Ferdison Valmond, a prominent Indigenous environmental advocate from the Kalinago Territory, has been designated a Youth Ambassador for the 2nd Annual Hamburg Sustainability Summit taking place in Germany. Valmond, via press release, shared that the three-day conference will gather influential thought leaders, policymakers, innovators, and youth changemakers from around the world to confront urgent environmental issues facing our planet today.
Valmond will represent Indigenous and Caribbean youth perspectives at this international gathering, highlighting the importance of Indigenous knowledge in developing sustainable solutions and advancing environmental justice.
Recognized for his grassroots activism and efforts to promote Indigenous-led climate resilience and inclusion, Valmond remarked, “I am honored to join this global dialogue.”
“Indigenous communities are on the frontlines of climate change, and it is critical that our experiences and knowledge systems are included in shaping the sustainable future we all seek,” he added.
The Hamburg Sustainability Summit is founded on the belief that achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires cross-disciplinary collaboration built on trust among the international community. The event aims to cultivate new partnerships and collective initiatives among global policymakers, private sector leaders, academic experts, and civil society representatives who are committed to action. Through multilateral alliances, the summit will reportedly support scalable projects and progressive policy development. Open discussions are expected to lead to decisions that translate into tangible actions with measurable impacts.
This annual gathering is a collaborative effort led by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and the Michael Otto Foundation. As a Youth Ambassador, Valmond will participate in dialogues, and workshops, and collaborate with other young leaders to amplify the conference’s goals.
Valmond’s statement revealed that his “journey reflects a broader movement among young Indigenous leaders taking
action in the face of ecological threats, advocating for both their communities and the planet.”
Listen to Valmond’s comments here: