UNEP REGIONAL OFFICE FOR WEST ASIA UNEP ROWA

1

2
Countries of the Region
Bahrain
Kuwait
Iraq
Jordan
Lebanon
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Palestine
Yemen
United Arab Emirates
3
Region Area
3,950,000 Km2
4
Population.
5
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.

6
Environmental impacts

• air emissions -climate change
• water shortage and contamination
• land degradation
• loss of biodiversity
• contamination by chemicals

7
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

8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
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

11
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

12
West Asia State of Environment

• About 80 of the region is classified as
  semi-desert 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.

13
Youth Consumption power 

• More than one-fourth of the worlds 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

14
Is the Future Yours?

• The effect of the consumption behaviour on
  Environment

15
Is the Future Yours?
Who should do something to make the world a
better place?
16
Is the Future Yours?
What is the biggest challenge in the coming years?
17
UNEP YouthXchange Project- West Asia

• youthXchange (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).

18
Objectives

• We need a new generation of consumers, producers
  and decision-makers who understand and 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.

19
Projects

• To achieve the objectives mentioned and to
  promote for the UNEP YXC in West Asia
• EcoFlag Project
• YXC Sustainable Lifestyle
• The Dubai Annual Global Environmental Youth
  Gathering - Eco Ambassadors.
• Round table Initiative Youth Decision makers

20
EcoFlag

• 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.

21
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.
• 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.

22
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

23
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.

24
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

25
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.

26
Donors Role CSR

• Why being involved!
• sustainable citizenship is part of (consumer)
  education
• article 14d of implementation text
• youth is a key stakeholder and a resource
• youth and consumption is a multi-stakeholder
  multi-sector 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? ?!!!!!!

27
(No Transcript)
28

• Thank You, ????
• More Information
• Tel. [phone]
• edadiver_at_emirates.net.ae
• www.uneptie.org
• www.youthxchange.net

You must be the change you wish to see in the
world. Mahatma Gandhi.