UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange

Educating and engaging youth towards sustainable consumption

Educators and youth from West Asia as well as from other Arabic speaking countries will gather in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on March 16, 2008 for a UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange workshop. The workshop is co-organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for West Asia, the West Asia YouthXchange partner and the Swedish Government.

The main objectives of the workshop are to

  • Provide training on YouthXchange
  • Strengthened networks of key partners working together on YouthXchange
  • Identify key regional priorities and perspectives on education for sustainable consumption

This background paper has been prepared in order to facilitate the success of the workshop by providing

i)an overview of the YouthXchange and

ii)an overview of YouthXchange in West Asia.

How can education influence more sustainable lifestyles?

Mobilizing consumer societies to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and consumption patterns has become one of the biggest challenges to sustainable development. There is a huge divide in the level and quality of consumption among populations in the developed and developing countries. However, middle class consumption in the world is rather homogeneous (UNESCO/UNEP 2000). Middle class youth have access to similar education, information, television and the Internet. They have a comparable mythology such as pop stars, actors, icons, as well as life aspirations. The number of people who belong to this middle class represent a vast majority of the population in industrialized countries and a lucky minority in developing countries. As a result consumer aspirations among young people all over the world are more or less similar. “Wherever they are, our global consumer class has shown the power to shape attitudes, aspirations, values and behavior also for the less lucky ones” (M. Barbut, previous UNEP /DTIE Director, April 2006).

Education, learning, public awareness are essential prerequisites for a transition to sustainable societies. Education for sustainable and responsible consumption should lead to an understanding of key concepts related to sustainability by linking a complex concept such as sustainable development to concrete day to day life. Reflecting on personal consumption behaviors, assumptions and experiences should enable students to analyze patterns, causes and impacts of global and personal patterns of consumption and to unfold the ethical dimension of reducing the social and ecological impacts of human productive activities at global level.

UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange

Educating and engaging youth towards sustainable consumption

UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange addresses the problem of a dire lack of reliable resources for teaching about sustainable lifestyles as expressed by educators and youth. As such, the UNEP UNESCO youthXchangetraining kit on responsible consumption – towards sustainable lifestyles is designed to assist governments, youth groups, NGOs, teachers and trainers in raising and acquiring awareness of the opportunities offered by the adoption of more sustainable consumer choices in a youth friendly format. It is an interdisciplinary, multi-methodological and holistic approach to sustainable consumption that involves all kinds of education: formal, informal, non-formal, continuing education, awareness raising and life-long learning. It also involves a participatory process based on interaction and cooperation between teachers and youth, on discussion, and learning from experience. YouthXchange also supports knowledge-building and sharing through workshops and, ultimately, joint projects among youth in different countries and cultures. The project addresses concrete issues related to young people’s lifestyles and everyday life. In particular, it responds to the call of the WSSD Plan of Action for capacity building and awareness raising activities on the need to adopt sustainable consumption and production patters among youth (chapter III-14/d).

The UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange toolkit consists in a paper guide (translated in 18 languages and disseminated in over 400,000 copies), a bilingual website and related pedagogical resources (slides, exercises for teachers etc.). The kit provides statistics, case studies, games and directions on how to explain sustainable lifestyles to a young audience. The implementation of training activities is secured through a large network of local partners and youth organizations that have translated, adapted and disseminated the guide in their region as well as provided trainings and workshops on the materials.

YouthXchange as a resource for many

The added value and success of the UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange program stems from a rising consciousness of the need to change towards more sustainable consumption patterns and from the importance of education in this regard. The increased recognition of Education for sustainable development, promoted through the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, the Marrakech Taskforce for Sustainable Lifestyles, the Tunza program and other initiatives provides an important framework for the awareness raising work on sustainable consumption. The practical tools provided by YouthXchange fit the multiple dimensions of sustainable consumption into the educational curricula and make a clear link between the way people (more importantly – young people) live and act in society and the wider complex issue of sustainable development. If the “deepest educative process in the twenties century was the informal process of learning to consume” (OECD 1998) the process of learning to consume in a more sustainable fashion remains one of the greatest educational challenges in the 21st century.

