On 23-27 June 2014, YEE was part of making history in global environmental collaboration. The groundbreaking first-ever United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) was taking place in the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya. A representative of YEE was among the 1200 participants convened for the event from around the world. Other participants included government delegates from 160 different countries, but also members of different civil society groups, the private sector, media and others concerned about the environment. 

UNEA provides the highest political forum that can issue a joint message on behalf of the world's Ministers of Environment. The establishment of the UNEA was one of the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, in 2012. Rio+20 recognized the need to strengthen global action for environmental protection, and the UNEA is seen as an important tool for steering the world on course towards global environmental sustainability. From now on it will take place every two years.

The slogan for this year's first UNEA was: "Towards a life of dignity for all". Some of the topics on the agenda were sustainable development goals, sustainable consumption and production, strengthening environmental rule of law, implementing green economy and combating illegal trade in wildlife. More information is available on the conference website: http://www.unep.org/unea/. A ministerial declaration and other outcome documents will be possible to access from the website.

Young people can play many important roles in the UNEA. While decisions are made by governments alone, youth and other participants from civil society attend all the sessions, react to the discussions, meet with governments and suggest improvements to the draft documents. Around 20 young people from different countries and organizations participated in this year's UNEA. Every day there was a coordination meeting when all the youth discussed the progress of the meeting and made strategies for inspiring governments to improve their decisions. The goal of the youth group was to encourage, as ambitious conference outcomes as possible, so that environmental sustainability for current and future generations can be ensured. Most governments appreciated the presence of youth who bring environmental passion, action-oriented ideas, fresh perspectives and energy into the UNEA debate.

In addition to influencing decision-making, it is equally important to follow up on what happens when everybody returns home, since governments are supposed to go back to their countries and regions to implement the decisions. You, your organization and YEE can get involved and help to make sure that this is happening. Contact the environmental ministry in your country to find out who participated in the UNEA. Ask for a meeting with them or send them a letter to congratulate with the good decisions and suggest ways to implement them concretely in your country.

If you want to collaborate with other youth when doing this, you can contact UNEP Tunza in Europe: https://www.facebook.com/tunzaeuropeunep
Tunza is the UNEP long-term strategy for engagement and involvement of young people in environmental issues: http://unep.org/tunza/
UNEP Tunza Youth advisors for Europe: Simona Zeroska (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Daniela Karaivanova (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

For attending future UNEA meetings and other UNEP conferences, join the UNEP Major Group of Children and Youth: https://www.facebook.com/unepmgcy/info. YEE is a UNEP accredited organisation which means that we have the right to participate in UNEP events and have a voting right in the UNEP Major Group for Children and Youth. You can also get more information from the YEE representative in the UNEA 2014: Sara Svensson from Sweden (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) who was on the board of YEE 2006-2008.

Together let's turn the UNEA message into reality: Environmental dignity for all!

UNEA summary outcome 2014

Sara Svensson