CHAPTER 1: OUR EARTH, OUR STORY


quality of life will be reduced. Fortunately, young people have a special talent for innovation and the development of new forms of action and activism. This will allow them to generate more effective responses to environmental issues and create stronger opportunities for change.


The power of youth


Today's young people form the backbone that supports communities and civil society. They are best placed to notice new problems quickly, blaze trails at the grassroots, and bring about urgent societal change that will be of tremendous value to local communities. Civic education and voting are other priorities, as they instil common values and a sense of social and civic rights and obligations (Shaw et al. 2014; World Bank 2007). Remember, the voice of youth matters. Young people should be heard – through activism, volunteerism, engagement and civic participation, everyone can be an active member of their own community (UN-DESA 2016). Passionate young people will drive the shift towards environmental sustainability in Asia and the Pacific.


Getting involved


Youth can offer new perceptions and pioneering solutions in policy dialogues or as representatives in local or national decision-making bodies (UNDP 2013). Getting involved in democratic processes upholds young people’s rights and allows opportunities to steer development towards environmental sustainability (World Bank 2007). Today’s young people are better informed than ever before and are capable of creating ingenious solutions and applying technology,


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such as social media and crowdsourcing platforms (UN-DESA 2016). Indeed, the proactive participation of youth in the deliberations around the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development is now supporting its implementation. As prospective leaders of Asia and the Pacific, their skills and capacities are crucial to the transformational change that is required in the region (Palanivel et al. 2016).


Championing leaders of change


Young people can make development more environmentally sustainable and inclusive. It makes sound economic sense for governments across Asia and the Pacific to develop national youth policies and commit themselves to investing more in youth (UNICEF 2013). This may involve strengthening environmental sustainability education, supporting initiatives that promote youth empowerment, creating opportunities for young people to contribute to the development process or advancing the role of youth leaders in decision making. The bottom line is that governments can start building the next generation of responsible leaders, who will act as positive agents of change and partners in achieving the SDGs (Billimoria 2016).


Taking the next step...


So, imagine a world in which everyone wakes up in the morning, has access to safe drinking water, cooks meals with fresh vegetables and takes deep breaths of clean air on the commute to work. We can all enjoy this fundamental quality of life by making conscious decisions in our everyday lives that support positive environmental and health outcomes. The youth of


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