There are no significant obstacles to implementing this simple scheme. Its administration should be straightforward once details have been carefully considered. It is expected UNA country organisations could help administer the scheme. Ultimately, within each country, if the scheme proved popular, there might be annual regional assemblies of ‘Champions to discuss the UN’s work that could also provide important feedback for the United Nations.
Scheme Outline:
Participants earn the accredited title of ‘UN Global Eco-Steward Champion‘ by becoming familiar with the UN’s work relevant to global ecological stewardship and ALSO taking actions within their community to raise awareness.
The scheme should be open to all ages, from school age to senior citizens but with an emphasis on the younger generation; where advocacy would be within their peer groups: Eg. school, scouting or university. An individual will need to commit to learn about relevant UN work and achievements and communicate with people, their community and politicians through various means; such as, giving talks, mounting public or school displays, or writing letters to MPs, etc. UNA country organisations could help administer the scheme and help provide an outline of expected knowledge for different age groups.
The scheme could prove especially popular with schools, scouts and youth groups to help underscore that the UN is helping to drive solutions for the biosphere. The potential of well-informed young ‘Champions to influence their community, to press for the local political changes needed, should not be under estimated for benefits in the short and in the long term.
Administration (Suggested):
The scheme could be self-financing with a modest one-off charge [Eg. In UK £10 ?]; for example: To cover cost of a badge/certificate [The proposer has established unit material costs could be under £1; a printed A4 card, comprising A5 certificate & A6 folded ‘UN expectations of ‘Champion’. ] & postage, for five years of status.
It could be administered by the UN Association. Applicants for a ‘Champion status would submit a simple statement (Max 1 page) of actions taken, which could be endorsed by two independent referees (For example: teachers or youth group leaders), or there could be a process of simple verification through local UNA branches. With pro-forma letters, this might be administered by any country’s UN Association with very modest resources.

Local and national politicians would be receptive to this scheme and indeed they would also be the target of 'UN Global Eco-steward Champions' who would seek to influence politicians. So the activities of these champions would help improve political support for the work of the United Nations.

'Champions' will be keen to raise the profile of the UN's work among communities and with local / national politicians. With the increasing need to address climate change, threats to biodiversity and ocean and terestrial pollution what is likely to happen is that within a few years the political will become more receptive to the arguments made by the UN accredited 'Champions.

Championing local and national action on climate change will be part of the role of 'UN Global Eco-steward Champions' and so will be local influencers for CC mitigation.

Championing local and national action for biodiversity conservation and the importance of ecosystem services will be part of the role of 'UN Global Eco-steward Champions' and so will be local ecological stewardship.

The scheme proposed is modest. Within countries where it is operated it has the potential to improve political will and understanding about UN global institutions and readiness to consider global risks.

Climate change and degraded ecosystems disproportionately affects some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people on the planet. Improving prospects to address those affects must serve to alleviate global poverty and inequality. Moreover, a key remit of UN Global Eco-steward Champions would be to highlight the inequities of global ecological impacts.

NO

With the threat of sea level rise giving the possibility of displacing on the way to two thirds of a billion people by 2100 there will be a serious risk of consequent conflict and political violence. Any effort to champion action on climate change and ecological degradation can only reduce the long term risk of conflict and political violence.

Proposed Initiative to Promote UN75 Civil Society Engagement

Proposal: Scheme to accredit 'UN Global Eco-Steward Champions' status to active citizens
Proposer: Richard Shirres, UNA-UK Menai Branch
Global catastrophic risk mitigated by this Proposal & Most Relevant SDGs Promoted:
Climate change and eco-system collapse – SDGs: 6, 13,14 & 15
Contribution to global governance - Purpose:
To expand and develop advocacy of the UN’s work in relation to global ecological stewardship and raise awareness of this crucial but lesser appreciated role of the UN and, thereby, advance support for the UN and celebrate its historical achievements in that role and help inform about the need for multilateralism action.
Contribution to global governance – Specific Aim:
To raise support for the UN’s work, Together First and the concept of global citizenship by encouraging community advocates to grow awareness of the UN’s governance frameworks relevant to our global ecological crisis and so help stimulate regional and local actions focussed on climate change mitigation and conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services; all crucial to the well-being of communities.
A secondary aim is to forestall a very real danger of chronic psychological dissonance amongst the young generation because of the significant risk of gross shortfall in response to the climate emergency. Inevitably, some will pursue a detailed understanding of the climate prognosis, this scheme can help empower that concern through knowledge of the UN’s work and its championing of solutions, so promoting local actions & a better informed society and a constructive outlook.
Scheme Co-benefits
This scheme promotes the United Nations in its 75th year and beyond on its role in global ecological stewardship. UN Global Eco-steward Champions help stress the ‘Global to Local’ links for their own communities and reinvigorates the concept of ‘Spaceship Earth’ and the ecological principles upon which the UN’s ecologically related frameworks are grounded, which is conservation of the biosphere and the principle of living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems (ie. Sustainability).
Ultimately, if it proved popular, there might be annual regional assemblies of ‘Champions to discuss the UN’s work that could also provide important feedback for the United Nations.
Scheme Outline:
Participants earn the accredited title of ‘UN Global Eco-Steward Champion‘ by becoming familiar with the UN’s work relevant to global ecological stewardship, and then taking actions to raise awareness.
The scheme can be open to all ages, from school age to senior citizens but with an emphasis on the younger generation; where advocacy would be within their peer groups: Eg. school, scouting or university. An individual will need to commit to learn about relevant UN work and achievements and communicate with people and politicians through various means; such as, giving talks, mounting public or school displays, or writing letters to MPs, etc. The UNA would provide an outline of expected knowledge for different age groups.
The scheme could prove especially popular with schools, scouts and youth groups to help underscore that the UN is helping to drive solutions for the biosphere. The potential of well-informed young ‘Champions to influence their community, to press for the local political changes needed, should not be under estimated.
Administration (Suggested):
The scheme could be self-financing with a modest one-off charge [£10 ?]; for example: To cover cost of a badge/certificate [The proposer has established unit material costs could be under £1; a printed A4 card, comprising A5 certificate & A6 folded ‘UN expectations of ‘Champion’. ] & postage, for five years of status.
It could be administered by the UN Association. Applicants for a ‘Champion status would submit a simple statement (Max 1 page) of actions taken, which could be endorsed by two independent referees (For example: teachers or youth group leaders), or there could be a process of simple verification through local UNA branches. With pro-forma letters, this might be administered by any country’s UN Association with very modest resources.