As thousands of delegates gather to discuss the Kyoto Protocol at the largest UN climate change conference in history, young people will present their own vision through debate, dialogue and protest starting with an International Youth Summit

WHEN: Nov. 24-28: Beyond Kyoto International Youth Summit

Nov. 28 -- Dec. 9: UN Conference on Climate Change. List of highlighted youth events during conference is below.

WHERE: Montreal, Canada

WHAT: Youth and students from around the world plan to have a strong presence at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Montreal, the largest climate change conference in history and the first meeting of the parties of the Kyoto Protocol. They will gather just before the conference for an International Youth Summit from Nov. 24-28 to generate their own vision of the world and action on climate change. Throughout the conference they will also hold press conferences, publish a daily newsletter, and organize creative actions to push for stronger measures from the US and other countries to combat global warming.

"As young people, we are the ones who are going to bear the burden of global warming and its effects on ecosystems, economies, families and public health for years to come. We have an extraordinary opportunity to reinvent our energy policy to create jobs and protect us from risks years down the road. Young people are already stepping up to the plate in their communities; what we need now is our elected officials and especially the US government to do the same." said Scott Paul of Citizens for Global Solutions.

The 100 youth and students attending the youth summit will create a Youth Declaration on climate change that they will present to the entire UN delegation to remind them that young people today will have to live and cope with the adverse effects of global warming for generations to come. US youth are attending to pressure the US government, which has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The slogan for the coalition of youth groups is "Stop asking how much it will cost you and start asking how much it will cost us."

Below are some of the highlighted youth events that will take place before and during the conference. Additionally, the young people will produce a daily newsletter during the UN conference and hold daily actions at the conference center. These events are being organized US and Canadian youth and environmental groups, including Energy Action, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sustain US, Sierra Student Coalition, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Global Exchange. Canadian groups are Sierra Student Coalition, Équiterre, Solar Generation, Coalition Québec-vert-Kyoto and the Youth Environment Network.

Thursday, Nov. 24-Monday, Nov. 28: Beyond Kyoto International Youth Summit Youth from around the world will meet in Montreal to prepare a declaration on climate change in advance of the UN climate change conference. See www.beyondkyoto.org.

Tuesday, Nov. 29: Presentation of Youth Declaration on Climate Change 1 -- 3 PM, Salle Mousseau, Complexe Guy-Favreau (200 René-Levesque Blvd. West), Montreal

Nov. 22-Dec. 10: "Save Hockey, Stop Climate Change" Hockey Games Youth will be handing out material outside NHL hockey games in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Ottawa. There will also be a special "save hockey" event on Nov. 30 or Dec. 1 in front of the UN conference. See www.savehockey.ca

Dec. 3: Worldwide Day of Protest on Climate Change Events will be taking place throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world. See www.globalclimatecampaign.org/ or www.climatecrisiscoalition.org

Dec. 5th -- Fiddling while the Earth Burns 50 youth wearing togas, wreaths and masks of President Bush will be fiddling with giant puppets outside the Palais des Congres from 8am-10am. The action will have great visuals and a strong message to the U.S. government.