At the end of the day, it is up to the current group of leaders to make the final decisions with regards to climate change. Yet, with so much at stake, especially for the younger generations, young people are becoming more engaged and obtaining greater influence.

Copenhagen marked the first year that the youth constituency under YOUNGO was included in the official facets of the convention. I believe this change is extremely positive for reminding the government delegates what they are fighting for and giving a voice to the future. For a start, the activities ranging from aliens looking for a climate leader to students in pajamas singing to tell our governments to wake up certainly added a lively touch, and relieved a bit of the tension that filled the air. Yet more importantly, with speaking time allotted for interventions of the COP and other proceedings, young people showed their immense capability beyond silly protests and may have influenced the negotiations to some extent.

After listening to every country's and organization's prepared remarks one plenary session, I can confidently say that the youth speaker possessed the most reasoned logic and passionate urgency. Finally, allowing young students to observe the COP better prepares the leaders of future negotiations and encourages the upcoming generation to be more engaged in international climate policy. Although I was dissatisfied by the behavior of some of the young participants, I was even more disappointed by many of our leaders' serious lack of initiative. Most youth organizations present at the conference were able to utilize both formal and unconventional means to try and further their goals. It would be incorrect to perceive the youth at the COP15 solely as the organizers of quirky displays and passionate chants. Many young people fully immersed themselves in the political process (which I believe is most effective) and did their best to mobilize their peers to pressure our leaders on specific policies.

I enjoyed the unique opportunity to speak for ten minutes with Jonathan Pershing in the lunch line hearing one side of the story, and attend a policy analysis side event the next hour to absorb the other half of the debate. I felt by attending the COP I grasped the different perspectives on climate policy. I also was enlightened about the entire issue of climate justice where countries that contributed the least to global warming suffer some of the worst affects. One presentation at a culture futures event showed how an estimated 3 billion people in the developing world will be severely affected by climate change, where only .5 billion in the developed countries will. The US has the highest cumulative historic emissions by far and a moral obligation to play an equally significant role in being part of the solution. A definitive, genuine ambition of the US to tackle climate change, backed up by legally binding agreements, will catapult the political sphere and business world to make an equally substantial commitment. I wish the United States showed real leadership this past week, and I hope that the president, congress, and the American people will muster the courage to set the example the world is looking for in the weeks and years to come.

Desmond Tutu recently said at a press conference that the youth give him hope. Yet, I would argue that more important than hope is action, and the youth this conference has certainly delivered. Again, it is up to our leaders to make the final decision, and I am hopeful that they will make the right choices.