Sustainable Cayman’s youth ambassadors are seeking sponsorship for trips to two United Nations climate conferences.
Representatives from the environmental charity will be travelling to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France next week and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil in November.
The Ocean Conference will bring together heads of state, scientists, business leaders and campaigners.
The youth ambassadors plan to advocate for climate-resilient coastlines, bio-restoration techniques (such as biorock), and small-island voices in shaping the conference’s action plan.
A Sustainable Cayman spokesperson said this builds on the work of ambassador Isabela Watler, who led ‘Honouring Coasts’, a youth-produced storytelling project spotlighting the cultural heritage of Cayman’s beaches.
It also builds on a policy discussion paper by Matthew Feitelberg ‘Between Sand & Sea’, examining solutions for Seven Mile Beach, including the importance of sediment systems, managed retreat and nature-based restoration.
Last week, Leanni Tibbetts, 29, and Dani Seales, 24, along with the charity’s executive officer, Melanie Carmichael, attended the Global Sustainable Islands Summit in St Kitts and Nevis.
They took part in key sessions and bilateral meetings tackling the environmental challenges facing islands across the world, including a two-day Youth Forum dedicated to empowering young islanders.
The summit focused on water security, energy transition, food resilience, circular economies, nature-based solutions, and social protection, which they found offered critical insights for the Cayman Islands.
Armed with this they have put together an action plan they hope to discuss with Cayman policymakers.
It includes a climate-aligned tourism strategy that balances sustainability, waste reduction, and cultural resilience, a composting education initiative in schools and community gardens, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, and a youth-led green business spotlight series that promotes local sustainability champions.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the ambassadors can email info@sustainablecayman.org or call +345 924-9705.
