The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aims to address diverse pertinent issues falling under the umbrella of environmental conservation and sustainable development, and more importantly, deems it essentials to catalyze the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in a combined effort to reap productivity. Adhering to the notion, the UNEP organized the TUNZA International Youth Conference from 10-14 February, 2013, in Nairobi, Kenya, prior to the Universal Governing Council Meeting-the first of its kind- to gain a valuable input from the global youth regarding focal issues facing them, in an effort to rationally recognize youths? integrity at the yet imperative Governing Council meeting of diplomats from all countries.

Participants from all the regions of the world, with a particular emphasis on the youth of developing nations,  were given the privilege to attend the conference and not only enhance their abilities in terms of magnifying awareness, leadership  and team-building skills , but also an opportunity to show-case their projects, their concentrations of work and campaigns for environmental conservations. The event attracted over 300 youth – aged 15 to 25- to the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), a centre defined by excellence in all aspects: it is environment friendly has minimal carbon footprint is uniquely constructed and well-equipped, with an aesthetically satisfying outlook, and above all, it is a realistic yet ambitious model of sustainable architecture!

Plenary Sessions and Workshops:

The UNEP TUNZA Conference for Youth dealt with numerous thematic spectrums that were categorically discussed, analyzed and reviewed by expert panelists, and the attendees of the conference, alike, each day. The first day of the conference was reserved for the premise of ?Health and Environment.? Speakers reiterated that the stereotype of environment not having a substantial linkage with human health is a fundamentally flawed statement. Experts aptly pointed out that there has been a universally inherent connection between the conditions of human habitats and their livelihoods. Nick Nuttall, Communications Director and Spokesperson for the UNEP, quoted the establishment of an association of environment with health and human well-being: the case-studies of Nipah virus diseases emanating from instances of unsustainable mining negligence of wetland conservation causing new water borne epidemics in sporadic areas, and most significantly, the case of Malaria. The spread of Malaria in recent years has maximized particularly in the highland zones –something that is entirely unusual in occurrence and intensity- due to climate change, the average global temperatures are rising, hence making available suitable temperature conditions for the virus to thrive even at higher altitudes- a classic pattern marking the correlation man?s fitness has with the surrounding environment. Another panelist, Ms Jovana Dodos, representing the European Environment and Health Youth Coalition, further explained the dynamics of sustainable development with respect to human health. Dodos laid emphasis on the quality of air that humans inhale, and the severe repercussions one can experience in cases when the air quality is seriously low, due to excessive pollutants such as Carbon , nitrogenous and Sulphur compounds, in the atmosphere,  which in turn reaps detrimental implications on human health , ranging from bronchitis, asthma, chronic illness, emphysema among many other health related issues. This assertion was furthered by other key-note speakers from UNICEF and the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA).

The second day witnessed the formal opening ceremony of the Conference, and was rather, !==!==!==!==!==!==!--embed--============ded upon a broader theme for dialogue, ?Youth and the Global Environment.? The day proved out to be grand: it garnered excitement and enthusiasm since it came with a prolific speakers? list, including UNEP?s Executive Director, Mr. Achim Steiner, who delivered an eloquent, comprehensive speech focusing on various critical issues facing the global youth community. Steiner expressed the need for clarity of the definition of youth, to define the parameters as to who constitutes ?youth.? Steiner also shed light on the importance of capacity building in youth the vitality of involving youth in policy-matters addressing the notion of Disaster Risk-Reduction, migrations, unemployment and awareness for youth regarding the aforementioned subjects. His presentation not only provided food for thought but also acted as stimulus for a coherently lucid, organized sequence of follow-up activities by the participants at the event. Like Steiner, other panelists including the Kenyan Minister for Youth Affairs and, Ambassador to the UN accentuated upon the need for strengthened governance, transparency, accountability, a shift towards ethical and sustainable consumerism, the importance of quality education and sound awareness pertaining to the problems translated by humanity.

