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Youth delegates from across the world will participate in the conference in Nairobi, Kenya from 18 February 2022–5 March 2022 during the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) and UNEA Special Session. The conference will be a hybrid of physical and virtual to enable maximum participation.
Graphic: Global Youth for Environment.
The following events will take place, informing the substantive and thematic aspects of the Youth Environment Assembly (YEA):
Nairobi-based youth will be invited and welcomed to engage at the youth events happening outside the UNON compound at the GYEA.
The programme will continuously be updated.
Day 1: 19 February 2022
9.50 AM–10.55 AM EAT: Capacity-Building & Networking Session aimed at introducing UNEA processes, objectives of YEA and networking as a youth constituency
11.00 AM–12.30 EAT: Opening session, including welcoming remarks and keynote presentations marking the official opening of YEA
12.30 PM–12.45 PM EAT: Briefing about working groups, drive folders
12.45 PM–13.50 PM EAT: UNEA 5.2, UNEP@50, and Stockholm+50: What is at stake? The session will provide an overview of what is upcoming at OECPR negotiations, the two UNEA sessions and what is at stake.
15.00 PM–15.10 PM EAT: Energizer and explanation of breakouts (moving virtual participants into breakouts)
15.30 PM–17.00 PM EAT: Demystifying Chemicals and Waste at UNEA5.2 Thematic session with the intention to help youth to (i) understand the chemicals and waste processes (ii) understand MEAs around Chemicals and Waste (iii) update on chemicals and waste negotiation items for UNEA5.2. Collect their ideas and feedback on the previous 3 items to feed into UNEA 5.2 processes (90 minutes).
Standpoint on Sustainabilty: Effectively Expression Your Opinions: A skill-building exercise session focused on how to speak up and express opinions on environmental and sustainability space as a young person (45 minutes).
Working Group 2: Cluster 4 – Sustainability: 1. Resolution on Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure 2. Resolution from Eritrea on behalf of the African Group on green recovery 3. Resolution on circular economy 4. Resolution on mineral resource governance.
17.00 PM–18.30 PM: Parallel Working Group Meetings: Marine Litter Working Group: Preparation for (i) Draft resolution from Rwanda/ Peru on an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution and & Draft resolution from Japan on an international legal instrument on marine plastic pollution (ii) Draft Resolution on Framework for addressing plastic product pollution including single-use plastic product pollution.
Working Group (Science Policy and general PCG): Cluster 5 – Resolutions on GEO, UNEA dates, and Geographical representation
Day 2: Sunday 20 February 2022
9.30 AM–11.30 AM EAT: Parallel Working Group Meetings: Working Group 1 and Climate and Environmental Justice in the Global South
11.30 AM–12.40 PM EAT: Session on UNEP Medium Term Strategy (MTS): A session that focusses provides an overview of UNEP’s MTS and the narrative on “nature, climate and pollution action” – presentation by the secretariat, followed by interaction with youth delegates.
12.40 PM–13.45 PM EAT: Lunch break
14.00 PM–16.00 PM EAT: Youth Dialogue with Member States – 1
16.00 PM–17.00 PM: Preparations for the OECPR Interventions and general briefing on UNEA and OECPR
14.00 PM – 15.30 PM EAT: Capacity Building / Introduction to new members
15.30 PM – 16.15 PM EAT: Living Library: The Work of the Youth Task Force and how you can contribute
16:30 PM- 17.15 PM EAT: Invest in our Planet and Invest in Youth for a Sustainable Economic, Social and Environmental Recovery
17.15 PM – 18.30 PM EAT: Expert Talk: Education, Youth & Environment Conversation
18.30 PM – 18.45 PM EAT: Energiser / short break
18.45 PM – 19.30 PM EAT: Parallel Regional Breakouts – Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe +NA, LAC, MENA
9.30 AM – 10.30 AM EAT: Parallel Working Group sessions, youth
climate/environmental action through social enterprises
1500 PM – 17.00 PM EAT: Working Session: Stockholm+50 Youth Engagement, Asia-Pacific Consultation on Youth and the Environment, Youth Climate/Environmental action through Social Enterprises, a session with Stockholm
Environment Institute, One Health, social media and virtual environmental education, One Health, Youth Science Report by SEI, Ecosystem Restoration, Food at the COP, Asia Pacific Water Summit Youth Forum at UNEP, How to accredit your NGO at UNEP, LAC Regional Consultation
Day 5: 27 February 2022
9.30 AM – 11.30 AM EAT: Stockholm+50- Building momentum and action on environmental agreements
11.30 AM – 12.30 PM EAT: Outcomes preparation
12.30 PM – 13.45 PM EAT: Lunch
14:00 PM – 14:45 PM EAT: Outcomes Presentation (Closing Ceremony)
16:00 PM – 17:00 PM EAT: Well-being Session at the Karura Forest
Media coverage / The international Denmark-based publication Welum highlighted SEI-CEEW's Stockholm+50 report "Charting a Youth Vision for a Sustainable Future".
Perspective / Young people are central in achieving a more sustainable and healthier planet. They play a role in instigating change and action on pressing global challenges.
Perspective / Participatory research and policymaking are gaining acceptance and relevance in responding to issues of legitimacy, ethics and validity in research findings.
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