Addresses the intersection of environment, health, and equity using a One Health approach.
Engagements
UNEA Resolution 7/11
Countries
Focal points
Taskforce members
Two-day virtual conference on 26–27 September 2026, organized by CYMG with support from UNEP. Public webinar on Day 1, youth upskilling workshop on Day 2. Registration opens 12 August 2026.
Three core strategic pillars anchoring CYMG's environmental health research, multilateral diplomacy, and youth capacity building.
The Environmental Health Working Group strengthens CYMG's leadership on One Health issues by representing the environmental sector and advancing integrated human, animal, plant, and environmental health solutions.
Tackling antimicrobial resistance across the human, animal, plant, and planetary ecosystem continuum. Investigating pharmaceutical wastewater, agricultural runoff, and environmental reservoirs of resistant pathogens.
Leading formal youth policy positions and negotiations at UNEA-7, OECPR, and CPR meetings. Championing youth inclusion in the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR (IPEA) and strengthening National Action Plans (NAPs).
Synthesizing peer-reviewed scientific evidence and frontline community health realities into actionable policy briefs. Empowering young health professionals, scientists, and grassroots advocates through regional workshops and Quadripartite youth initiatives.
How CYMG shaped and advocated for the historic UNEA Resolution 7/11 on antimicrobial resistance.
At UNEA-7 in Nairobi, Member States adopted a landmark resolution proposed by the host country Kenya, formally recognizing the environment as a critical reservoir and transmission pathway for resistant microorganisms and genes. CYMG delegates followed negotiations from initial consultations, delivered formal interventions, and held bilateral meetings to secure environmental AMR surveillance and youth stakeholder inclusion.
CYMG Environmental Health delegation engaging in resolution consultations
YEA-3 Session
Govt of Kenya Bilateral“Youth, as both disproportionate inheritors of the consequences of AMR and active social agents of change, are indispensable partners in global One Health governance.”
The youth leaders and specialists driving CYMG's environmental health mandate across global policy, scientific research, and multilateral negotiations.
01LeadHafeez Hamza is a global health professional from Kenya with over six years of experience advancing action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and One Health. He serves as a member of the Quadripartite Working Group on Youth Engagement for AMR (WHO–FAO–UNEP–WOAH) and as CYMG's Thematic Focal Point for the UN Environment Programme. He sits on the Board of the Young World Federation of Public Health Associations and has represented young people at the 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, UNEA-6/7 and UNGA, with more than ten peer-reviewed publications.
02Leaddr. Fithriyyah Iskandar is a medical doctor and environmental health advocate from Indonesia. A Fulbright Scholar with a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences from Rutgers University (USA), she serves as CYMG's Environmental Health Working Group focal point for the UN Environment Programme and is a member of the ASEAN Youth Forum Regional Executive Board. She helped create the ASEAN Declaration on the Rights to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Development, adopted in 2025.
03Ayaz Khan is a medical student at Bolan Medical College and Founder of the Better World Initiative, actively leading grassroots projects across health, climate action, and education. He holds leadership roles with IFMSA and InciSioN, working at the intersection of healthcare, environmental health advocacy, and youth leadership.
04Ayien Tevivona is a Research and Advocacy Officer working at the intersection of global health, environmental governance, and evidence-informed policymaking. Her work focuses on advancing health security, environmental health, and equitable access to healthcare by strengthening the science–policy interface through research, advocacy, and multilateral engagement.
05Nathanael Ip is a planetary health scholar and multi-medium artist pursuing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta. A former Fulbright Killam Fellow at the University of Washington and Canadian United Nations Youth Delegate, his work explores the intersections of climate change, health, and youth wellbeing. Nathanael serves on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health Youth Advisory Council and leads Positivitree, an initiative that uses education and the arts to address climate anxiety and foster hope in a changing world.
06Shania Chand is a Master's scholar in Marine Science at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji, with research interests in marine ecology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change, and environmental sustainability. She has experience in interdisciplinary research spanning marine science, AMR, gender studies, and climate change, alongside university teaching and community engagement, and is committed to advancing research that supports the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.
07Saiarchana Darira is a pre-med student at Columbia University, exploring the intersection between environmental science and medicine. She serves as a New York City Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum, where she works to decrease medical debt. She also previously served on United Nations Ocean Decade’s U.S. Youth Advisory Council for 3 years, where she worked on climate campaigns. She currently does environmental health research on the intersection between neuroscience and climate change.
Reach out to any focal point above for policy inquiries, collaborative research, or joining our working group taskforces.
Current activities and the latest updates, resources, and events from this group.
Upcoming & Ongoing Activities
Event12 Aug 2026
CEDAR — CYMG Conference on the Environmental Dimensions of Antimicrobial Resistance
Two-day virtual conference on 26–27 September 2026, organized by CYMG with support from UNEP. Public webinar on Day 1, youth upskilling workshop on Day 2. Registration opens 12 August 2026.
Latest News & Updates
12 Aug 2026
CEDAR — CYMG Conference on the Environmental Dimensions of Antimicrobial Resistance
Two-day virtual conference on 26–27 September 2026, organized by CYMG with support from UNEP. Public webinar on Day 1, youth upskilling workshop on Day 2. Registration opens 12 August 2026.
Read article4 Mar 2026
Resolution Recap Series – Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from the environmental lens
At its seventh session, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) adopted a landmark resolution addressing the environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) proposed by the host country, Kenya. Traditionally framed as a health issue, AMR is now increasingly recognized as an environmental governance challenge under the One Health approach.
Read articleUseful links, resources, position papers, and partner platforms related to environmental health and One Health.
A snapshot of the working group's engagements during the UNEA-7 process and beyond.
Convened the official thematic session "Antimicrobial Resistance in the Lens of One Health" during the Youth Environment Assembly in Nairobi. Featured Kenyan Government AMR focal point Nahashon Gicheru as key speaker alongside youth researchers, engaging over 60 delegates both in person and virtually.
Event & Field Gallery (3 photos)
Conducted dedicated bilateral consultations with the AMR resolution focal points from the Government of Kenya to integrate youth policy positions, environmental wastewater monitoring, and intergenerational equity into UNEA Resolution 7/11.
Delivered 3 formal plenary interventions at OECPR-7 and 1 intervention at the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) meeting. Organized 2 global youth consultation rounds to synthesize CYMG's unified position on the environmental dimensions of AMR.
Event & Field Gallery (2 photos)
Participated as keynote speaker and panelist during the Global Inno-Health Action (GIA) field trip in Manila (14 October 2025). Shared youth-driven solutions on environmental determinants of health and engaged Southeast Asian youth leaders on community-level AMR stewardship.
Event & Field Gallery (4 photos)
A comprehensive technical policy brief synthesizing peer-reviewed evidence, environmental AMR surveillance priorities, and global youth recommendations. Captures inputs from CYMG membership consultations and serves as an enduring multilateral roadmap.
Hafeez Hamza, Co-Thematic Focal Point for Environmental Health, addressed the high-level session on Financing Health & Investing in Youth as Partners in Health Systems Transformation, convened by Aga Khan University, Young WFPHA, citiesRISE and The Youth Cafe in Nairobi.
Event & Field Gallery (2 photos)
Represented CYMG UNEP as fully funded delegates at the ReAct Asia-Pacific Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Jakarta. Collaborated with ICARS, Smart Choice, and GARDP on pharmaceutical waste management, digital surveillance, and youth mobilization.
Event & Field Gallery (1 photos)
A closer look at this group's history, highlights, and engagements.