Following was another productive session intended for a key-note presentation on water by Director UNEP/DEPI, Ibrahim Thiaw. The session incentivized the debate stretching from the basic linkages of water mismanagement, climate change, energy shortages, and epidemics to complexities of the trans-boundary water issues, rights of rivers, and the states of political conflicts over unfair monopolization of water resources. Pertinent to this, points of India-Pakistan water dispute over the Indus River system were raised, highlighting that albeit the river flows largely from the Indian demarcation, yet a disruption in its flow would not only be aggravating the economic machinery of an agrarian state like Pakistan, but also would violate the official Indus Water Treaty signed mutually by the two countries back in 1960. Although this triggered a vulnerable argument as part of the discussion, yet simultaneously acted as a congruent case study applicable to many other conflict regions around the world the audience concluded by conceding that there are no absolute norms that are universally operated relevant to the context given the individuality of various divergences, even with respect to the free-flow of rivers and water bodies, and that it is mandatory that a flexible and responsive mechanism be in execution to ensure that the right to access water resources is upheld, without reservations, by all nationalities. Other applicable motions raised were relating to the conservation of ground water resources by efficacious management and innovative use of technology for irrigation, and domestic water supply.

Subsequent to that, an interactive presentation by the UN Volunteerism Representative, underlined the significance of volunteerism and its fundamental role as facilitation for a positive change in local communities as well as a channel for refining skills and attributes that are indispensable for employment.

One of the workshops, jointly organized by REDD+ and Rhino Arc, scheduled the same day drew attention to various aspects of forest management. It featured the importance of forests in terms of their image as a natural capital a source of tourism, food, pharmaceuticals, raw materials and water their role as recycling factories for organic wastes and the storage of over 15% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide within them. Moreover, the presenter, Niklas Johan, stated that an alarming 1.5 billion people worldwide depend on forests for food thus, the installation of answerable forest management regulations is imperative. Remarkably, consideration drew to the phenomenon of ?Bio-mimicry,? that is, the practice of exploring models in nature that could be advantageous when replicated to practical life. Rhino Arc representative , Christian Lambrechts exclusively presented his organizations? case study to deter illegal deforestation in the Sub-Saharan region, including aerial surveys, database recordings, qualitative feedbacks among other benchmarks to mark progress.

TUNZA?s third day manifested one of the most integral themes that not only contextualized to the term, ?The Future We Want? but also analyzed the triumph of the recently held United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, held in June 2012 in Brazil, marking a 20-years follow-up of the 1992 Earth Summit held in the same city. The panel discussion also called attention to the formulation of the post-2015 framework in a holistic manner. Beginning with a briefing on Rio+20 by Ms.Amina Mohammed- UNEP Deputy Executive Director, the session garnered substantial interest. Mohammed , along with other well-versed panelists , notably Maryam Niamir from UNEP, Ivana Savic from UNCSD-Major Group of Children and Youth (MGCY) , and Nick Nuttall from UNEP stated that Rio+20 was more about ?polishing and shining older coins rather than producing new and glittery ones.? This implied that the conference was actually meant to renew political commitments and remind the international community of their common yet differentiated responsibilities towards the conservation of this planet?s natural potential. Speakers further stressed upon the accomplishments of the summit: the comprehensive outcome document, formulated not only as a result of the consensus of governments but also the viewpoints of civil societies the success of the event to ensure governments agree to a term as abstract as ?green economy? and commit to streamline its instruments in their states? national administrative agenda. The flip-side, however, also existed. Critiques from amongst the audience (including me) agreed to the aforementioned accomplishments falling within the court of Rio+20, yet pin-pointed various loopholes personified to the conference itself: lack of ambition and insufficiency in accountability mechanisms being a highlight. We further stressed upon the absence of adequate facilitations for youth empowerment stating specially the blocking by governments, of the appointment of ?Higher Commissioner for Future Generations? to ensure that the policies made were in coherence with youth interests. To say the least, the discussion boiled down to the eventual analysis of the way forward from Rio+20: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The over-arching theme of recommendations for the post-2015 Development Agenda proved out to be a reflection of national priorities of youth from different geographic regions of the world. Panelists- Kiara Worth (MGCY), Fatoumata Keita (UNEP), Anna Donners (UNEP/DRC)- illustrated the fundamental necessities that are of dire need for inclusion in the post-2015 agenda.  Threads of linkages revolving around the call for realistic ( read: achievable!) deadlines, universal nature of the SDGs, adequate environmental provision, and a specific focus on the development needs of the so called third-word nations remained a highlight. What stood out was the notion on the inculcation of Environmental Education in the education curricula for youth, since this would harbinger the ability to attain awareness of the environmental issues prevalent in the status quo, and tend to critically devise their viable solutions. In addition, another thought-provoking comment deserves a mention, ?It is not about GDP alone that could act as a yardstick for development goals it is rather more about sustainable livelihoods, happiness, contentment and equitable development globally to diminish disparities on all levels, which will define ?growth? in a true sense.?(edited for clarity)

