UNEP to take further action to protect environment

Under the slogan ‘Green City, Better City: Implementing the Urban Environment Accord (UEA) for the Sustainable Development’, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Youth Forum was held in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, recently. Two Sri Lankan Youth Climate ambassadors, Sikander Sabeer and Mohamed Husni represented Sri Lankan youth at this high level youth event in order to draft the UNEP Youth Accord for United Nations Climate and Sustainable Development talks.

The Gwangju UEA UNEP Youth Forum showcased the current environmental issues and motivated young participants to take further action to protect their environment. Comprising of thematic sessions, cultural exchange, field excursion and group discussions on environmental issues, the Youth Forum was a meeting point and valuable platform for young people from different national, ethnic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds to share their own visions and values.

The forum consisted of five themes which included Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, Waste Reduction, Smart Clean Vehicles, Water Demand and Quality Management and also Natural Ecology.

Sikander Sabeer, one of the distinguished activist involved in this prestigious event, is a graduate in Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology from University of Mysore (Spectrum Institute) and presently an employee of Neptune Recyclers, an environmental cooperate wing of Expolanka Holdings.

He is a British Council International Climate Champion and Global Changemaker where he closely works with school students, youth and public on youth empowerment, climate change and health issues.

“Representing my country in this United Nation’s high level event will be a strong backbone for my future endeavors”, reflected Sikander. “It helped me to speak out both nationally and internationally on Climate Sustainability.

I was able to meet energetic youth ambassadors from various parts of the world working on climate change and it developed my skill and understanding of climate change and Environmental issues,”he further added.

Mohamed Husni presenting his work to international delegates at theUEA UNEP Forum

Opening of the plenary sessions

His future plans, he described as “Presently I am working on several youth policy papers and youth position papers with international community for Rio+20 Summit and other high level meetings of UNFCCC and UNCSD On behalf of major group of children and youth. I am also working on an International Campaign called ‘Road to Rio+20’ with Green Lanka Youth Platform, British Council Global Changemakers, National Youth Services Council and Peace Child International to draft the National Youth Position paper for UNCSDs Rio+20 Summit, as per UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon this will be one of the biggest and most important summit in UN history”.

The other phenomenal ambassador, Mohamed Husni, is a passionate advocate on environment focused activism, youth empowerment and mobilisation.

He has been involved in the formulation process and implementation of projects, initiatives in school community as well as with other youth organisations and civil society institutions in Sri Lanka. Husni is the founder of Eco Care Sri Lanka, a voluntary organisation working on sustainable environmental practices among young adults and he is also recognized as an International Climate Champion by the British Council.

Husni served as the revive President of Rotaract Club of Colombo North and currently functions as the District Director for International Services of Rotaract Sri Lanka. He is also part of British Council Global Changemakers Initiative and Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP).

In the words of Husni, “I felt fortunate and privileged to have been given a wonderful opportunity to share my experiences, learn from my peers through interactions and above all to build a network with other like-minded community leaders from around the world.

It was also a very important opportunity for me because this was one of the highest level global meetings I have attended where I was able to meet policy makers, UN officials, activists and civil society representatives and to contribute with my share of exposure and experience in youth activism.”

His future plans includes, he said,: “As an action partner of Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP), I am working on a special project on Rio+20 with fellow action partners from other countries to organise a Rio +20 preparatory meeting of young people, which will discuss and analyze the issue of Green economy and sustainable development, leading to a declaration and action plan spearheaded by the OIYP members”

At the same time Husni is planning to start the second phase of ‘Green the World’ campaign, the signature campaign of Eco Care Sri Lanka with the support of British Council which will create a unique platform for young people with even very little time to commit to their communities to get involved in environment related activities and to make positive social changes in their respective societies.

Addressed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon message and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Deputy Executive Director Amina Mohamed, the Urban Environmental Accords high level meeting was held parallel to the UNEP Youth Forum with the Mayors and officials from 80 cities which pledged to steer cities across the developed and developing world towards a green, resource efficient and low-carbon trajectory.

Released at the conclusion of the Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords, the Gwangiu Cities Declaration sets the way forward towards the greening of cities through improved planning and intelligent management, to make way for a better environment for the generations to come.

If you are interested in working with their initiatives, you may contact them through following email addresses. Mohamed Husni – [email protected] / Sikander Sabeer – [email protected]