YEA June 2020

3-6 June 2020

VIRTUAL YOUTH ENVIRONMENT ASSEMBLY

Telegram Channel with live announcements

Youth-led Virtual Youth Environment Assembly (YEA), is being convened from 3rd June - 6th June 2020, with the aim of mainstreaming diverse voices from youth movements in the environmental and climate agenda and preparing them for the 5th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5).

In the midst of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the YEA will provide space for children and youth to report on how young people are coping with COVID-19 and adjusting to the changed modalities of environmental action, especially as we head into a #BuildBackBetter phase.

It is open for ALL interested youth to participate!

Our speakers...

H.E. Sveinung Rotevatn

UNEA-5 President & Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway

H.E. Carolina Schmidt

Minister of the Environment, Chile & COP25 President

H.E. Riccardo Lozano

Minister of Environment, Columbia (host of WED 2020)

Minister of Environment, Jordan

H.E. Dr. Saleh Alkharabsheh

Dr. Agnes Kalibata

UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Food Systems Summit 2021

Beniamin Strzelecki

Global Focal Point, SDG7 Youth Constituency

Ms Joyce Msuya

Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director, UNEP

Swetha Stotra Bhashyam

Global South Focal Point, Global Youth Biodiversity Network

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Hilda Flavia Nakabuye

Youth Advocate from Uganda

Ulf Björnholm

Deputy Secretary for Governing Bodies, UNEP

Alexander Juras

Chief, Civil Society Unit, UNEP

Omnia El Ormani

International Federation of Medical Students Association

Schedule

3rd June Highlights

Opening Plenary

14.00-15.00 UTC

Theme: Youth, environment agenda, and pandemic recovery. Panelists will share their thoughts on how we can work towards a more sustainable future post-COVID-19, as well as highlight the critical role youths play in this process.

Speakers

Joyce Msuya, UNEP Deputy Executive Director
Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy for 2021 Food Systems Summit
Marina Tricks, Polluters Out
Aminetou Bilal, African Union Youth Envoy Advisory Committee

Breakout Sessions - Capacity building for UNEA & Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework

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15.15-16.30 UTC

1. UNEA process capacity building

2. Youth engagement in the post-2020 biodiversity framework

Speakers

Session on UNEA Capacity Building

Ulf Björnholm, Deputy Secretary, Secretariat of Governing Bodies and Stakeholders (UNEP)
Alexander Juras, Chief, Civil Society Unit (UNEP)

Session on Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework and Youth

Swetha Bhayasam, Focal Point - Global Youth Biodiversity Network
Members of the GYBN Steering Committee

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Inter-generational Dialogue - Youth & UNEA negotiators

16.45-17.45 UTC

In this dialogue, we'll be discussing youth priorities for UNEA-5, the road to UNEP@50 & Stockholm+50.

Speakers

Sebastian Gill, representative to UNEA - EU Commission
Patric Egloff, Committee of Permanent Representatives, Switzerland
Member state representative from a developing country (TBC)

Discussion: “Planet of the Humans” by SDG7 Youth Constituency

18.00-19.00 UTC

The recent documentary “Planet of the Humans” has sparked many discussions in the environmental movement and in the sustainable energy sector specifically. The SDG7 Youth Constituency would like to invite you for a discussion about the facts and opinions that the documentary raises: 1)Environmental impacts of renewable energy systems; 2)Energy returned for energy invested in renewable energy systems; 3)Feasibility of biomass as a renewable energy source; 4)Degrowth and demand management as a solution

4th June Highlights

Day One Recap

13.00-13.20 UTC

Recap and Updates!

Ministerial - Youth Dialogues

13.20-14.20 UTC

A youth dialogue with key decision-makers on sustainable development and environmental policies.

Speakers

H.E. Carolina Schmidt, Minister of Environment, Chile
H.E. Ricardo Lozano, Minister of Environment, Colombia (host of WED2020)
H.E. Dr. Saleh Alkharabsheh, Minister of Environment, Jordan

Parallel Sessions

14.20-15.20 UTC

1. Becoming a Youth Advocate: This will be a capacity-building session by youth, for youth. Our panelists will share about their experiences as an environmental advocate, and discuss how you can be an inspiration to your community too!

