Road to Rio: Youth Perspective on Green Economy

Between 18th and 22nd Feb. 2012, the Network had representatives during the UNEP Governing Council meeting. Our team made together with other youth made the following proposals with regards to transition to Green Economy 

On behalf of Children and Youth, we would like to express the hope which the Rio+20 and the Green Economy brings, as well as the apprehensions. We see a tremendous opportunity here.  Young people are a pool of creativity; and what the transition to a Green Economy needs is creativity. Youth should no longer be viewed as a vulnerable group, but as an asset to make Green Economy happen.

Safeguards against misinterpretation, inaction and green washing: We therefore call upon the member states and UN representatives present to open a series of dialogues, to reach consensus on what Green Economy is, with a concrete set of criteria, timescale, principles, quotas, and accountability features, and we also believe that children and youth should be part of these discussions.

We would also call upon individual governments to initiate capacity building, with a particular focus on scientific capacity building , as well as providing youth with the funds and strategic support necessary to make green economy a reality. To this end, we believe that a commitment to introducing Education for Sustainable development in the national curriculum should be the first step.

Supporting youth through start-up loans, providing frameworks for green youth entrepreneurship and education, and subsidising technology-transfer and information consolidation will be the best investment that individual member states can make in a green economy. 

We would like to point out that the developing world and the developed world will experience the green economy on two tiers. It is therefore important to provide the best conditions for equality of outcome.

Agriculture, in developing countries, is one sector which youth have perceived as critical, and we believe that it should be rebranded, modernized and boosted into a hub for attractive green jobs for youth. Youth also call upon the UN systems and individual member states to bridge the gap with the financial sector and the international financial structures to prevent a dichotomy which could exacerbate inequality.

We are confident that the Green Economy can be a resounding success. However, we are cautious in our optimism, as it is the political will of the member states present which will make the difference, and we invite you to reflect that it is the youth of today which will inherit the legacy of the decisions taken today, and as such urge you to  take positive steps to depart from stagnant paradigms, and substantiate the optimism surrounding Green Economy with concrete principles, goals, and a timescale.