PUTRAJAYA – In the last three years, nine out of 10 youth in Malaysia have experienced environment and climate-related effects, finds the National Youth Climate Change Survey (NYCC). It also states that 92% of young people think that climate change is a crisis.
The survey was released in the report Change for Climate by United Nations Development Programme and Unicef, supported by EcoKnights, to mark World Children’s Day tomorrow.
The NYCC survey polled 1,393 respondents from youth and young people in Malaysia. The results formed the basis of recommendations highlighted in the Change for Climate report:
- Facilitate youth-led climate policies through regular consultations and meaningful participation in climate policy-making processes;
- Make climate action more accessible and inclusive by moving the conversation beyond urban centres to encourage youth from rural and lower-income families to participate;
- Offer platform, support, and recognise indigenous youth activists, community groups, and civil society organisations who are leading climate action initiatives.
"Instead of watching sea levels rise, youth should rise up, lead the movement, and stir the waves of change for a better tomorrow. Humans are the root of the problem, but we can also be the solution for change” said Toh Zhee Qi, 22, member of the Malaysian Youth Delegation and Law student at the University of Malaya.
Youth-led initiatives play an important role in addressing the climate crisis, and there is a need to better support capacities and enabling environments for youth empowerment.
“Young people have been telling us that they are concerned about the environment. This World Children’s Day, we must commit to listen, and to include them in the decisions that shape our shared future. This conversation must go beyond the urban centres and platform youth from rural and lower-income areas who are already leading on climate action initiatives” said Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, Unicef Representative in Malaysia.
“This is our opportunity to reimagine a greener and more sustainable future, for every child.”
The survey also exposed some barriers to acting decisively on climate change. Young people say that a climate-friendly lifestyle is expensive, and that they need more information on what they can do to tackle climate change. Some do not think their individual actions can make a difference, which could lead to discouragement and indifference.
“Youth are the voices of the future, and the stakes are higher for them as they are the ones who will be facing the consequences of the climate crisis – if nothing is actively being done committedly to reverse this matter,” said Fadly Bakhtiar, programme director of EcoKnights.
To launch the Change for Climate report with the UNDP-Unicef National Youth Climate Change Survey, a Youth Dialogue on Climate Change will take place on World Children’s Day, November 20 at 8pm online.
'Youth Talks! Climate Change' is a dialogue that will highlight findings from the survey and continue the climate conversation among Malaysian youth, led by young people.
The dialogue aims to provide a platform for youth to share their experiences in addressing climate change, and to launch a call to action to mobilise youth to participate in the climate action agenda.
The panel discussion will be carried out by Tonibung assistant manager Joe Baxter Bernard, MyHutan campaigner Aidil Iman, EcoKnights Project Vocal member Celine Ng, Ministry of Environment and Water, Climate Change Division, Climate Change Policy and Negotiation Unit Senior Assistant Secretary Muhammad Ridzwan Ali. It will be moderated by Toh Zhee Qi of Malaysian Youth Delegation.
UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Niloy Banerjee believes that “the way we engage young people today on critical issues like the climate will determine the prospects for our planet and for sustainable development.” – The Vibes, November 19, 2020
To attend the Youth Dialogue on Climate Change on November 20 at 8pm, register here: https://tinyurl.com/youthtalksclimatechange
