Connecting the dots: Youth and the National Implementation Plans (NIPs) | BRS COPs 2023 Side Event

About this Event

Persistent Organic Pollutants endanger future generations. The implementation of the Stockholm Convention is key to advancing intergenerational equity and a toxic-free future. However, the participation of youth is still limited. Engagement with youth around chemicals and waste is crucial, but often overlooked. A much larger proportion of youth do not have the opportunity to fully develop their potential and contribute effectively to the development agenda. According to the Stockholm Convention (Article 7), parties must develop and strive to implement a plan for carrying out their obligations under the convention. These national implementation plans are critical components in ensuring POPs are not harmful to human health or the environment.

This brief outline focuses on enabling young people’s active participation in the National Implementation Plans (NIPs) for the Stockholm Conventions for sustainability. According to the UN Global Youth Report, the active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive, and stable societies and to averting the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of the Triple Planetary Crisis.

Youth2030, the UN system-wide youth strategy, was launched with the firm conviction that young people in all their diversity must be full-fledged partners in the work of the United Nations and in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The role of young people in engaging with local and national governments and delivering policies and programs on the ground is critical to the success of the 2030 Agenda. As a result, national and regional efforts are required to create environments conducive to youth participation, engagement, and development through education, health, employment, and reduced exposure to negative activities.

This events discussed the importance of ensuring that National Implementation Plans (NIPs) are participatory and inclusive and that the voices of youth are reflected in the processes. This will be achieved by making sure that young people have the capacity, platforms, and opportunities to participate in decision-making processes.

Speakers

By order of intervention.

Henry Kwabena KOKOFU

Chief Executive Officer, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana

Sam ADU-KUMI

Executive Director, EnviroHealth Consult (EHC) and Environment Youth Action Network (EYAN), Ghana

Kwame OFORI

Executive Director, AKO Foundation/AYACW | Moderator

Shannon LISA

Interim Global Focal Point Chemicals & Waste Youth Platform, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY)

Lamin JAITEH

Registrar of Pesticides and Hazardous Chemicals, National Environment Agency, The Gambia

Yannick KONAN

Programmes Director, Africa Centre for Environmental Health, Côte d'Ivoire

Perine Nkosi KASONDE

Principal Inspector, Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA-Zambia)

Registration

This event will take place in a hybrid format, both in-person and virtually. In-person participation is open to the registered participants to the BRS COPs. Online participation is open to all. Register on webex.

Highlights

Video

The event is livestreamed from CICG and via Webex.

Photo Gallery

Documents

• Presentations made during the events

Links

• BRS COPs | IPEN
• Towards the 2023 Meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
• IPEN Urges BRS COPs Delegates to Follow the Science, Ban Dangerous Chemicals Without Exemptions
• Quick views for the Conferences of the parties of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions, 2023 | IPEN | April 2023