The event also saw industrious sessions on the productivity of social media and how it can be used as a tool, particularly by youth, for sustainable development. The Launch of the One-One Campaign, an initiative aimed at the utilization of social media facilities to mark a message for environmental conservation the launch of GEO for Youth handbook (Chief editors: Saba Loftus, Karuna Rana and Andrew Chuky)  and the TUNZA Magazine for Youth ( representative: Sara Sevennson) formed the crux of these sessions. Participants became well-acquainted with the realization of the ?power? of social networking to further their cause, and consequently, these sessions were highly acclaimed for their relevance to the contextual realities.

The last two days of the conference were pivoted on the thematic discussions featuring Patterns of Consumption and Production, and Food Waste Management. Panel discussions answered questions defining sustainable consumption, and the extent to which it is viable to frame a 10-years plan on sustainable patters of manufacture and utilization. Speakers noticed that the existence of inherent disparities and allocation of resources unfairly, all around the globe, has had its grave repercussions: poverty, food insecurity, water scarcity, and many others. A few tangible case studies, the most noteworthy of which was of the Kenyan and Indian Slums and their plight, were also explicitly brought on the table. Susan Nyawira, representing Roots and Shoots clearly stated that the lifestyle prevalent in Kenyan slums, let alone slums all around the world, is especially lower than an acceptable standard of living, dated with absence of hygienic facilities, sanitation, humanitarian services etcetera. Nyawira expressed concerns that there is urgency for reformation of these slums by the governmental authorities in order to sustain the livelihood of its inhabitants. That said, digging deeper tracing other related issues, a plenary session on Food Waste was organized that, again, pertained to the causation for wastage of food, and the implementable solutions to the alarming  problem at hand. Panelists noted that wastage often occurs due to over-production, inefficiency in post-harvest period for crops, packaging damages, in adequate storage , and most remarkably, due to lack of awareness, and at many times, sheer negligence by consumers to avoid undue wastage. The session became intensive due to added analysis linking the dots of food security and food safety, and the practical answers to the question, ?How can WE address the issue of Food wastage??

The last two days also hosted regional presentations, two from each region, to review various projects, ideas and initiatives raised by participants from around the world. The response was exceptionally well: numerous representatives stood up to showcase their organizations? work and campaigns, while others dealt with thematic areas falling within the circumference of sustainable development. I were also privileged at having given the opportunity to express my views on the aforementioned themes the most relevant of all to me, was to bring into limelight the conceptualization of ?A well-Prepared Society,? which essentially means a resilient, equitable and sustainable society a society that itself acts as a catalyst for greening the economy, and is based on the architecture of harmonious human rights provisions, availability of environmental education and stakeholder cooperation. What remained the focus of my presentation was the ?ENRICH? Model (E for Environmental Education N for negotiations R for reconciliation I for innovation C for commitment H for Hope) The model acts as a baseline for a prosperous setting, and can be replicated to any demographic level. The presentation proved out to be productive as it not only fulfilled the need for a familiarization of the tagline, but also lead to the acknowledgement of the ENRICH model as a globally applicable formula.

