YCSA IN 2020

On Friday, May 22, 2020, amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Biennial Coffee Chat series successfully hosted its inaugural edition, focusing on pressing issues of climate action and sustainability. This event was part of the larger 2020 Sustainable Americas Summit, which featured three days of virtual programming, including keynote speakers, artist performances, and panel discussions.

The Biennial Coffee Chat brought together a diverse panel of climate activists and entrepreneurs from the Youth Congress for Sustainable Americas, featuring Cyrielle Noël from Ocean Wise (Canada), Monica A. Ramos Li from Resto-Zero (Peru), and Victor Rujano Bautista from CIMAS (Venezuela). Moderated by Conor Hall, the discussion skillfully navigated topics such as immediate behavior shifts amidst the pandemic, long-term implications for sustainability, and the role of social entrepreneurs in addressing community needs.

Attendees, representing 25 different countries, actively engaged with the panelists, gaining valuable insights into various aspects of sustainability and climate resilience. The event provided a platform for thought-provoking conversations and reflections on the unique opportunities presented by the pandemic to drive meaningful change.

Closing remarks from Robin Swanhuyser expressed gratitude to the panelists, moderator, and attendees for their active participation and insightful contributions. The event concluded with encouragement for continued engagement in promoting sustainability and climate resilience, with attendees eagerly anticipating future editions of the Biennial Coffee Chat series.

Overall, the Biennial Coffee Chat: Sustainability served as a cornerstone of the 2020 Sustainable Americas Summit, offering a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and inspiration to address the urgent challenges of climate change and build a more sustainable world. With 2,000 views of content videos and participation from 40 Youth Congress Delegates in invite-only workshops, the summit demonstrated its global impact and commitment to collective action towards a more sustainable future.