After a week and a half of meetings, COP15 ended, calling upon nations to “take note” of a rough document that, first, declared that climate change is a serious and urgent issue and then announced all that should be done to address it.

This is frustrating. If the conference did one thing, it at least went in the right order: Step one is to admit that you have a problem. And yet, over 12 years since the Kyoto Protocol produced a legally binding, largely-ratified climate change prevention document, all we can do is reaffirm the problem. If there is one thing we can do to prepare for COP16, it is to skip step one. The problem has already been identified.

While governments seem to be slow at moving past step one, it is encouraging to see how the younger generation has stepped up to the plate. Thousands of new green industries are emerging and through social networking, initiatives, movements and solutions are being proposed every day. “Green” is now a word that can be recognized and valued anywhere, thanks to public outcry against climate change. And yet inaction is still prevalent.

In this particular instance, it may be the young advising the older what to do. The older cannot ignore the young and the young cannot simply sit back and say how those in our leadership positions are wrong or too slow. This is a problem that needs everyone’s support.

We cannot waste time determining what are problems and who is to blame when many clear dilemmas already face the planet. We are the constituents, and we should stand up to work with our leaders and explain possible solutions and put them to action in our own towns and cities and countries before hoping that large, international policy will change everything for the better.