The last plenary session, first had an intensive session reviewing the TUNZA recommendations to the Governing Council, altering the clauses, and amending the draft as per the need. Again, an appreciated response from the participants was observed. Following this was formal plenary hosting a distinguished chief guest, apart from high-level authorities of the UNEP itself. Youths? efforts were largely welcomed during the course of comments by the speakers it was stressed repeatedly that the integrity of youth as an entity is unsurpassed and that youth are the real actors of development, ambassadors of social justice and leaders of the coming decades. Thus, it is imperative that the abilities and strength of youth is recognized globally and that they be given a fair chance to excel, by the provision of resources and allocation of capital for youth-led initiatives.  Upon the request of the secretariat, I was asked to present a reflection of the TUNZA conference, on behalf of the attendees and the global youth community at large. Dealing with the summarized aspects of the conference theme, we categorically analyzed the good values and lessons learned and how TUNZA itself acted as a platform to effectively lobby and built up networks across the continents to further the cause of Youth Empowerment and Inter-generational Justice, on multiple levels. Also, we stated the importance of especially involving the youth from grass root levels in the developing countries to revitalize public discourse and status quo evolution. The gravity of my speech intensified when highlighting the expectations of youth from the outcomes of the gathering, and how we yearn for accountability, a renewed and long-lasting commitment and a faithful promise to the fulfillment of our recommendations. We expressed sincere gratitude for being given the indispensible opportunity to get involved in the TUNZA Conference and articulated hope to expand the positive impacts of the event in the near future.

Regional Meetings:

TUNZA is not just about attending the four days conference, and then going back to our lives as if nothing noticeable occurred it far more than that! TUNZA is a beginning, an initiation to a long-drawn commitment to spread awareness back at home, and act as ambassadors of TUNZA performing effective follow-up. To ensure a successful post-TUNZA network, regional meetings, held daily at Jacaranda Hotel Nairobi (the site for accommodation for the conference participants), proved out to be invaluable. Participants were distinguished on regional basis, and these blocs intensively debated upon the drafting of recommendations for the Governing Council. Moreover, Regional Meetings also formulated post-conference Action Plans that were highly commended as a channel to efficiently maintain linkages and laid yardsticks to measure progress within specific time parameters. Apart from that, regional meetings provided grounds for the preparation of the TUNZA Youth Advisory Council (TYAC) Elections. A TUNZA Advisor is essentially is a person aged 18 to 22 years (I couldn?t apply since I am way under-age!) who acts as a leader for a term of 2 years organizing events, promoting the TUNZA campaigns and actively involving grassroots on a regional level in the TUNZA spectrum. The new TYAC was elected by the end of the event after a series of rigorous voting by the attendees of the conference. We wish the new Advisory council ( in effect from September 2013) all the luck in their endeavors!

A memorable dinner:

Mr.Jamil Ahmad, Secretary for the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment (GC/GMEF) invited me to a dinner at his place. Originally from Pakistan, he and his family had a lot in common with me. Mr.Ahmad and his welcoming family not only reminded me of the magnificent Pakistani people serving for humanitarian development but also inspired me to a great extent. The scrumptious South Asian dinner we had, coupled with an insightful discussions ranging from Green Economy and Climate Change to Youth Empowerment made my experience all the more special and memorable.

Nairobi: wildlife, nature? and resilience?

Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, is an amazing city with mesmerizing sights. The TUNZA administration arranged an interesting field-trip to the Nairobi National Park Safari Walk, which surely excited the participants and rejuvenated their spirits. The rich culture, as well as an effort to conserve wildlife came across as the highlight: sights of leopards, lions, giraffes, monkeys, tortoises, and other animals captured attention. The much enjoyed trip concluded with an informative presentation by the Kenyan Conservation Society summarizing their efforts to conserve wildlife in Kenya.

Author:

Ali Shahbaz

Pakistan Official Youth Delegate to UNCSD, Rio+20

Pakistan Delegate to UNEP-TUNZA

 E: ali.next3000@gmail.com