TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 6
International
confab taps the
power of Asia’s
youth to care
for the world’s
oceans
PEMSEA Participants
Credit : eascongress2018.pemsea.org
O
ften tagged as creative, optimistic and
passionate, the youth play a critical role in
shaping the future of the world. Indeed, their
role in local and global efforts addressing
pressing issues, especially regarding
environmental concerns, are becoming more
widely appreciated. PEMSEA (Partnerships
in Environmental Management for the Seas
of East Asia) puts great importance on youth
engagement in facilitating change for the
sustainability of the environment.
"They are the future generation they are our future leaders. They have
to be part of the solution,” said Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director of
PEMSEA. "They have to feel ownership. They have to be consulted and be
engaged in the setting of the policy and the implementation of policy and
programs that involve them."
The Asia Pacific region has the highest number of youths around the
world, according to the World Bank Atlas 2017. Given their potential
and capacity to become agents of change, PEMSEA aims to provide an
opportunity for them to be exposed, to learn, and to be advocates of the
environment, especially of our shared oceans.
Asia’s young people will be part of the upcoming East Asian Seas (EAS)
Congress 2018 that will be held from November 27 to 29 at the Iloilo
Convention Center in Iloilo City, Philippines. The conference will coincide
with the holding of the 5th EAS Youth Forum, which aims to enhance
the youth's understanding of the environment's current situation and
highlight the role they can play in sustainable development and the global
ocean agenda.
The forum will gather some 52 youth delegates from 8 countries in the
East Asian region. They will be given the opportunity to learn from and
interact with a roster of high-profile speakers and leaders in ocean and
coastal management.
Speakers include Mr. Titon Mitra, Country Director of UNDP Philippines;
Dr. Antonio La Viña, Chair of the EAS Partnership Council; Dr. Jenna
Jambeck, Associate Professor of the University of Georgia College of
Engineering; Dr. Sulan Chen, Programme Advisor of GEF Small Grants
Programme; Ms. Anna Oposa, Co-founder and Chief Mermaid of Save
Philippine Seas (SPS); Mr. Hari Mahardika, Coordinator of Pesisir Mengajar;
Mr. Kaisar Akhir, Deputy Secretary-General, Indonesian Maritime Youth
Association (APMI) and Mr. Pocholo Miguel Espina, Chief Executive Officer
of Sip PH.
Themed “Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda: Active
and Engaged Youth”, the event will also feature peer-to-peer learning
discussions, team-building and creative sessions designed to empower the
next generation of young champions for oceans and coasts.
To aid in their own environmental initiatives, the youth delegates will
have the chance to enhance their skills in terms of project development
and management. Topics dealing with sustainable ocean and coastal
management such as marine plastics, climate change, and the state,
issues, threats and solutions to marine biodiversity will be also discussed.
http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/
For more information and updates about the Congress, visit http://
eascongress2018.pemsea.org/.
The Asia Pacific region has the highest number of youths around the world, according to the World Bank Atlas
2017. Given their potential and capacity to become agents of change, PEMSEA aims to provide an opportunity
for them to be exposed, to learn, and to be advocates of the environment, especially of our shared oceans
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