02 October 2023
UNICEF
AMMAN, 2 October 2023 – In the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Youth Muhammad Salameh Al-Nabulsi, and His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Dr. Muawieh Radaideh, the 2023 Local Youth Conference on Climate Change (LCOY) was launched today. The conference was hosted by the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Environment in partnership with UNICEF Jordan, Generations for Peace and Hussein Technical University (HTU), with the participation of two hundred young people from across Jordan.
The third annual conference focuses on the role of youth in addressing climate change impacts and promoting green growth. The event will culminate in the release of the Youth Statement on climate change, detailing concrete policies put forth by youth to enhance their commitment to addressing this global crisis and adapting to it. The Youth Statement will be presented at the COP28 Climate Change Summit in Dubai next month.
During the conference’s opening session, Al-Nabulsi emphasized the crucial role of youth in facing the challenges of climate change. He stressed the need for innovative youth-led solutions.
Al-Nabulsi emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing the role of young people in environmental advocacy through the National Youth Strategy’s programmes and national leadership forums focused on the environment and green economy and prioritizing the environment as a key area in the Al Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work. The Ministry actively supports and localizes youth-led environmental initiatives, while fostering pioneering environmental and climate projects within business incubators and innovation hubs.
Al-Nabulsi pointed out that youth leadership in environmental and climate action has grown over the past years, indicating the youth’s awareness and understanding of various global challenges and their active engagement in addressing as well as mitigating them.
For his part, Al-Radaideh emphasized the crucial role of the youth in mitigating the impacts of climate change. He highlighted their exemplary practices in adaptation and reduction, staying updated with global climate developments, and striving to implement them at a national level in alignment with Jordan’s goals. He stressed the imperative of unified efforts to tackle climate challenges, recognizing youth as an integral component of this initiative.
Al- Radaideh noted that the Ministry of Environment consistently aims to engage the youth in various national and international initiatives and events. They are viewed as a essential component in the environmental strategy, which is directed towards making significant strides in addressing and mitigating climate change. He highlighted the Ministry’s keen interest in the proposals and concepts presented by the youth, especially those related to climate change. This underscores the importance of collaborating with the Ministry to tackle the climate challenges that now pose a significant threat globally.
“Young people must be empowered, educated and given a platform to participate in efforts to tackle the critical challenge of climate change, which is threatening their wellbeing and futures,” said Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF Representative to Jordan. “Together with our partners in Government, development partners, and the private sector, UNICEF is committed to enabling young people to take a lead on climate action.”
On his part, Dr. Mohanned Arabiat, President of Generations For Peace, expressed his pride in GFP’s participation in organizing the LCOY for the third consecutive year. He said, “Promoting youth climate action, collaborating with local youth energies, and equipping them with the skills and tools to lead environmental initiatives addressing various societal issues are among our priorities at GFP.”
He added, “We look forward to the impact that this conference will have on the participating young women and men from various parts of the kingdom, as well as the solutions and recommendations they will propose during the sessions to activate a youth-inspired climate action agenda.”
The conference, coordinated with “YOUNGO,” features several activities including the official Youth Circle of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and is supported by Bank al Etihad and KOICA.
There will be dialogue sessions discussing the current state of climate change and the significant role of youth partnerships in counteracting its impacts. Furthermore, workshops will focus on enhancing youth understanding of climate concepts, coupled with the presentation of the Children and Youth Declaration on climate change and a showcase of youth success stories. Mini sessions will delve into topics such as water security, green economy, sustainability, carbon credits, green architecture, and the preservation of culture and heritage. These sessions aim to establish youth-driven policies and commitments.
Additionally, Al-Hussein Technical University will host an open day showcasing green youth initiatives and projects, as well as a green jobs exhibition, alongside the conference.
