Copenhagen – 7 December 2009, marked the start of the world’s most important and anticipated United Nations Climate Change Conference. COP15 was opened by the Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen who set the tone and stakes of the conference which were to set a strong, ambitious, just, equitable, effective, operational, exclusive and transparent agreement at the end of the two week period. World Scouting recognizes that the environment plays a key role in the education of youth in the Movement and to the world at large.

Climate change is the world’s biggest environmental challenge. It will affect the young people of today and future generations. Scouting develops young people to be good citizens able to play a constructive role in society, with the vision of ‘Creating a Better World’. It is essential that everyone contributes to the challenge of climate change and we are committed to ensuring that Scouts are part of the solution.

The Scouts in Denmark invited international Scout leaders to Denmark during COP15. A total of thirty-two Scout leaders participated in a ‘Scouts for Climate’ Summit which was hosted by the Danish Guide and Scout Association. During the summit the Scout leaders were trained in different skills to empower them to mobilise their own National Scout Organisations to engage in climate projects. The Scout Association of Guyana was represented by its Climate Ambassador Mr. Sean Mendonca who is presently an Assistant District Commissioner at the National Level and a Troop Leader with the St. Stanislaus College Scout Group.

The Inter-American Scout Region was represented by leaders from Canada, USA, Mexico and Guyana.

Guyana was the only country represented for the Caribbean Region.

Other Scout Associations that were represented at the Scouts for Climate Summit included: Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Bhutan, Seychelles and Australia. During the summit, the bond of Scouting was strengthened among participants and all are now better prepared and inspired to plan and implement projects in their respective countries that will help in the combat Climate Change.

Scouts in Guyana will soon be embarking on its climate project which will address the issue of food security for the world’s changing climate. Local Scouts will learn about hydroponics gardening and will be involved in growing their own food at their Scout Headquarters.