Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Today, the International Forum “Children and Youth in Action - Climate Change in Central Asia” was held in Tashkent.

The forum is dedicated to recognizing the role of children and youth in combating the negative consequences of climate change, including through the promotion of environmental education.

During the opening of the Forum, addressing young environmental activists, the First Lady of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zamin Foundation Ziroat Mirziyoyeva said:

“The main participants of the forum are you. We are gathered here today to recognize your leadership in the fight for a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Signing, together with our neighbors, a Regional Strategy for promoting a culture of sustainable development and involving children and youth in the climate agenda, developed as a result of the Samarkand Environmental Camp, will be an important step into a new future.”

The event was attended by the First Lady of the Republic of Turkey Emine Erdogan, the wife of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Jamile Alamulhudo, the First Lady of the Kyrgyz Republic Aigul Japarova, representatives of the government of Uzbekistan, UNICEF, heads of UN agencies, heads of relevant ministries and departments of Central Asian countries, international and regional organizations, national institutions, civil society and young environmental activists of Central Asian countries.

The issue of strengthening the potential of youth through continuous green education and the formation of an environmental culture became an important point in the speech of UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen:

“Environmental education is of great importance. It gives future generations the skills and knowledge they need to become drivers of change, not just representatives of protest. We want the next generations to become bold leaders in government, scientists and innovators who dream of new and better ways to live in harmony with the planet. So that they become the voices of environmental consciousness in industrial corporations. Created our own business providing green and environmentally sustainable products and services.”

The Forum has become an effective platform for discussing actions to prevent environmental problems taken at different levels - global, regional and national.

Thus, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, noted: “Including climate change and environmental education in school curricula is an important step in raising awareness of children and youth in learning adaptation skills to a changing climate.”

Developing the topic of eco-education, the forum participants emphasized the importance of using new information technologies in the learning process. Environmental activists from Central Asian countries emphasized the right of children to participate in the development of policies and programs, as well as in monitoring and evaluating the progress of measures taken to combat climate change. The event participants emphasized that environmental education should be inclusive – accessible and understandable to everyone.

The international forum “Children and Youth in Action - Climate Change in Central Asia” was held thanks to the joint efforts of the Zamin Foundation, UNICEF, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Agency for Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Policy and Sports .