922021 United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Environment

9/2/2021 United Nations Environment Programme

United Nations Environment Programme Countries of the Region: Bahrain Iraq Jordan Lebanon Oman Qatar Syria 9/2/2021 United Arab Emirates Palestine Kuwait Saudi Arabia Yemen

United Nations Environment Programme Region Area: World 97% 9/2/2021 3, 950, 000 Km 2 West Asia 3%

United Nations Environment Programme Population…. World 98% West Asia 2% 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Development Trends • Gross world product: 4 times that of 1950 • Production processes and products based on the ever increasing use of natural resources: 70% of lands surface could be affected the impacts of roads, mining and cities in next 30 years • Poverty gap: 40% African households below poverty lines • In West Asia: More than 2/3 of population lives in low income countries and more 70 million is already under poverty line. • In West Asia the average unemployment rate in the region is 22. 5%, ranging from 2. 6% in Qatar to 50% in occupied lands in Palestine. Illiteracy rate in the region is estimated by 40% with female rates as much higher than males. 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Environmental impacts – air emissions -climate change – water shortage and contamination – land degradation – loss of biodiversity – contamination by chemicals 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Consumption and poverty. . . • A child born in an industrialized country contributes over a lifetime to production and consumption as much as 30 -50 children in a developing country • Nearly 1. 3 billion people live on less than 1 US dollar per day and close to 1 billion people can not meet their basic needs 9/2/2021

9/2/2021 United Nations Environment Programme

9/2/2021 United Nations Environment Programme

United Nations Environment Programme What is our role “model? ” The development model that the North follows and the South emulates is: • Putting a strain on the environment • Polluting the earth • Destroying the ecosystem • Increasing poverty and disparity 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme West Asia Priority Issues: (Youth still NOT A PRIORITY) • • • Freshwater The Coastal and Marine Environment Land Degradation and Biodiversity Production and Consumption Support to Palestine and Iraq 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme West Asia State of Environment • About 80% of the region is classified as semidesert or desert land • Only 11% is suitable for agriculture, with 2. 5% under irrigation and 8. 6% under rain-fed cultivation • The Arab region is highly urbanized region with 69% of the population lives in urban areas. • More than 2/3 of population lives in low income countries and more 70 million is already under poverty line. 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Youth Consumption power • More than one-fourth of the world’s six billion people are between the ages of 10 and 24, the largest group ever to enter adulthood » • 1) 1 billion aged 15 -24 • 2) 90% under 25 live in developing countries • 3) 60% of West Asia Population- Youth • 4) between now and 2010, 700 million young people will enter the labour force in developing countries • An unprecedented ‘demographic bonus’ of human resources which looks at affluent societies work and lifestyles as something to aspire to 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme “ Is the Future Yours? ” • The effect of the consumption behaviour on Environment 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme “ Is the Future Yours? ” Who should do something to make the world a better place? 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme “ Is the Future Yours? ” What is the biggest challenge in the coming years? 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme UNEP Youth. Xchange Project. West Asia • youth. Xchange (YXC) will try to give solutions rather than highlighting problems. It will be proactive, not passive… It is a project of ideas, creativity and visions to promote and encourage sustainable lifestyles in a very practical way. • The project started in 2001, was launched in World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (August 2002) and is having a tremendous international success. The work being done in the West Asia region will join other similar efforts world wide. • Youthxchange is also the recommended Project for education on sustainable consumption for the UN Decade of Education on Sustainable Development (2005 -2015). 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Objectives • We need a new generation of consumers, producers and decisionmakers who understand integrate sustainability in their personal and professional decisions We want develop together a NEW CULTURE OF CONSUMPTION and • Educate Arab youth about Sustainable Development issues and prepare them to be environment conscious future leaders in the development process. • Involve the Private Sector in west Asia in Sustainable Development issues. • Organize Capacity Building sessions on the local and regional level. • Lead Public Awareness campaigns towards Sustainable lifestyles. • At the end of this project, create a whole Network of Arab Sustainable Developers in the region, the first Network in the region and in this project globally. 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Projects To achieve the objectives mentioned and to promote for the UNEP YXC in West Asia • Eco. Flag Project • YXC Sustainable Lifestyle • The Dubai Annual Global Environmental Youth Gathering - Eco Ambassadors. • Round table Initiative – Youth & Decision makers 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Eco. Flag • The Ecoflag is a symbol of the commitment of sports enthusiasts worldwide to the environment • Sports enthusiasts know the importance of the natural ecosystem and its basic products, such as clean air, clean water, and nutritious food, to their health and performance. • . The Ecoflag has become the symbol of these actions and serves to unite the individual efforts of these different groups into a global initiative. • “Ecoflag Movement”-a global drive by sports enthusiasts to secure a healthy ecosystem for all our future generations. The Ecoflag Movement is supported by UNEP. • The Ecoflag is flown at sporting events-from school sports days to world championships, and is used in combination with environmental actions and messages to increase awareness among athletes and spectators alike. 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme YXC Sustainable Lifestyle • answers the need for reliable, clear and yet entertaining information on the meaning and challenges of sustainable consumption among youth. • The focus of the Programme is on empowering young people to put theory into practice by fostering what they are best at: communication and exchange of ideas and practices. 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme The Dubai Annual Global Environmental Youth Gathering - Eco Ambassadors An annual event based in Dubai. The aim of the gathering is to: • Introduce the national and regional environmental activities in West Asia to the Arab and international Youth. • Encourage environmental tourism • Spread awareness on global environmental issues • Unite youth of the world for cultural understanding 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme The Gathering • An International Retreat based in Dubai • Works with a network of organisations world wide • Main aim and Mission is to Protect the Environment by Encouraging environmental tourism and having Eco Ambassadors to promote for travelling to and crossing bridges between cultures • Facilitate Youth Exchange. • Spreading awareness of global issues • Uniting the youth of the world – for cultural understanding • Partnership with international organization such as UNEP and local organizations all over the world. 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Structure • UNEP Division of Technology, Industry & Economics (UNEP DTIE) • UNITED Nations Environment Programme. Regional Office of West Asia (UNEP ROWA) • UNEP YXC West Asia Executive Director • UNEP YXC – West Asia Board of Trustees and Supporting Members • 'Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment’ 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Our Mandate • World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) Implementation text: “develop awareness raising programs on the importance of sustainable production and consumption patters, particularly among youth, especially in developed countries through, i. e. education, public and consumer information, advertising and other media, taking into account local , national and regional cultural values. ” 9/2/2021

United Nations Environment Programme Donors Role & CSR Why being involved! • sustainable citizenship is part of (consumer) education • article 14 d of implementation text • youth is a key stakeholder and a resource • youth and consumption is a multi-stakeholder multisector issue and it can help synergies with different sectors (education/culture/social) • Corporate Social Responsibility towards the Youth, community, your staff and West Asia Region. • In-house staff YXC Training • Marketing & PR. • Working with youth is fun !!!!!! 9/2/2021

9/2/2021 United Nations Environment Programme

United Nations Environment Programme Thank You, ﺷﻜﺮﺍ More Information: Tel. +971 50 7748844 edadiver@emirates. net. ae www. uneptie. org www. youthxchange. net “You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ” Mahatma Gandhi. 9/2/2021