Sharjah24 - WAM: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, asserted the pivotal role of youth, with their capacities and talents, in addressing environmental degradation.
“It is their duty to build a world of peace, hope and prosperity for all," he said, underscoring the importance of empowering youth and developing their capabilities.
Sheikh Nahyan said, “His Highness the President of the UAE demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering youth and supporting their active participation in climate action.”
This came during the opening of the Youth Forum themed "Empowering Youth for Sustainability", launched by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence as part of its participation in the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at Expo Dubai. The forum was attended by a large number of international and youth leaders, professors and students from local and international universities, and a number of officials.
He added that the UAE has achieved milestones in availing opportunities for the youth in various fields and enhancing their participation in social and economic fields as well as climate issues.
“COP28 represents a valuable opportunity to accelerate climate action and strengthen bridges of international cooperation and communication to accelerate the pace of climate action,” Sheikh Nahyan went on to explain.
He addressed youth saying, "Each of you has their personal vision based on their experiences, culture and education. This is what we call rich diversity, and we look forward to benefitting from it in order to build a better future for everyone. We call on everyone to cooperate and benefit from collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and exchanging ideas and insights. I am confident that your capabilities, talents and leadership will be the key to overcoming challenges."
Participants in the Youth Forum expressed their appreciation to Sheikh Nahyan. They praised the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence for organising the forum on the sidelines of COP28 hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai.
The forum aims to highlight the key role the youth can play in finding solutions for global challenges and developing effective programmes and initiatives based on tolerance and coexistence.
The forum brought together representatives of vital sectors, including education, media and innovation.
A main session was held during the forum, focusing on exploring inspiring visions and ideas of youth leaders on sustainable development. The session witnessed the participation of Masdar, IRENA, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRS) and Sandooq Al Watan.
Karim Ehab Salah, the Egyptian Youth Delegate COP28 and Future Sustainability Leader; AlSoya Shyrup from the Irena Youth Network; Yasser Al Gergawi, Director-General of Sandooq Al Watan; Khalid Al Hashemi, Head of Long-Term Projects Team, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC); and Saeed Ahmed Hareb, Senior Engineer at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, were among the speakers at the session.
They discussed harnessing sustainable behaviour as a key driver of change, investing in technology and innovation such as renewable energy or green technologies, exploring practical ways to promote youth and enable them, and establishing partnerships between government, companies and civil society to enhance cooperation in implementing sustainable initiatives.
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