Speakers

Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, Climate activist from Uganda
Prisca Daka, Zimbabwe Youth Biodiversity Network
Felix Feider, Generation Climate Europe

2. Human Health in the context of Planetary Health: This session aims to address human health in the context of planetary health, COVID-19 and the lessons drawn from the pandemic to protect both human and environmental health.

Speakers

Dr. Mary Showstark, Yale School of Medicine
Max Zimberg, Planetary Health Alliance
Martin Adams, European Environment Agency
Representatives from International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA)

Closing of the Day

15.20-15.50 UTC

This session summarizes the sessions of the first two days of the conference.

Speakers

Moderators and Reporters of app previous session

5th June Highlights

Regional Youth Projects Marketplace (Part 1)

11.20-12.00 UTC

Listen to youth who've implemented environment initiatives — their stories, challenges, and successes. This session will also feature a Q&A where you can ask peers questions about starting a new project.

Asia, Australia/Newzealand/Pacific, Europe

Speakers

Theresa Rose Sebastian, Re-Earth Initiative
Khishigjargal Enkhbayar, Ananas

12.00-13.30 UTC

Youth Dialogue with President of UNEA 5

The highlight of our event! Hear from two high-level panelists about the importance of environmental action, and how young people can lead change on the road to UNEA-5.

Speakers

Sveinung Rotevatn, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Norway and UNEA-5 President
H.E. Mr Jorge Laguna-Celis, Director of Governance Affairs UNEP

#BuildingBackBetter A Conversation with Women Leading on Climate Action, Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability

13.50- 14.50 UTC

This panel features a lively discussion with exceptional women leaders in the fields of climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability who have been actively working to "BuildBackBetter" through their groundbreaking research, innovative initiatives and compelling advocacy to drive change in cities and communities.

Speakers

Hadia Sheerazi, Columbia University, former UN ECOSOC Youth Delegate (Moderator)
Dr. Kate Marvel, Associate Research Scientist, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Dr. Asha de Vos, Founder, Oceanswell, NatGeoExplorer, Senior TED Fellow, World Economic Young Global Leader
Kristal Ambrose, Founder, The Bahamas Plastic Movement

Regional Youth Projects Marketplace (Part 2)

14.50-15.30 UTC

Listen to youth who've implemented environment initiatives — their stories, challenges, and successes. This session will also feature a Q&A where you can ask peers questions about starting a new project.

Africa, America, French-speaking

Speakers

Aalok Bhatt, Eco Ambassador
Elvis Kadhama, Pearl Entrepreneurs Academy
Thierno Abdoul, Youth Parliament of the Civil Society of Guinea

6th June Highlights - Children's Day

Children's Talanoa Dialogue

12.45 - 13.30 UTC

Child advocates from all around the world will meet in this session and get the chance to share their experiences with environmental activism and talk about their most memorable moments and daily struggles.

Make your life more sustainable

13.30 - 14.00 UTC

How can I make my life, my home and my school more sustainable? This workshop will show a short workshop and several movies from all around the world on sustainable hacks that you can use in your day to day life.

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EcoRadio Workshop for Eco Ambassadors!

14.00 - 14.30 UTC

The workshop will feature a training on effective media/communication along with a fun and exciting interactive group activity for all participants to teach you how to make your own “radio” segment on climate or sustainability issues. You will learn how to record and showcase voices of youth and create powerful communications campaigns to continue your advocacy work. The final product - “YEA EcoRadio” featuring your voices and messages - will be compiled by the Earth Institute team and be featured on the UNEP MGCY website.

Speakers

Hadia Sheerazi, Columbia University, former UN ECOSOC Youth Delegate
Brighton Kaoma, Initiative on Communication & Sustainability, Columbia University
Tara Stafford Ocansey, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University
Haein Shin, Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University

Sustainability in Schools Workshop: Ideas for Student-led Sustainability Projects in Schools

14.30 - 15.15 UTC

Join this interactive workshop to learn about how you can make a difference by starting fun and innovative sustainability projects in your school! See examples of successful student-run projects by your peers and fellow sustainability advocates in schools in New York City, USA. Take advantage of a live Q&A session with Dr. Oren Pizmony-Levy to ask questions and get advice on how you can become a sustainability leader in your own school.