A STUDENT from the University of Derby will meet some of the world's most influential people when she represents the UK at a United Nations conference.

Lizzie Gawen is one of 10 youth delegates from the UK attending the climate change talks in Poland.

She was selected after sending an application form to the UK Youth Climate Coalition.

The 20-year-old will attend the two-day conference made up of 500 delegates.

Then she will sit in on key negotiations between environmental ministers taking place in the Polish city of Poznan between December 2 and 12.

Newly-elected US president Barack Obama is expected to make an appearance and Lizzie admitted the prospect of coming face to face with him would faze her.

"I'd probably freak out and run out of the room," she said. "It's going to be the most incredible experience of my life."

Lizzie, who lives in university accommodation in Bridge Street, will travel by train on November 27 in time for the youth conference the following day.

She applied to be a delegate because she felt climate change had the potential to destroy the planet.

"Climate change threatens our very existence and it requires, above all, international legislation and action," she said.

"It is the most critical issue of our time.

"The leaders are focusing on the economy at present because the effects are being felt now but if we leave dealing with climate change until later, then it will be too late."

Lizzie said it was right that there was a strong youth delegation at the conference.

"Young people should have a strong voice at these negotiations as the decisions made at the conference will affect our lives more significantly."

She said she was pleased the UK Government had targeted a 80% reduction in its carbon emissions by 2050 but insisted more needed to be done in order to achieve that goal.

"Switching to energy-saving light bulbs is not enough," she added.

Casper ter Kuile, co-director of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, said that Lizzie's application to take part had shown her as an outstanding candidate.

He said: "Lizzie showed a great sense of what was at stake and presented a very strong argument about why young people needed to be represented at these talks."

Lizzie, who is a final-year Third World Development student, needs to raise £1,200 to go to the conference and the university and its students' union are putting £450 towards the cost.

Anyone wishing to help finance her trip can do so by visiting www.bmycharity. com/lizziegawen.