather and climate: engaging youth."

Young people alive today will suffer from even greater impacts from climate change in the second half of the 21st century. So this day is an opportunity to encourage youth to learn more about our weather and climate system and to get involved in efforts to combat climate change. Sadly only a small percentage of people actively engage climate issues, so this day is an opportunity to encourage people to act.

"There is no standstill in global warming," said World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. "The warming of our oceans has accelerated and at lower depths. More than 90 percent of the excess energy trapped by greenhouse gases is stored in the oceans. Levels of these greenhouse gases are at record levels, meaning that our atmosphere and oceans will continue to warm for centuries to come.

Event - Beyond Green Environmental Youth Summit

Beyond Green Environmental Youth Summit will take place on Friday October 25 to Sunday October 27, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario. This event is from Earth Day Canada's Ecomentors and will take place at the University of Toronto. This summit will explore environmental issues from every angle and develop strategies to spark change in your community. Whatever your passion, there is a path. Whether you’re an artist, scientist, frontline activist, or new to the scene, Beyond Green provides the techniques, tools, and connections you need to take action.

Event - Power Shift 2013: Youth Conference Convenes to Fight Climate Change

Power Shift 2013 will take place October 18 - 21st in Pittsburgh, PA. There are expected to be 10,000+ youth leaders converging on Pittsburgh to combat climate change and fight for the future. Young people will come together from all walks of life including college students, young environmental justice leaders, DREAMers, young people of faith, and young workers. At this conference attendees will learn from one another and go back to their communities where they will build and launch strategic campaigns.

Issues on the agenda include the fight against fracking, and the Keystone XL pipeline. They will also address the issues of divestment from fossil fuels, clean energy, and of course, the climate crisis.

Children and the Future of Sustainability

As the most vulnerable members of our societies, environmental destruction impacts children first and foremost. Children are also those who are most likely to endure the impacts of a polluted environment over the longest period. Climate change is already killing one thousand children every day. The importance of educating children about the environment was addressed at the Rio+ conference. There are some basic sustainability issues that must be addressed. Things like clean water and clean air are basic concerns that are fundamentally important to many children all around the world.

In the world today there are 2.6 billion people are without access to basic sanitation; 67 million children of primary school age are out of school. A lack water and sanitation services which is a leading cause of mortality for both children and their mothers. Indoor air pollution from particulate matter is responsible for 900,000 deaths in children under the age of five.