On December 3rd, 2023, I participated in COP28 held in Dubai. Following a series of conferences and talks, as well as a stroll through the Expo Pavilion, I found myself at the Youth Hub. There, Céline Semaan Vernon from SlowFactory conducted a workshop addressing climate change and social justice issues.
This particular workshop left a lasting impression on me for several reasons. Despite my acknowledgment that I am not a complete expert on the matter, I observed that social justice concerns seem somewhat overlooked within the climate change agenda. Two key aspects emerged during the workshop:
When social justice was dissected into categories like global health, mental health, and collective care, some attendees chose to leave the room, revealing the existing stigma surrounding these topics.
The workshop was predominantly attended by entrepreneurs and NGOs, with minimal representation from corporate businesses.
Having personally experienced COP, I am grateful for the insights gained. I am now eager to develop concrete ideas inspired by the conferences.