Young Jamaicans Urged to be More Active in Protecting the Environment

Youth Ambassador to the United Nations, Traci-Ann Johns, is calling on young Jamaicans to become more environmentally conscious and play a more active role in protecting and preserving the earth for the current and future generations.
Miss Johns was speaking at the launch of International Youth Day, held at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on August 7.
International Youth Day will be observed tomorrow (August 12), under the theme – ‘Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action’.
“International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth, to celebrate their achievements, and plan for ways to better engage young people to successfully take action in the development of their societies,” she explained.
In recognition of the day and to celebrate the theme, the Youth Ambassador is asking all young persons to wear something green, in symbolizing the environment and to plant a tree or flower in their backyards.
The day’s activities will also involve public education exercises, including articles in the print media as well as talks with young persons at Youth Information Centres islandwide.
“The planned series of events for the celebration of International Youth Day are geared towards preparedness, risk reduction, mitigation and adaptation, in light of the impact that climate change is presently having on varying countries around the world,” Miss Johns said.
To ensure the perpetuity of the activities, the Jamaica Youth Ambassadors Programme (JAYAP), will be launching a tree-planting campaign dubbed: ‘More Wood, More Water’, in September.
“We will seek to plant 500 trees across the island, while educating young people on safe environmental practices,” Miss Johns added.
Industrial and economic activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels and the consequent emission of green house gases, as well as deforestation and urbanization, have severe repercussions for the environment and the quality of life that people across the world can enjoy.
International Youth Day came out of the United Nations General Assembly on December 17, 1999 in its Resolution 54/120, which endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, that August 12 be declared International Youth Day.
The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organised to support the Day, as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the year 2000 and beyond.