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By Aart Bos 

MasterPeace Leadership 

The Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015 formulated 3 practical goals to combat climate change and its impacts. 

1. To limit global warming increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss;

2. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

3. To promote sustainable development to ensure that efforts to address climate change are integrated with broader sustainable development goals, such as reducing poverty, improving access to clean energy, and protecting ecosystems.

As the world faces increasing impacts of climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest report in 2022, which highlights the key findings and consequences of global warming. Here are the main takeaways from the report:

1. The climate is changing at an unprecedented rate: The report confirms that human activities are causing climate change, and the evidence is clearer than ever before. The earth has already warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius, and this warming is projected to continue in the coming decades, regardless of mitigation efforts.

2. Impacts of climate change are intensifying: The report highlights that the impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world, including more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. These events are leading to significant economic and social consequences, including damage to infrastructure, displacement of people, and loss of biodiversity.

3. Urgent action is needed to limit global warming: The report stresses the importance of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.

Governments, business and civil society need to act and align agenda’s and objectives

The MasterPeace network in 45 countries will launch a campaign “CooLeaders” to act for climate change. In 2022 our network realized 400 projects with local impact. All focussed to engage, connect and empower thousands of youngsters. We will engage them to start dialogues and actions to meet the challenging ambitions mentioned in the Paris agreement and in as a last warning in the IPCC report.

We will raise awareness about the urgency of the issue and promote action at the grassroots level and continue to work with vulnerable communities to help them adapt to the changing climate, by promoting sustainable farming practices, enhancing disaster preparedness, and providing support for those who are affected by extreme weather events.

We will advocate for policy changes at the national and international levels and work with governments and business to ensure that climate change is integrated into development policies and business plans. 

We will co create with media to raise awareness about the issue and highlight the innovations that are already available for vulnerable communities and continue to work on new solutions.

As a global movement we will scale great ideas from one city to all our changemakers in 45 countries. Scaling is key to speed up transformation. 

In summary, CSOs like MasterPeace have a crucial role to play in the effort to limit global warming to 1.5°C and prevent catastrophic climate change. We can raise awareness, promote adaptation and resilience, advocate for policy changes, co create with governments and businesses on innovative solutions and promote international cooperation. 

Since our start in 2011 Our mission is to connect, support and strengthen CSOs for more social impact and share and scale innovative best practices to engage, connect and empower young people locally to use their talents for a peaceful, inclusive & sustainable future.

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Aart Bos

Global Leadership MasterPeace Foundation

Climate impact; “You won't see it until you realize it”

I always was a fan of Johan Cruyff, and as I am Dutch, off course I think he was the best soccer player ever. When I was young boy I tried to copy his moves, in later years I was intrigued by his vision on leadership in- and outside the pitch.

Regarding my topic of climate impact his statement “You won’t see it until you realize it” resonates best.

Two weeks ago we organized the MasterPeace bootcamp with 40 MasterPeace friends from 6 countries in South East Asia. Besides the great bonding we discussed in depth global and regional challenges like corruption, climate impact, brain drain and migration, lack of social inclusion and gender gaps and how to cope with this multicomplex animal.

As the word “Crisis” originates from cross roads we are at the brink of a disasters that can be transformed in an innovation and collaboration opportunity. This however requires immediate and profound actions from all the 8 billion people on this planet. By both government, business and civil society who need to align agendas and objectives.

I like to share some of our considerations:

1. Climate change does not directly and automatically lead to more insecurity and conflict. However, climate change can exacerbate existing risk factors, especially in already fragile contexts. These risks can exacerbate challenges related to governance or deepen the marginalisation of some groups, in particular women and girls.

2. Climate change affects us all – but it does not affect us all equally. Social norms, expectations, and power dynamics determined by gender, age, ethnicity, race, socio-economic status and other identity markers shape the ways people experience climate change impacts and their associated security risk

3. Gender and other dimensions of identity play a critical role in determining how people experience, respond to and recover from climate-related security risks, which can further entrench inequalities:

• Women have distinct roles in natural resource management and livelihood production and therefore have unique knowledge and capacities for designing effective adaptation strategies;

• In communities experiencing the out-migration of men, women are often faced with larger burdens to care for their households and the community and therefore have particular needs as well as abilities;

• Women and men often face different risks of violence. Understanding what these risks are is an essential first step to designing effective protection and prevention strategies.

4. Context matters: The combination of exposure and vulnerability determines the impact of climate stresses and shocks on peace and security. Socio-economic, political, and demographic factors shape the risk landscape and the potential for climate change to exacerbate insecurity, conflict and violence. Where coping capacities at the state, community and individual levels are weak, responding to climate shocks is more difficult and a negative cycle of disaster and conflict can emerge. Multiple layers of marginalisation and compounding discrimination are at stake. Two of the evident consequences:

Local resource competition (conflicts and wars often originate from e.g. water scarcity or the battle on access to lithium as a valuable source in our mobile phones)

Livelihood insecurity- (drought and flood destroy our crops like in Pakistan in 2022; The floods affected all four of the country’s provinces and approximately 15% of its population. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says that six months after the Government of Pakistan declared a national emergency, approximately 1.8 million people are still living near contaminated and stagnant floodwater

5. Climate related security risks are not a challenge reserved for developing countries, but affect countries in regions all over the world. The Global East and South are hit first and the hardest. The Global West and North can learn from their resilience and innovation;

In Europe we are working especially on the behaviour of youngsters. To create awareness that the not only have the voting power once every 4 years, but a daily buying power with their € Euro’s; As lifestyles change and consumption grows similar behaviour will increasingly be replicated in emerging and developing countri

Our approach:

This multi-layered complexity requires a holistic approach. Building sustainable peace and resilient communities requires integrated action and an intersectional lens.

