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Message from Our Chief Mentor
There is still a great deal of suspense whether the US would withdraw from the Paris agreement on climate change. Unfortunately, the provisions for withdrawal and the timeline for it to take effect are such that for the next four years the US withdrawal would have no more than a psychological or political impact on the rest of the world. Fortunately, the French Presidential election has clearly reiterated the continuation of France’s commitment to the Paris agreement and serious action to deal with climate change. It is essential for all of us to act on the strong scientific consensus provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and to show the world that climate change is by far the most important challenge facing humanity and this planet. It is, therefore, essential to make sure that we continue with action involving the willing and at the same time enlarge the constituency of the willing. Youth have to be at the vanguard of the grassroots initiatives that the world must carve out and pursue with a sense of urgency. In the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC, and by implication in most of the findings of the Fifth Assessment Report, it has been indicated that global emissions must peak no later than 2020 if we do not want to face the impossibility of coming up with technologies and actions that may be beyond our capacity to develop. A groundswell of action and public opinion is essential for increasing the level of ambition of governments from across the globe, if we are to ensure the effectiveness of the Paris agreement, and youth have to be the drivers of this increase in ambition. Dr. R. K. Pachauri Chief Mentor |
BIOVISION Conference and Visit to France
A major conference held annually in Lyon, France is entitled “Biovision”, where Dr. R.K. Pachauri addressed the participants of this conference in the opening session of the event. This conference was attended largely by specialists drawn from the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies and related sectors of the economy. It was important for this group to understand the health impacts of climate change, which apart from heat waves, extreme precipitation events and other sea level rise related extreme events also include an increase in vector-borne diseases. The medical profession and the pharmaceutical companies need to understand the complexity and scale of health challenges that the world would face in the future.
The occasion of Biovision was also used for events in the three La Martinière institutions in Lyon. Dr. R.K. Pachauri went to school in La Martinière College, Lucknow, the founder of which, Major General Claude Martin, also left resources for these three institutions which flourish in Major General Martin’s city of birth, Lyon. In all the three schools in Lyon, the students, teachers and the leadership of these institutions agreed to implement the POP Movement. This would be the first effort in bringing the POP Movement to France, and it is intended that while the three La Martinière institutions evolve as models of POP institutions, we would expand the effort to other parts of France as well.
A particularly significant meeting, while Dr. R K Pachauri was en route to Lyon, was the lunch meeting he had with our distinguished member of the International Advisory Board, Madame Albina du Boisrouvray in Paris. They were also joined by Mr. Brice Lalonde, former Minister of the Environment of France. In Lyon, Dr. Pachauri also held a useful meeting with Mme Priscillia Andrieu, who will be helping with the progress of the POP Movement in France.
The occasion of Biovision was also used for events in the three La Martinière institutions in Lyon. Dr. R.K. Pachauri went to school in La Martinière College, Lucknow, the founder of which, Major General Claude Martin, also left resources for these three institutions which flourish in Major General Martin’s city of birth, Lyon. In all the three schools in Lyon, the students, teachers and the leadership of these institutions agreed to implement the POP Movement. This would be the first effort in bringing the POP Movement to France, and it is intended that while the three La Martinière institutions evolve as models of POP institutions, we would expand the effort to other parts of France as well.
A particularly significant meeting, while Dr. R K Pachauri was en route to Lyon, was the lunch meeting he had with our distinguished member of the International Advisory Board, Madame Albina du Boisrouvray in Paris. They were also joined by Mr. Brice Lalonde, former Minister of the Environment of France. In Lyon, Dr. Pachauri also held a useful meeting with Mme Priscillia Andrieu, who will be helping with the progress of the POP Movement in France.
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Conference in Mexico City on Earth Day, 2017
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On Earth Day a major event was held in Mexico City (CDMX), at which the speakers included Mr. Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Secretary of Energy of Mexico; Dr. Miguel Ángel Mancera, Mayor of CDMX; and Dr. Salomón Chertorivski, Secretary of Economic Development of CDMX; as well as Dr. R.K. Pachauri. The occasion was used to inform the public about the establishment of the Office of Sustainable Energy (OSE) in CDMX, which would pilot the City’s move towards a clean energy future. The POP Movement is helping the leadership and Government of CDMX in developing a roadmap for a clean energy future for CDMX.
