Rachel’s off to talk the talk

BY JESSIE COLQUHOUN

For teenager Rachel Dobric fighting climate change and discussing policies with world leaders will soon be all in a day’s work.

The 17-year-old from Otahuhu is the youngest member of the New Zealand Youth Delegation going to the United Nations conference on climate change in December.

The delegates aim to "take the voice of New Zealand youth" to the conference in Copenhagen and their ultimate goal is to try to influence policy on environmental issues.

But before the conference starts, delegates will meet with other environmentally aware youngsters from all over the world to discuss what stance to take on issues and what to lobby the world leaders for.

They aim to get all New Zealand youth involved in the campaign through blogs, YouTube and school visits, Rachel says.

A Team New Zealand spinnaker donated to the delegates is now travelling the country so young people can write their names and their opinions on it.

The delegates will be reading all of the messages and taking them to Copenhagen.

As well as being involved with the delegation, Rachel helped start the Auckland Youth-Directed Environmental Organisation.

She found out about the New Zealand Youth Delegation when she was invited to an Enviroschools event, ReGeneration, where she was recognised as a youth leader in sustainability.

"I’ve always been environmentally conscious," she says.

She believes young people should be part of the decision-making process on climate change.

"We feel that with climate change it’s today’s youth who will bear the consequences of the life we’re currently living.

"It’s not the policymakers who have to live to see the consequences of the decisions made."

As for the future, Rachel already has her sights set on a career as a diplomat.

She finishes Auckland Girls Grammar School this year.

Rachel plans to study for a conjoint law and arts degree with a double major in history and politics at Auckland University next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News