The youngest COP15 participant invited to sign the City's guestbook
Young Robert signs the guestbook of the City of Montreal alongside Mayor Plante.
It’s in a fine atmosphere, as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted late at night, that the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, this morning invited the youngest participant of COP15 to sign the City's guestbook.
At only 10 years old, young Robert became known for his YouTube channel Robert at Children’s Climate Championship. He talks about the preservation of biodiversity and climate change with other young people or with scientists from all over the world.
Arrived from Toronto, where he is from, Robert spent the two weeks at COP15 and was able to discuss with those involved in the protection of biodiversity. He and the mayor had met at the Palais des Congrès at the very beginning of the Conference. Robert also took advantage of the event on biodiversity to have many dignitaries present on site sign a book.
“Personally as mayor, what motivates me enormously on environmental issues are the young people who have been present from the start, who send us very strong messages and ask us to act and show courage,” explained Valérie. Plant.
“I came because I want to help change the world and make it a better place,” said young Robert. Following COP15, I hope schools will be more nature-friendly places, with more pollinating trees in playgrounds, outdoor classrooms and teaching about climate change.”
The Mayor took the opportunity to express her joy at the announcement earlier in the day of the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
“COP15, we won it and it’s really a great satisfaction, it’s a relief because it’s important to reach an agreement that will allow us to have all the means to face climate challenges, said the mayor. It’s not the only thing to save biodiversity, but it’s really important […] I am extremely happy that it is in Montreal, that the most important COP in history ends in a positive way .”
She was subsequently delighted that biodiversity was able to have an important place, whereas the COPs on the climate normally benefit from more visibility.