In 2002, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted, by consensus, the resolution establishing a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014)[1]. The establishment of a DESD, lead by UNESCO, affirms the need to integrate sustainable development into education systems at all levels in order for education to be a key agent for change. It recognizes that “consumption lies at the heart of the debate on sustainable development. Sustainable consumption (SC) means choosing a lifestyle that limits the negative impacts on the environment and respects the right of all people to live and work in healthy conditions” (UNESCO/DESD).The aim of the Decade is to promote education as the basis for a sustainable human society and to strengthen international cooperation toward the development of innovative policies, programmes and practices of education for sustainable development. Two broad sub-goals for the DESD include: 1. to provide an opportunity for refining and promoting the vision of, and transition to, sustainable development – through all forms of education, public awareness and training and 2. to give an enhanced profile to the important role of education and learning in sustainable development.

YouthXchange contributes to developing public awareness and understanding of sustainable lifestyles, to advancing the role and commitment of youth in the protection of the environment, as stated in Chapter 4 (Changing Consumption Patterns), Chapter 25 (Children and Youth in Sustainable Development, Chapter 36 (Promoting Education, Public Awareness & Training) of Agenda 21 and Chapter 3 (Changing Unsustainable Patterns of Consumption and Production) of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

YouthXchange also works closely with the Marrakech Task Force and the Swedish Ministry of the Environment on developing material and supporting capacity building on education for sustainable lifestyles, collecting best practices and inspiring examples on sustainable lifestyles, supporting the implementation of demonstration projects to promote sustainable lifestyles and disseminating YouthXchange.

YouthXchange finally provides substance and collaborates with several members of the UNEP Tunza youth Programme to ensure wider participation of young people in environmental issues and in activism to change society etc.

UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange in West Asia

The West Asia region has 12 member states: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen. The region has witnessed extremely high urbanization rates in the last half century reaching69% of the population living in urban areas. Environmental challenges are increasing in West Asia, special issues related to environment and security, water scarcity and quality, land degradation and desertification, coastal degradation and marine pollution, waste management.UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange has a great opportunity in helping this region addressing its major challenges to sustainable development and giving young people better chances.

The West Asia region – with one of the world’s highest percentages of youth (60% of the total population) – has the potential to create a strong environmental movement especially among young people. The UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange initiative aims at integrating the YouthXchange guide and website into the curricula of secondary schools and to promote it in the informal education sector through partnerships with NGOs, youth groups, students, educators and Ministries. The project addresses the different needs of countries in two sub-regions, namely GCC and Mashreq & Yemen and adapts the training methods to the local needs and culture. In the first group of countries the focus is on raising awareness of the impacts of un-sustainable lifestyles and on the alternatives available. In the second group the focus is on promoting safe, healthy and affordable consumption and look at job creation solutions in SCP. The training sessions and support offered are linked with a commitment of the beneficiaries to further disseminate the youthXchange materials and concept.

CONCLUSIONS

How to create, promote and mainstream desirable visions of more sustainable living in West Asia? The question remains a big challenge as it involves changes from the governmental policy level, from business initiatives, from public authorities, from NGOs, education institutions, communities and from the individual. Education and communication play an essential role in supporting, promoting and normalizing visions of sustainable lifestyles. Therefore it is important that SCP be introduced from the very early years to university education programmes as well as professional and vocational training programmes.

It is important to stimulate discussion and investigate what representations of sustainable lifestyles people have and how additional images of more sustainable lifestyles can be created considering the cultural, historical, natural and social heritage of West Asian countries. How can we render sustainable lifestyles more fashionable and desirable? How can we target and impact various groups of consumers? The capacity for change is clearly illustrated in the case studies presented by YouthXchange and in the work provided by the two Marrakech Task Forces led by Sweden and Italy – how can we translate these into daily actions and raise the awareness of the population?

It is also important to recognize the role of youth as key change advocates for sustainable lifestyles. Youth in the region are looking for a long term sustainable project on Sustainable lifestyles. As an extension of the YouthXchange workshop, hands-on activities must be created upon which youth can build and feel the ownership of the project. Creating a youthXchange West Asian network and alumni group to strengthen the presence of youthXchange in the region is another key element.

Since lifestyle changes are so deeply rooted, cooperation and partnerships between various actors are needed to develop both a common vision and a practical methodology for a more sustainable lifestyle.

Questions for discussion

Consumption patterns

  • Lifestyles are intricately interwoven with and are based on past and current consumption and production patterns. What are these patterns of consumption and what are the driving forces in the region?
  • Are there gender differences with how SCP is tackled?
  • Are there stereotypes around SCP?
  • How is advertising perceived?
  • Does peer pressure play an important role?

