Annie from Gloucestershire and Aakash from Middlesex will be joining forces with other young journalists from Indonesia to interview the politicians and officials at the heart of the decision making.
Annie said, “This is such a great opportunity... I'd like the governments to make a radical change. It wouldn't take that much to make it happen, it's simple really to stop producing so much CO2."
Aakash added, "Going to Copenhagen will be the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. It has been described as 'the most important meeting of humankind' and I will ensure that the voice of young people is not forgotten. "
Annie and Aakash were trained by Headliners before theirtrip. Alistair Clay, senior press officer Plan UK, said: "The staff at Headliners have given Annie and Aakash a great crash course in journalism. Our young reporters now know how to pull together a decent news story and how to grill those slippery politicians - a skill I'm sure they'll need to employ a great deal in Copenhagen!"
You can find out more about the UNFCCC at http://unfccc.int/2860.php. Meantime check out Annie and Aakash’s first report below.
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown today unveiled plans for young people to be at the heart of Government climate change policy.
Mr Brown, who was speaking at a young person’s question time event in central London, announced that the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) would have youth advisors for the first time.
Top DECC Minister Ed Miliband, who sat alongside the PM, had earlier promised to look into youth advisors in his department but admitted plans were still on the drawing board.
When questioned by audience member Rose Wilson, 16, on this idea Mr Miliband said DECC had been “looking into this” at which point Mr Brown cut in and said “You should just do it!”
Mr Miliband added that, “We will have to get going on it but it won’t be before Copenhagen, afterwards we’ll get on with it.”
Rose Wilson met the Secretary of State last September and asked if DECC would listen to the views of young people.
She said: “I wanted to know why other Government departments and other organisations have youth boards but his didn’t – Climate change will determine our future.
“He said to me ‘Yeah, yeah that’s a great idea’ but it seemed that progress was a little slow. So I asked him again today and the outcome was the best response to a question I have ever had.
“It’s great news that young people will get a chance to be heard on climate change and I am definitely going to chair that board – I hope!”
Youth participation was one of many topics debated at the young person’s question time event in the run up to Copenhagen.
Young people also raised their concerns on issues such as Carbon Capture and Storage, flooding in Bangladesh and how to support poorer countries as they face the devastating effects of climate change.
The Prime Minister praised young people for campaigning on climate change and said their efforts were “essential” to save the planet.
He said: “I get more letters and emails about climate change than any other issue, there is a real pressure from young people to do something about it.
“Young people are not just the audience, you are the activists. When millions of people come together we can make a real difference.”
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband will both be attending the conference in Copenhagen this December.
About this story
This story was produced by Aakash Bharania, 15, and Annie Pickering, 15.
