In accordance with the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution designating March 30th as the International Day of Zero Waste, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG), co-organized the online International Youth Forum, entitled “Zero Waste Futures: Youth Leadership and Solutions from the Asia Pacific to the Caribbean” on March 26th, 2024. The event aimed to promote zero-waste practices and inspire global action towards a sustainable future.
“It is necessary to embody a vision where our societies produce little to no waste”, Mr. Vincent Sweeney, Head of UNEP’s Caribbean Sub-regional Office (CSRO), said, “minimizing our impact on the planet and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. Empowering youth to take action on zero-waste involves more than just educating them about recycling or composting. It requires creating spaces where their voices are heard, where their ideas are valued, and where they are given the opportunity to drive meaningful change in their communities.”
Humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, yet only 62 percent of this waste is managed properly. To address this urgent issue, in December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established the International Day of Zero Waste unanimously through resolution 77/161. This initiative aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns while contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNEP’s International Environmental Technology Centre and UNEP Caribbean Sub-regional Office under the EU-funded project entitled “Zero Waste in the Caribbean: New Ways, New Waves,” along with CYMG, hosted the virtual event. Targeting stakeholders across regions and oceans, with a particular focus on youth and experts, the event catalyzed the global shift towards zero waste. The objectives of the event included promoting zero waste practices and upstream solutions, raising awareness of zero waste initiatives at various levels, facilitating networking opportunities, and introducing UNEP’s Global Waste Management Outlook 2024.
Over 560 persons registered for the event between experts and environmentally passionate individuals, and over 190 youth and students actively participated in the initiative by sharing their diverse perspectives and inspiring innovative solutions. Bridging experiences from the Caribbean region to Asia-Pacific offered a valuable opportunity for global youth engagement. Through sharing successful stories, young participants gained insights into regional challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of contextual nuances influencing zero waste efforts.
Mario Galbert, Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) Focal Point for the Caribbean of the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP, issued a call to action, stating, “young people of my generation are leading the way by implementing projects and initiatives at the community and national levels to address this waste management crisis. Many of the projects that we implement today lack the necessary support, such as finance and capacity building. However, we are steadfast in our efforts towards achieving the goal of zero waste for my generation and generations to come, while taking into consideration that waste contributes to pollution and pollution has no boundaries. We believe that young people must be empowered to continue engaging in this conversation and we will remain ready to help with facilitating this process.”
The event featured three sessions:
Session 1: Facilitated by UNEP CSRO and IETC, this session provided an overview of the current waste management landscape using data from the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024. It underscored the urgency of transitioning to a circular economy and adopting zero-waste practices.
Session 2: Organized by CYMG, this session showcased youth leaders and advocates actively promoting zero waste. The session inspired diverse audiences to contribute to the global movement, empowering youth to drive change in their communities and raising awareness about sustainable consumption.
Session 3: Supported by UNEP CSRO and UNEP’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat, this session awarded the best videos, showing ideas and projects to tackle Plastic Pollution, from the Beat Plastic Pollution Jamaica school competition.
The event served as a platform for fostering awareness, education, and collaboration among the younger generation and other stakeholders toward building a sustainable future. Empowering youth initiatives not only foster environmental stewardship but also cultivate a lasting legacy of responsible consumption for generations to come.
