If you happened to be passing the Els Restaurant Pub in Copenhagen last week, you might have noticed an animated group of young environmentalists engaged in deep discussion over candlelit wooden benches and overstuffed salmon sandwiches. Although an air of camaraderie prevailed to the unsuspecting outsider, these youth leaders came together for the Earth Day Youth Forum to discuss their strategic plans and proposals for their respective organizations. Their goal was to determine how their organizations could best help position Earth Day 2010 as the next rallying point for the environmental movement after COP-15. Earth Day Network provided an informal space for these environmental youth leaders and advocacy organizations to network and discuss strategic partnerships. It was a tremendous success as all organizations in attendance pledged to engage their networks in a variety of Earth Day 2010 initiatives, potentially reaching over 5 million youth on the North American, European and Asian continents.

The climate conference is not only host to the high level political debates, press briefings and committee meetings; it is an opportunity to capitalize on the presence of global youth organizations that comprise a major force of the current environmental movement. Earth Day Network has launched a large-scale outreach effort to engage these organizations to unite and participate in Earth Day 2010 initiatives.