Political Youth call for Arctic protection

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organising the Polar Day "If the ice melts: what are the consequences?" at the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden on Friday 10 March. Students and civil society organisations will gather to discuss the future of the polar regions and the Dutch involvement in this. The political youth organisations ROOD, Pink, CDJA, Young Socialists, Opposition, Perspectief, the Young Democrats and DWARS are taking this opportunity to present their Arctic Manifesto.

The Arctic Manifesto is an initiative of the PJOs to draw attention to climate change and the consequences for the Arctic. In Dutch politics and certainly during the campaign for the Lower House elections, these issues remain underexposed. The manifesto consists of four key points; minimise the consequences of climate change, protect animal and human habitat, stimulate research and strengthen international cooperation. Having been instigated by Jan Terlouw, it is up to us to keep this cooperation strong and develop it further. Combating climate change is everyone's responsibility. The organisations NJR, World Wildlife Fund and Urgenda, as well as the companies Eneco and KPN, support the Arctic Manifesto.

The Arctic Manifesto will be presented during Polar Day. Foreign Minister Koenders, Member of Parliament Paul van Meenen (D66) and Candidate Member of Parliament Arno Bonte (Groenlinks) will receive the Manifesto at the end of the presentation. The cooperating political youths hope that the Arctic Manifesto will be included in the negotiations for a future coalition agreement.