Youth today comprise of more than 30% of the global population. The participation of the youth in the environmental-sustainability sector, development decision-making and in the implementation of programmes is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21of the United Nations Environment Programme  1992.

    It is imperative that youth from all parts of the world participate actively in all relevant levels of decision-making processes because it affects their lives today and has implications on their future. In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilize support, they bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account. Though consultation of youth around the globe could be a tedious and cumbersome task, the chances that the international community could take rash and incorrect environmental decisions would reduce drastically.

   Numerous actions and recommendations within the international community have been proposed to ensure that youth are provided a secure and healthy future, including an environment of quality, improved standards of living and access to education and employment. These issues need to be addressed in development planning.

In my opinion,  each country must, in consultation with its youth communities, establish a process to promote dialogue between the youth community and Government at all levels and to establish mechanisms that permit youth access to information and provide them with the opportunity to present their perspectives on government decisions.

Youth deserve an opportunity to voice their opinions on ecological hassles and give their input on the solutions of the problem freely. They need a stronger voice so that no one will ever consider their opinion "not worthy" merely because they are young.

Youth not only will inherit the responsibility of looking after the Earth, but in many developing countries they comprise nearly half the population. Furthermore, children in both developing and industrialized countries are highly vulnerable to the effects of environmental degradation. They are also highly aware supporters of environmental thinking. The specific interests of children need to be taken fully into account in the participatory process on environment and development in order to safeguard the future sustainability of any actions taken to improve the environment.

Not to forget, tomorrow's environmentalists, activists and global policy-makers will be today's youth and children.