BAHAMAS 2022/2023
YOUTH CLIMATE AMBASSADORS
BRADLEY WATSON
Bradley is an environmental scientist investigating nature-based solutions to global climate change during his master’s degree program in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews.
Bradley is an environmental scientist investigating nature-based solutions to global climate change during his master’s degree program in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. Natural ecosystems provide a wide array of opportunities for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to overcome the threats climate change poses our societies and economy. His goal is to identify opportunities in natural ecosystems that will allow us to actualize climate adaptation strategies by developing appropriate solutions in the context of international and local policy frameworks and economic realities.
Bradley intends to apply his understanding of sustainable development to ensure that people benefit from their ecosystems in an equitable and just fashion by collaborating with and empowering our future leaders. In 2020, he lead an effort to internationally declare the Bahama Warbler, a bird found only in the Bahamas, as an endangered species after hurricane Dorian erridicated it from Grand Bahama. This motivated educational programs that led to more protection for the birds and new business opportunities for the people of Grand Bahama and Abaco. The next step is to help other young people lead us on our journey to a climate resilient Caribbean.
Priority Areas:
- Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change
- Public-Private Partnerships for Conservation
- Action for Climate Empowerment
Bradley is an environmental scientist investigating nature-based solutions to global climate change during his master’s degree program in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. Natural ecosystems provide a wide array of opportunities for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to overcome the threats climate change poses our societies and economy. His goal is to identify opportunities in natural ecosystems that will allow us to actualize climate adaptation strategies by developing appropriate solutions in the context of international and local policy frameworks and economic realities.
Bradley intends to apply his understanding of sustainable development to ensure that people benefit from their ecosystems in an equitable and just fashion by collaborating with and empowering our future leaders. In 2020, he lead an effort to internationally declare the Bahama Warbler, a bird found only in the Bahamas, as an endangered species after hurricane Dorian erridicated it from Grand Bahama. This motivated educational programs that led to more protection for the birds and new business opportunities for the people of Grand Bahama and Abaco. The next step is to help other young people lead us on our journey to a climate resilient Caribbean.
Priority Areas:
- Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change
- Public-Private Partnerships for Conservation
- Action for Climate Empowerment
MAYA DELANEY
Maya is a first-year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management, focusing on the advancement of private finance solutions that accelerate the sustainable development of Blue Economy industries.
Maya Delaney is a first-year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management, focusing on the intersection of ocean conservation and finance. She aims to advance private finance solutions that accelerate the sustainable development of Blue Economy industries across small island developing states, including in The Bahamas. As an associate with the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), Maya is supporting the launch of the Sea Change Impact Finance Facility (SCIFF), which will scale investment into ocean and coastal resilience, and into climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Previously at Albright Stonebridge Group – a geopolitical consulting firm – Maya advised cross-sector initiatives that sought to scale climate finance in emerging markets, and drafted policy guidance for countries seeking to attract investment in low-carbon, natural capital projects. She attended Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in Sustainability. She aims to advance private finance solutions that accelerate the sustainable development of Blue Economy industries across small island developing states, including in The Bahamas. Through these ocean-related industries, the world can achieve up to 30% of emissions reductions needed to prevent catastrophic climate change. Furthermore, development of these industries may facilitate The Bahamas’ increased economic security, accelerated social advancement, and greater protection of our natural resources. Together, this presents an outsized opportunity for our country.
Priority Areas:
- Ocean Literacy
- Blue Finance Engagement
- Regional Collaboration
Maya Delaney is a first-year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management, focusing on the intersection of ocean conservation and finance. She aims to advance private finance solutions that accelerate the sustainable development of Blue Economy industries across small island developing states, including in The Bahamas. As an associate with the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), Maya is supporting the launch of the Sea Change Impact Finance Facility (SCIFF), which will scale investment into ocean and coastal resilience, and into climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Previously at Albright Stonebridge Group – a geopolitical consulting firm – Maya advised cross-sector initiatives that sought to scale climate finance in emerging markets, and drafted policy guidance for countries seeking to attract investment in low-carbon, natural capital projects. She attended Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in Sustainability. She aims to advance private finance solutions that accelerate the sustainable development of Blue Economy industries across small island developing states, including in The Bahamas. Through these ocean-related industries, the world can achieve up to 30% of emissions reductions needed to prevent catastrophic climate change. Furthermore, development of these industries may facilitate The Bahamas’ increased economic security, accelerated social advancement, and greater protection of our natural resources. Together, this presents an outsized opportunity for our country.
Priority Areas:
- Ocean Literacy
- Blue Finance Engagement
- Regional Collaboration
Global climate change is arguably the most influential force in our generation, influencing nearly every facet of our lives now and into the future. As Youth Climate Ambassadors, we will work to integrate our peers into the fight for a sustainable Bahamas. We endeavor to incorporate the voices of Bahamian youth in the climate adaptation dialogue and empower our generation to take action against climate change. Our goal is to ensure that young Bahamians maximize their potential to create the future they deserve with the help of those who went before us.
Publish Proceedings of Regional Conference of Youth
We will formalize the ideas and concerns discussed at the Regional Conference of youth for dissemination in an international publication. By documenting the sentiments, suggestions, and concerns of the Caribbean’s youth we aim to provide climate activists with concrete evidence of the challenges we face, and the approaches we believe will help us overcome them.
Host a workshop for regional youth in advance of COP27
To ensure momentum following the RCOY and in advance of the COP, we will stage a workshop for eight regional youth. Such a meeting will establish connections with like-minded youth across the region that can facilitate progress at COP 27 and beyond. It is extremely important that citizens of small island developing states collaborate to generate the synergies needed to negotiate equitably in international dialogues.
Host panel of regional youth at COP27
Hosting a panel discussion at the upcoming COP meeting will give the youth of our region a platform to share their stories with the world. Using the networks available to us as Climate Ambassadors, we can amplify the voices of our peers and rally allies to our cause in the fight against climate change. This panel will also serve as an opportunity to present the proceedings of this Regional Conference of Youth.
Participate in the first regional English-speaking climate change Conference of Youth and the first of its kind event to be hosted by The Bahamas.
Enter for your chance to add your voice and make an impact on the world stage at COP27, scheduled for November 7-18, 2022 in Egypt.
