Rage Against 31

COP31 – the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference – is a conference whose stated purpose is to provide solutions for and leadership in the Climate Crisis. “[It] is the 31st session of the global negotiation platform where countries meet annually under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).” This year it will be held in Antalya, Türkiye between the 9th of November and the 20th. It is the sole conference that provides global leadership in the process for adaptation and mitigation of the Climate Crisis.

So, what is our problem?

In theory, this conference is a brilliant idea; it has historically brought the world together to force major polluters to develop plans to mitigate their emissions, and wealthy economies to direct their incomprehensibly large masses of capital into developing solutions and productive capacity to provide alternatives to pollution intensive technologies. However, more recently this annual conference has been hijacked by major fossil fuel producers to perpetuate their hegemony, suppressing first nations voices, and inhibiting material change in global carbon regulations and alternatives.

COP31 looks to be another iteration of this corruption at a global scale, with Australia assuming the position of President of Negotiations, gaining exclusive authority over COP31 negotiations and leading the negotiation agenda between COP30 and COP31 among other roles such as unilateral power to appoint ministers and co-facilitators for negotiation tracks. This is highly problematic, and deeply ironic. Australia is not a leader in climate action, yet somehow, the second largest exporter of coal and fifth largest gas exporter has obtained exclusive power over the legal future of these industries. This ploy by our government is a means to greenwash the Australian economy and distract from the fact that our government continues to approve gargantuan extraction projects. Our government approved the largest gas project in the world – the Northwest Shelf Project – one of the largest coal mines in Australian history – HVO – and is actively changing laws to ensure that MACH energy can continue operating at Mount Pleasant – despite the High Court ruling its approval illegal.

How can COP31 achieve anything of value when it is actively being used by our government to greenwash its policies that are actively endangering our future, and could indirectly lead to the deaths of millions over the next 25 years? Even the people our government commissions to manage the state and federal climate policies have decried these policies, with the NSW Net Zero commission stating that in order for NSW and Australia to achieve its climate targets, there must be no new coal!

We know that politics is alienating, that it is easy to become hopeless as headlines continue to crush climate optimism and, though we can't stop all fossil fuels over night, we can offer part of a solution to the youth of Newcastle. Youth Rising invites the young people of Newcastle to express their disdain for this travesty; to Rage Against 31. Rage Against 31 is an event that will provide young people with a full day to freely express themselves without the traditional restraints of school-organised events.

We are providing young Novocastrians an artspace that will operate throughout the day where you can create your own pieces of art in a collaborative and positive environment of likeminded youth.

Similarly, we are offering a space for young artists to sell their pieces to other youth and retain all the profit from their labour, establishing them as artists with a means to spread their ideas in the local community. Contact us in the next couple of weeks if you want to be included!

Finally – and this is probably why you’re here – we are running the biggest music event we have ever organised. We have 8 confirmed bands playing from 3:30pm, to ~10:00-30pm, all of which are either current or recent high school students from the local area.

Of course, as we have done for the last 3 years, we will provide complimentary food for all guests at the event, and will be selling drinks by donation.

As always, this is an alcohol-free event.

We will also provide a low sensory space for all who need it, as we aim to make this event as accessible as possible!

Hope to see you all there!