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The POP Movement at Earth Day Texas
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The POP Movement spoke at the Earth Day Texas session titled "Youth Impact for the Environment" on April 21, 2017.
Businessman and philanthropist Trammell S. Crow founded Earth Day Texas in 2011, and it has gotten bigger every year since. This year Earth Day weekend, attracted about 150,000 to the Texas State Fairgrounds. School groups, families, college students saw 850 exhibitors, and about 260 speakers come together to talk about protecting the environment. |
Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chief Mentor, POP Movement (above, left), Dr. Ash Pachauri, Senior Mentor, POP Movement (above, center), and Cade Terada, US Arctic Youth Ambassador (above, right)
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Message from Professor Michael Mann
In his video message (below) Dr. Michael Mann, Professor at Pennsylvania State University urges young people to speak up and take climate action.
In his video message (below) Dr. Michael Mann, Professor at Pennsylvania State University urges young people to speak up and take climate action.
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Youth Workshop with the City Government of Mexico
As proposed by the POP Movement to the Mayor and officials of CDMX, a group of young students from the universities in the City were selected for developing a roadmap for a clean energy future for CDMX. The POP Movement has pursued this initiative with the students over the past few weeks, and on Monday, April 24 a workshop was held on the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where this collection of young talent carried out work in groups to develop a proposed roadmap. The students came up with very innovative ideas, and all of this is now being put together to create a draft roadmap for discussion with officials in CDMX and sharing with the public.
As proposed by the POP Movement to the Mayor and officials of CDMX, a group of young students from the universities in the City were selected for developing a roadmap for a clean energy future for CDMX. The POP Movement has pursued this initiative with the students over the past few weeks, and on Monday, April 24 a workshop was held on the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where this collection of young talent carried out work in groups to develop a proposed roadmap. The students came up with very innovative ideas, and all of this is now being put together to create a draft roadmap for discussion with officials in CDMX and sharing with the public.
POP Movement in China: Prerna Moves to Changsha
The POP Movement is delighted to inform all its supporters and well-wishers that Ms. Prerna Shah, Youth Mentor, has moved to Changsha, China, and is functioning from the BROAD Township to promote and pursue the POP Movement in China. This is the result of exemplary generosity by Chairman Zhang Yue, the founder and leader of the BROAD group of companies, which has provided financial support and infrastructure to the POP Movement, to ensure the progress of the POP Movement in that country.
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Launch of Sustainability Office in Mexico City
As mentioned earlier, the leadership and Government of CDMX have set up an Office of Sustainable Energy (OSE), on the charter of which comments were provided by the POP Movement during its finalization. This organization is a unique innovation, which would ensure Mexico City moving towards a clean energy future and promoting the development of actions to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases. In the coming weeks and months the POP Movement will be involved in a dialogue with officials of CDMX and various stakeholders in the City to see that the OSE and the roadmap being developed for CDMX receive comments and ownership of the people of the City. |
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Conference at UNAM, Mexico City
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A major presentation was made at the School of Economics in UNAM on April 25, 2017. Present during the presentation and discussions were Dr. Eduardo Vega Lopez, Director of the School; Dr. Carlos Gay, Coordinador.
Climate Change Research Program; Dr. Salomón Chertorivski, Secretary of Economic Development of CDMX; and his colleagues Mr. Ricardo Becerra, Under-Secretary; and Mr. Abraham Torres. The students entered into lively discussion on actions that are required to be taken under the POP Movement, and it is expected that UNAM as an institution would implement the POP Movement as a major program in the coming weeks and months. UNAM in Mexico City is one of the largest universities in the world, with a sprawling campus, where the POP Movement can not only make a major impact within the campus to also provide a giant scale model for replication in other locations and institutions. |
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POP Movement on An Interactive Map
Click the markers on the map to glance at the POP Movement's activities in different parts of the world