Patna, Jan. 9: Three students from Bihar have been invited to express their views on environment conservation at an international meet to begin in Bangladesh tomorrow.
The theme for the three-day meet of South Asia Youth Environment Network (SAYEN) in Dhaka is The Road to Rio 2012: Sustainable Lifestyles for a Green Economy. Rio+20 meet, a United Nations conference on sustainable development, will be organised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 20 to 22.
Himanshu Shekhar, one of the invitees and a Class XI student of St Dominic Savio’s High School, is elated with the opportunity to take part in the seventh regional meet of SAYEN.
“Climate change is the biggest problem the world is facing today. The young generation must take the lead and fight this problem. This conference will be a great opportunity for those who are passionate and concerned about the environment. Youngsters should take the responsibility for a better future by concentrating on environmental issues. It is their efforts which would bring great changes,” Himanshu, who is pursuing science, said.
Chitranshu Tewari, a 2011 passout from Don Bosco Academy, Patna, has also been invited to take part in the meet. Chitranshu is now studying English at Ramjas College in Delhi.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Tunza ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region, Sharad Vivek Sagar (also from Patna), and Shruti K.N., the UNEP Tunza adviser for the Asia-Pacific region, from Chennai, have also been invited to the SAYEN meet as guest speakers.
The National Federation of Youth Organisations in Bangladesh is hosting the meet, while assistance is being provided by the environment department, ministry of environment and forest, Bangladesh, UNEP, Centre for Environment Education, India, and the SAYEN Secretariat.
The South Asian network is linked to Tunza, UNEP’s strategy to involve youths in the sustainable development of environment.
Sharad said: “Youths in South Asia are fast emerging as concerned climate leaders. This is a positive sign to mitigate climate change. The 2012 regional meet will help collect, voice and advocate problems and demands related to South Asian climate at the Rio+20 meet in Brazil.”