Regional perspectives

  • What are the key priorities and actions needed in promoting a desirable vision for sustainable lifestyles in the West Asian region? How to change the “software” of our societies?
  • What are the tricky consumption issues and what are the "easier" ones to consider? What are some daily actions that can be changed? What is the role of society and religion with regards to facilitating SCP?
  • What is according to participants the role of the government? The role of industry? Their own responsibility?
  • What are the technological innovations (sustainable products/services, co-housing) needed to enable citizens to adopt sustainable lifestyles?
  • Are these innovations available in the region (for instance: better water use devices, energy-efficient light bulbs, etc)?
  • Where do products come from? What can the region produce?

Promoting sustainable lifestyles

  • What are they key elements for promoting sustainable lifestyles and education for sustainable consumption? How can participants transmit their knowledge of SCP to their students or peer youth organizations?
  • How to increase the level of interactivity between YXC trainers, trainees and trained individuals?
  • What are the needed policy interventions to ensure the provision of the adequate infrastructure (“hardware”) that enables the adoption of sustainable lifestyles?
  • How are the YouthXchange trainings translated into actions?
  • Are the suggestions and case studies provided by YouthXchange practicable?

Youth

  • How much do youth know?
  • What are the problems youth perceive in implementing SCP?
  • What is the role of youth and youth organizations in promoting sustainable lifestyles in West Asia?
  • What do youth want: more training or more concrete activities/action? How can they communicate to their peers? Do they want a website?
  • How to engage more youth and people in social actions and grass-root activities that promote sustainable lifestyles and work on education for sustainable consumption?

Annex I

West Asia YouthXchange 2007 Activities:

International meetings

  • 16-17th April 2007 - Genova (Italy)
  • Marrakech Process on Sustainable Consumption and Production – First meeting of the Taskforce “Education for Sustainable Consumption” - Education and Sustainable Consumption. Interlinkages and Interdependencies: an Essential Relationship
  • 26-29 June 2007 - Stockholm, Sweden
  • Marrakech Process on Sustainable Consumption and Production – First meeting of the Taskforce “Education for Sustainable Consumption” - Education and Sustainable Consumption. Interlinkages and Interdependencies: an Essential Relationship

Dubai - March 5th: (National Training)

The event was organized by the Emirates Diving Association – EDA in collaboration with theDubai Education Council- DEC and UNEP ROWA. It targetedpublic school teachers (35 UAE teachers)

A teaching guide folder was distributed to the participants which included:

  1. Train the trainer tips (YXC Training)
  2. Environment awareness tips
  3. UNEP UNESCO YXC Guide
  4. Energy saving tips (from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - DEWA)
  5. Marine environmental saving tips (EDA)
  6. Recycling tips (tadweer Recycling Company)
  7. Environmental games
  8. Power point presentation of the program for trainers

Sub- Regional YXC Training in West Asia:

2 Sub- Regional workshops (Gulf and Mashreq countries) were organized in collaboration with UNEP ROWA, West Asia NGOs and some ministries in the region. Both workshops had excellent participation. The region needs more capacity building on the subject, the participants enjoyed learning about SC and urged for more training courses and materials on SC, both workshops were a great success as the participants were keen to know more about SC and how they can implement trainings in their countries.

Mashreq YXC Training in Sana’a – Yemen - August 28-29th , 2007

  • Partner NGO: Youth Union of Yemen
  • Partners: Ministry of Environment –Yemen, UNEP ROWA, NGOs
  • Participating countries : Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen
  • Number of Participants: 50
  • A teaching guide folder was distributed to the participants which included:
  • Train the trainer tips (YXC Training)
  • Environmental awareness tips
  • UNEP UNESCO YXC Guide
  • Energy saving tips (from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - DEWA)
  • Marine environmental saving tips (EDA)
  • Recycling tips (tadweer Recycling Company)
  • Environmental games
  • Power point presentation of the program for trainers

Gulf YXC Training in Manama – Bahrain - October 21-22nd, 2007

  • Partner NGO: Bahrain Women Society
  • Partners: UNEP ROWA, NGOs, Ministries of Education
  • Participating countries : UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain
  • Number of Participants: 50
  • A teaching guide folder was distributed to the participants which included:
  • Train the trainer tips (YXC Training)
  • Environment awareness tips
  • UNEP UNESCO YXC Guide
  • Energy saving tips (from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - DEWA)
  • Marine environmental saving tips (EDA)
  • Recycling tips (Tadweer Recycling Company)
  • Environmental games
  • Power point presentation of the program for trainers

1

[1]United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/254