UNDP in Kyrgyzstan, together with the New Rhythm Public Association, as part of the Stockholm+50 national consultations, held a Youth Caravan in 16 locations in all 7 regions of Kyrgyzstan and brought together 717 schoolchildren and students of the country.

The purpose of the Caravan was to raise awareness among young people about the effects of climate change, gender equality and to collect recommendations on the three dialogues of the leaders of the international conference "Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity", which, five decades after the Stockholm conference in 1972 The Government of Sweden, with the support of the Government of Kenya, will host in Stockholm during the week of World Environment Day on June 2 and 3, 2022.

The leadership dialogues of the Stockholm+50 international conference will address the following themes:

Leadership Dialogue 1: Reflecting on the urgent need for actions to achieve a healthy planet and prosperity of all;

Leadership Dialogue 2: Achieving a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic;

Leadership Dialogue 3: Accelerating the implementation of the environmental dimension of Sustainable Development in the context of the Decade of Action.

As part of Kyrgyzstan’s preparations for the Stockholm+50 Conference, in order to stimulate an inclusive dialogue involving the whole of society and government, national consultations covered the key topics of the Stockholm+50 Dialogues and conducted a series of focus groups with various stakeholder groups, as well as the discussion of key topics among young people through the Youth Caravan took place in all regions of the country. The results of the consultations will be used in the form of national reports and a global summary report at the Stockholm+50 international meeting.

“The Youth Caravan is a unique environment that allows young people of Kyrgyzstan from different social groups and geographic locations, starting from the central and farthest points of the country, to combine their knowledge, resources and mobilize their peers to generate new sustainable ideas to achieve common prosperity and harmony between people and the environment. We know that the problem of global warming requires fast and progressive solutions and we are sure that it is the youth who are the catalyst for these changes, thanks to their openness to knowledge, willingness to test new green technologies and their friendliness,” said Madina Salaidinova, Chairwoman of the New Rhythm Public Association.

By taking part in the Youth Caravan, young people got a unique opportunity to get to know the global processes of climate change, urgent environmental problems of the world and country level. Along with this, the participants shared how each person can contribute to the preservation of the environment, raised their awareness of the sustainable development goals, the basics of a green and brown economy, and also developed their clear and specific recommendations for the Stockholm+50 international conference .

“Protection and preservation of the environment is not only your problem or ours. This is a challenge, the solution of which requires unity,” said Meerim Manasova, a participant in the Youth Caravan in the village of Kochkor, Naryn region.

The participants of the Youth Caravan shared that they currently see the importance of introducing environmental education programs in educational institutions of the country, international standards for the waste management system, as well as the adoption of special provisions on the environmental responsibility of private and state enterprises, especially for the conservation of biodiversity, glaciers and the pearl of Kyrgyzstan – Lake Issyk-Kul.

Timur Mamirov, a 15-year-old eco-activist from Tokmok and a member of the Zhash Time youth initiative, believes that if we do not provide environmental education in schools, activities such as subbotniks may be useless: “We, as active youth, can to instill among peers the idea that Kyrgyzstan is our country and each of us must do everything possible not to spoil it and preserve it for the next generation.”

The organizers of the Youth Caravan are confident that the involvement of young people in solving the global problem of climate change contributes to the speedy achievement of sustainable development and prosperity for all.

The final meeting and presentation of the country position within the framework of the Stockholm+50 national consultations to summarize the results is planned on May 19 in Bishkek.

For more information about the Stockholm+50 international conference: https://bit.ly/3rpbUaq