As MasterPeace clubs we agreed that we cannot afford to be a bystander. Moreover the 440 projects we realized globally in 2022  mostly address these 3 domains.

The drive is present, we need to promote the great ideas and best practises and scale them. The urgency challenges us to scale up, to co create with partners, connecting the dots, act and drive the change. The MasterPeace habitat and traditional background are the youngsters with whom we have a trusted relationship.

We invite municipalities, governments and business to align innovation power and our agenda’s to engage, connect and empower for a peaceful, inclusive & sustainable future.

A last quote of Johan Cruyff; “if you do not shoot, you will not score”. 

“If you and me do “not ACT NOW you and me will not have a sustainable future”

How are Kosovar youth tearing down barriers between multiethnic communities?

The stage of youth is a pivotal period in an individual's journey of self-discovery, where they shape their sense of self as an individual and as a member of a broader community. In Kosovo, however, this development is often hindered by the pervasive presence of hate speech and prejudices directed towards various groups, including ethnic and minority groups; Serbian, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities. The aftermath of Kosovo’s War in 90s from Serbia created this societal context, the country was left deeply divided along ethnic lines. As a result, members of different communities in Kosovo often lead highly segregated lives, with little interaction or integration between them. This isolation reinforces the creation of a construct of "the other," which is defined by the prejudices and stereotypes passed down through family, media, and educational systems. This process perpetuates an antagonistic distinction between two seemingly monolithic identities: the good and righteous" "we," versus the evil and unjust "they." 

The impact of these dynamics on the development of individual and collective identities among youth in Kosovo is concerning. The creation of the above-mentioned rigid, dichotomous identities can lead to the stigmatization and exclusion of entire communities, hindering the development of empathy and understanding across ethnic and cultural lines. In order to promote a more inclusive and cohesive society, it is essential to address the root causes of these issues, including the harmful effects of hate speech, prejudice, and rigid identities, and to promote greater interaction and understanding between different communities in Kosovo. 

The challenges facing youth in Kosovo in terms of developing their identities and the skills necessary to succeed in the modern workforce are interconnected. Since the 1999 war, the education sector in Kosovo has been a major concern. The struggle of young people to access quality education has resulted in potential barriers to their entry and advancement in the workforce, thus limiting their opportunities and potential for success. 

Despite efforts to improve the quality and quantity of education provided to young people, many employers report that graduates need to prepare for the demands of the modern workforce. The new Framework Curriculum aims to address this gap by shifting the focus from knowledge-based education to a more skills-based approach. However, the implementation of this approach will take time, and it will require a significant shift in teaching methods and attitudes towards education. Only then can Kosovo's education system meet the demands of the labor market and support the country's economic growth and development.

In Kosovo, civil society organizations are actively addressing the challenges faced by young people. SIT, a non-governmental organization, is committed to creating a safe and inclusive society where individuals can achieve their potential regardless of social identities. Through non-formal education, SIT works to promote peacebuilding, prevent radicalization, and enhance conflict-management skills among youth. For instance, SIT collaborated with the Kosovo Ministry of Justice and correctional services through the YMI+ program to prevent radicalization and facilitate resocialization of juveniles in correctional institutions. Additionally, SIT's "Break the Ice" and "Break the Ice 2.0" projects fostered social cohesion and inter-ethnic cooperation among youth in Kosovo and Serbia. SIT's "Enhancing Conflict-Management Skills of Youth" project aimed to strengthen conflict resilience and promote language rights for youth in Kosovo's diverse communities. The project involved language courses, residential camps, and workshops on topics such as violence, diversity, inter-ethnic dialogue, tolerance, human rights, gender equality, and inclusion. Overall, SIT's initiatives are crucial in promoting a peaceful and inclusive society in Kosovo.

The lack of perspective is often cited as a contributing factor to the conflicts and segregation that have been present in Kosovo. MasterPeace and SIT are currently collaborating to organize dialogue between ethnic communities in Kosovo. The organizations are working together to encourage critical and creative thinking through programs aimed at creating a more sustainable future for young people in Kosovo. The collaboration aims to eliminate segregation and promote a future that is more inclusive and equitable. 

MasterPeace & SIT believe that diversity is an asset and that it should be celebrated. Their collaborative programs are designed to encourage critical and creative thinking and create a more sustainable future for young people in the country. By fostering dialogue, the organizations hope to eliminate segregation and promote an inclusive and equitable future that celebrates diversity.