Overview of 'Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Green Solutions- from Rio de Jenario to Doha.'

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 18 has a special importance since it needs to finalize the old negotiation tracks, and make new commitments towards Post 2015. It is imperative to involve youth in this process, and consider their voices and issues. Rio+20 reaffirmed that we need a more sustainable development path. To achieve this we need to change how we think and act, develop and implement capacity building programs, and hence engage youth in these programs in order to secure green jobs and a green economy.

In this regard Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio+20 (APYTF) organized Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Green Solutions- from Rio de Jenario to Doha in UNFCCC COP18/CMP8 to engage youth in the process of consultation and make a common voice. Main objective of the GYF was to provide an opportunity for global youth to discuss global issues and their concerns regarding COP18; to identify the Mountain Youth issues and priorities for Green Economy; and to develop and share Global Youth Appeal for COP18 delegates.

Twenty delegates from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Pacific joined the GYF and shared their national youth appeal, declaration, views, concerns and recommendations. At the end of the GYF ‘Global Youth Appeal for COP18’ was drafted, which was finalized after virtual consultation. The purpose of "Global Youth Appeal for COP18" is to outreach the Youth Voices to the COP18 delegates so they consider the views and concerns of Global Youth regarding UNFCCC COP18/ CMP8. The ‘Global Youth Appeal for COP18’ was shared on Mountain Day 2 during Knowledge Café session and make part of ‘Youth Appeal’ which was presented in Ministerial/ Policy Makers' Round Table Panel Discussion on 3rd Dec, 2012.

Global Youth Forum speakers including Ms Sameera Zaib (APYTF, Pakistan), Ms Danaé Espinoza. (PIDES, Latin America), Mr Abiodun Dominic Odunuga, (Zero Carbon Africa), Mr Wilson  (Eco Singapore), Ms Timila Dhakwa, (Team Green Economy, Nepal) and Mr David Gawith (Newzeland) addressed the youth forum and presented youth appeal/declaration, views and concerns regarding UNFCCC COP18 and mountain issues and green solutions, and shared youth activities in their region/countries and gave suggestions for developing youth appeal. They demanded the COP18 delegates to involve and consider the youth concerns and recommendation while developing policies at national and international level and that world leader must take serious steps in addressing the climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Youth delegate showed voluntary commitment for rising environmental awareness and green economy in their communities, mobilizing youth and taking key messages of COP18 and Global Youth Forum within their networks.

Sameera Zaib, (APYTF)

Ms Danaé Espinoza. (PIDES, Latin America) 

Mr Abiodun Dominic Odunuga, (Zero Carbon Africa)

Mr Wilson, (Eco Singapore)

Ms Timila Dhakwa, (Team Green Economy)

Overview of National Youth Forum on Green Solutions, Pakistan.

Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio+20 (APYTF) formed under the ‘Youth for Sustainable Mountain Development’ (Y4SMD) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) initiative, by the ICIMOD Alumni in 2011, with the purpose to advocate Mountain Agenda and mobilize the youth for Rio+20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development). Since then, APYTF is active in taking the messages and raising Youth Voice by organizing and participating in important environmental events at national, regional and global level.

In this connection, APYTF organized two days National Youth Forum on Green Solutions- Mountain Issues and Sustainable Actions on 5th-6th November, 2012, with the support of ICIMOD and local host organization Peace & Development Organization, at National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad.

NYF aims to give young people the chance to express their ideas, opinions and needs for sustainable development, build youth capacity for identifying locale specific green economy initiatives, and develop two outcome documents i.e. Youth Appeal for COP18 and Post 2015 Agenda.

Eminent experts from ICIMOD Nepal and Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change Pakistan, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, development sector specialists and youth representatives addressed youth forum. NYF was supported by Minister of State for Ministry of Education and Training, Mr Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf, DG Environment Dr Jawed Ali Khan, and ICIMOD Pakistan representative Dr Abdul Wahid Jasra by being present in the youth forum. They committed firm support for youth activities aiming raising environmental awareness, and sustainable mountain development by promoting green solutions to environmental problems. Mr Tek Jung Mahat, Asia Pacific Mountain Network Node manager, ICIMOD, who started youth initiative (Y4SMD) at ICIMOD platform and supported the APYTF event in Pakistan, encouraged young participants to take lead at local and national level for promoting and addressing mountain issues, and highlighted the need for recognizing youth participation in the national and international policies. He also shared the ICIMOD youth initiatives at regional and global level.  Mr Ashiq Ahmad Khan, ICIMOD Technical Adviser, Dr Pirdaza Moshibber, Director PARC, Dr. Wajid Pirzada, CEO Agrisol Pakistan, Mr Utsav Maden, Associate IKM ICIMOD, and Mr Kamran Hussain, ICIMOD Alumni and Phd Scholor also addressed the youth forum.

The major attractions were presentations, green excursion to National Agriculture Research Council and Satrameel Watershed Islamabad, group exercise and virtual consultation. During the two days event two outcome documents were drafted that were later shared and finalized via virtual consultation, these are ‘Post 2015 Agenda’ and ‘Youth Appeal for COP18’. Youth Appeal for UNFCCC COP18 was presented during Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issue and Green Solutions- from Rio de Janerio to Doha, organized by APYTF in UNFCCC COP18/CMP8 at Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, on 1st December, 2012.

NYF has provided confidence and build capacity of young participants to take lead in their communities. Inspired by NYF one of the young participants is organizing Gilgit Baltistan youth forum to impart knowledge gained and skills developed. NYF concluded with commitment to take Sustainable Mountain Development messages at the grass root level, however there is a need for continuous mentoring and capacity building of youth to enable them to raise their voice and streamline in the policy formulation at national, regional and global level.

Group photo woith DG Environemnt, Dr Jawed Ali Khan, ICIMOD country representative Dr Abdul Wahid Jasra and APMN Node manager (ICIMOD) Mr Tek Jung Mahat.

Dr Jawed Ali Khan, DG Environment  (Ministry of Climate Change) addressing youth forum along with Dr Abdul Wahid Jasra and Mr Ashiq Ahmad Khan.

Onsite demonstration during green excursion, NARC Islamabad.

Mr Sradar Shahjehan Yousaf, at the closing session, addressing youth forum along with Mr Tek Jung Mahat and Dr Abdul Wahid Jasra.