Y4S members step up climate action at Expo 2020 Dubai

Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) members have spoken of their renewed “motivation” and “enthusiasm” for combating climate change after attending a global gathering of climate activists at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Members of the Future Sustainability Leaders (FSL) and the Sustainability Ambassadors (SA) programs took part in a two-day celebration of youth-led climate action called the People’s Promise for Climate Impact.

During the event they attended a Q&A involving H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, William Russell, Lord Mayor of London, and Nigel Topping, High-Level Climate Action Champion for COP26. 

They also met with their peers and changemakers from around the world through workshops and talks which included dignitaries such as H.E. Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, H.E. Nawal Al-Hosany, the UAE’s permanent representative at the International Renewable Energy Agency, Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Haya Aseer, Projects Executive at the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change.
Candace Sara Ciju, SA member, said the People’s Promise for Climate Impact was a rewarding experience. 

“We learned a lot about climate impact and the things we need to start doing from famous climate activists and the UAE Ministry of Climate and Environment,” she said.  “I just feel really motivated and enthusiastic to start my own climate action.”
FSL member Ruwayya Al Mehrzi described the two-day event as “an amazing experience to be connected with leaders and advocates who are passionate about climate action”.

“My main takeaway from the People’s Promise for Climate Impact is that there is a real human impact to climate change and global warming,” added SA member Afrah Suhj. “It really makes me think twice about the decisions I make today; how they might impact people I don’t even know or people years from now.”

Y4S members were also able to hone their creative talents through masterclasses on how to turn ideas to combat climate change into practical real-world solutions. 

Following on from the Expo event, Y4S will host a virtual panel during the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, which will explore the role of young social entrepreneurs in the fight against climate change, and highlight the importance of investing in youth to be the sustainability leaders of tomorrow. Y4S Council members Huda Ahli and Mohammed Al Ameri will also represent the Y4S voice at COP26 as part the UAE delegation.