Training workshop for youth held in Singapore

Seventeen young leaders have participated in a three-day regional training workshop in Singapore, and discussed how they can take part in solving climate change.

The event, held in late March 2008 at the Singapore Environmental Institute (SEI), was attended by participants from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

The Commonwealth Secretariat organised the workshop in partnership with the National Youth Council of Singapore, SEI, and the Tata Energy Research Institute in India.

Participants were given an overview of the impact of climate change and its emerging challenges, as well as what civic groups, particularly young people, could do to help in educating their communities about climate change.

Besides policy implementation and the adoption of innovative environmental technologies, the workshop also highlighted successful projects that address natural resource conservation and adoption of environmental technologies especially in waste management.

The Assistant Director of the National Youth Council of Singapore, Ng Guan Ing, opened the workshop and described it as a timely initiative that would improve youth knowledge of climate change and what they can do to help.

SEI’s Director, Ong Eng Kian, highlighted the increased evidence of climate change such as high temperature levels and large concentration of carbon dioxide, as well as the consequences for human livelihood.

Citing a study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he noted that the current average surface temperature has been projected to increase by 1 to 6 degrees, and commented on the need for young people to learn to protect and conserve the natural environment.

Raj K Mishra, Regional Director, Commonwealth Youth Programme (Asia), called upon the youth to take urgent action and to take the lead in their communities.

“As future leaders of the nation and the world, you have the power to help shape and transform the mindsets of the population-at-large to adopt more climate-friendly lifestyles,” he said.

Secretariat Links:

• Commonwealth Youth Programme
• Climate Change