International Conference Brings Together Youth Leaders to Address Climate and Water Challenges

Strategic Insights -

Over 1,000 youth leaders from Asia and the Pacific gathered in the Philippines for a conference focused on increasing youth participation in addressing global water and climate challenges. The event, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), took place from 9 to 13 August, on the eve of International Youth Day, which emphasizes the importance of intergenerational solidarity in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Takeaways:

  • The WMO Services Director, Dr Johann Stander, emphasized the importance of listening to and working with youth to address climate change, citing the WMO-spearheaded Water and Climate Coalition as an example.
  • Climate change has brought significant weather disturbances across the Asia-Pacific region, increasing the vulnerability of millions of people, especially in Small Island Developing States.
  • The WMO is working to ensure universal access to early warning services to protect people against extreme weather within the next five years.
  • Water resource management poses a significant challenge in the Asia and Pacific region, with an estimated 300 million people lacking access to safely managed or basic water services, and 1.2 billion lacking adequate sanitation.
  • The Region of Ormoc and Baybay in the Philippines, event hosts, have been significantly impacted by severe weather events, highlighting the importance of early warning systems and services.
  • The conference aimed to come up with a consensus on how youth can more meaningfully participate in local and global water and climate negotiations.
  • Jan Kairel Guillermo, Youth Engagement Officer of the Water and Climate Coalition, highlighted the low level of youth participation from the Asia and Pacific region in the past 10 years, often hindered by financial and bureaucratic requirements.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,000 youth leaders from Asia and the Pacific attended the conference.
  • 60% of the world's population live in the Asia and Pacific, with an estimated 300 million people lacking access to safely managed or basic water services.
  • 1.2 billion people in the Asia and Pacific lack adequate sanitation.
  • The WMO aims to ensure universal access to early warning services to protect people against extreme weather within the next five years.

Sources:

  • WMO Services Director Dr Johann Stander's statement
  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) of the Asian Development Bank
  • International Youth Day Statement from the United Nations
  • Jan Kairel Guillermo, Youth Engagement Officer of the Water and Climate Coalition
  • City Mayor of Ormoc, Lucy Torres-Gomez's statement
  • Governor of the Province of Leyte, Carlos Jericho Petilla's statement