Loughborough University London Chevening scholar selected for UN Youth Climate Summit
Kristeena Monteith, a 2018-19 Chevening scholar attended the UN Youth Climate Summit in New York as one of 17 United Nations Young Leaders for Sustainable Development.
Kristeena studied MA Media and Creative Industries at Loughborough University London and was selected based on her expertise in media for development. In her home country, Jamaica, Kristeena leads a youth focused radio programme, Talk Up Radio, which is run by young people and covers social issues.
The Youth Climate Summit featured a full day of programmes that brought together young activists, innovators, entrepreneurs and change makers committed to combating climate change at the pace and scale needed to meet the climate challenge.
Speaking about her experience, Kristeena said: ‘I've been working hard to particularly help young Jamaicans identify how their small actions contribute to solving the massive problem of climate change, particularly at community level. I've been able to incorporate information learnt in my classes at Loughborough University London, such as the media’s role in environmental degradation and climate action into my work.’
‘I hope my time at the summit makes a tangible impact, providing the youth voice in conversations and decision-making at the highest level across countries and connecting young people around global goals.’
The summit was the first time the UN has convened a summit for young people completely devoted to climate action and aimed to give a voice to the demands of young people seeking far swifter action to combat climate change.
The summit took place on Saturday (21 September 2019) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, as part of a weekend of events leading up to the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit on Monday 23 September.