ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S ROLE

- MDG7

Presentation at International Training Workshop for Youth Representatives on Environmental

and Disaster Management, 19-23 August 2006, Melaka

What is ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY?

• Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations.www.entrix.com/resources/glossary.aspx

• Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs e.g. conserving and establishing priorities for the use of non-renewable resources, and keeping environmental impact below the level required to allow affected systems to recover and continue to evolve www.fao.org/ag/wfe2005/glossary_en.htm

• The assessment that a projects outputs can be produced without permanent and unacceptable change in the natural environment on which it and other economic activities depend, over the life of the project.www.adb.org/Documents/Guidelines/Eco_Analysis/glossary.asp

2. Millenium Development Goals

• Serve as the new framework for sustainable development by setting social equity goals and targets that aim at contributing to economic development while ensuring environmental sustainability (UNDP).

• An agreed set of eight (8) goals to be achieved by 2015 (provided all

parties work together and do their part).

• The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

• Poor countries: to govern better, and invest in their people through health care and education.

• Rich countries: to support the poor countries, through aid, debt relief, and fairer trade.

The 8 MDGs- consists of 18 quantifiable targets that are measured

by 48 indicators.

• Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger• Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education• Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower

women• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality• Goal 5: Improve maternal health• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other

diseases• Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability• Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for

Development

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability

• 3 targets and 6 key indicators• Target 1 (9): Integrate the principles of sustainable

development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources

Indicators :• 25. Proportion of land area covered by forest• 26. Ratio of Area Protected to Maintain Biological

Diversity to Surface Area • 27. Energy use/supply (apparent consumption; Kg oil

equivalent) per $ GDP (PPP) • 28. Carbon Dioxide Emissions (per capita) and

Consumption of Ozone-Depleting CFCs (ODP tons):

Target 2(10): Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe

drinking water

Indicators:

• 30. Proportion of the Population with Sustainable Access to and Improved Water Source

• 31. Proportion of the Population with Access to Improved Sanitation

Target 3 (11): Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100

million slum dwellers, by 2020

- Indicator 32. Slum population as percentage of urban population (secure tenure index) (UN-Habitat)

Malaysia:

Target 1:- one of the 12 world’s mega bio diverse countries- 59.5% (19.5 mil. ha) of total land under forest cover (PFRs, PAs (NP, SP,WR, State FRs)- 40 marine parks- 2 WH sites, Ramsar sites

- Energy: per capita consumption modest, energy consumptions > due to economic dev.

- RE as fifth fuel (solar energy, hydro, systems manufacturing, biomass cogen, biodiesel etc.)- 59% ODS reduction

• Target 2:

• - depends on Quality of available fresh H2O, management and supply of treated H2O

• - 2000 : 98% of urban population, 87 % rural served with clean piped water

MDG7: Challenges

• Various for e.g.:

- minimizing effects of pollutants;

- ensuring efficient utilization of land and consumption of natural resources;

- containing congestion in urban areas and problems of transportation;

- waste disposal; and

- provision of social services etc…

Role of Youth• Why Youth?

- comprise nearly 30 per cent of the world's population. The involvement of today's youth in environment and development decision-making and in the implementation of programmes is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21.

- because it affects their lives today and has implications for their futures.

- intellectual contribution and ability to mobilize support, thus bringing unique perspectives that need to be taken into account.

- Not subjected to established routines and stereotypes of their elders (sedate)

- Vicegerents and inheritors of the earth

Role of YouthsBe Aware/InformedBeware (manipulations thru’ e.g. adverts, media)Create AwarenessWalk the talk- make it happen! As reagents or catalysts

• Instill good environmental ethics within one self/ home• Disseminate & bring about multiplier effect• Work with the Community :

children, women, elders• Work with the regulatory agencies (e.g. Environmental agency,

Local Councils)• Work with the corporate bodies • Integrate environmental component/ element in your project• Motivate the young, `rejuvenate’ the elders• Constructive not destructive

Some examples

• Restoration projects - ex mining land , barren hill slopes, derelict areas

• clean-up campaigns• Voluntary/social work – involves orphanages, old

folks’ homes etc.• Nature appreciation• Understand ecosystem/ecological functions• Interactive websites• Optimise and channel talents and creativity -

Literatures for young children esp.- Arts (paintings, crafts, photographs)- music

Challenges to Youths

- developing countries where immediate issues like livelihood/food is of utmost importance

- sustaining the programme (resources, support and will power)

- `hitting it right’- The activist is not the man who says the

river is dirty.  The activist is the man who cleans up the river.  ~Ross Perot

Considerations for successful ventures

• Projects and activities –realistic, sustainable and can be implemented

• Quantity rather than quality• Sincerity and stay in focus• Uphold/ blend in cultural/religious values for

strong environmental ethics• Strong and healthy collaborations between

the public, private sectors, youths and the NGOs

• Form support group

PROGRAM PROMOSI

KESEDARAN ALAM SEKITAR

JABATAN ALAM SEKITAR

• Selamat Maju Jaya

• All the best!

Cherish the past

Adorn the present

And act for the future

-DHD-