IISD representing locals on global stage

Winnipeg

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This article was published 22/05/2024 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development is sharing its work from the Experimental Lakes Area at the World Water Forum.

The forum is a global conference connecting conservation experts from around the globe to share important research, findings, and solutions relating to water as a way of combating the ongoing climate crisis

Winnipegger Emily Kroft, youth engagement officer at IISD, has been joined by IISD Next mentorship program participant Alyssa D’Addio at the 10th edition of the forum in Bali, Indonesia. The conference opened May 18 and continues to May 25.

Kroft is highlighting the importance of IISD’s ELA to global conservation efforts.

“On how the full ecosystem experiments we conduct at IISD Experimental Lakes Area contributes to the knowledge we need to create informed water policy,” she explained. In simple terms, the ELA is Canada’s natural test-tube, teeming with fresh water untouched by humans other than the scientists working there.

The forum contacted Kroft about the IISD Next program, she said, as it was looking for more ways to get young people involved with the conference.

“The original interaction took place over a year ago, and I’ve been working (to provide resources, where needed) with the youth delegation since,” she said.

“Part of why it is so important to have Alyssa here with me is that she is representing Canadian youth,” Kroft added. “Canadian youth involvement at the World Water Forum has sometimes been an issue in the past, because we are so far away from many of the places where the forum has taken place. So any opportunity to bring young Canadian voices to this forum is important.”

“I’d say that this is super-important to me,” D’Addio, 24, said. “I’m hoping to take a lot of inspiration from all the amazing youth and changemakers who are here, and who are sharing their experiences and their work in the water field, and put that towards my research and my courses, and make something meaningful out of that.”

The Ontario resident hopes to continue to work in sustainability in the future.

It’s often hard to stay optimistic, she said, as it’s only recently that younger voices such as hers have been heard.

“Plastic pollution is a really horrible issue. (It’s) global, but also has a lot of local impacts. And with that comes microplastics. And that’s pervading everything in our lives, from our food and water sources to the air we breathe, and even our rain … And we don’t yet understand the long-term health consequences for humans and for ecosystems. So that’s something that scares me, you know, especially because we’re pretty young. We (hopefully) have a long life ahead of us. And I’m kind of scared to see how these effects are going to take hold.”

IISD Next hosts workshops, curated by professionals in the industry, throughout the year. Its annual certificate program will be announced in August, according to Kroft, and registration fills up fast.

For more information, visit www.iisd.org/iisd-next