Intervention on Stockholm+50 at the UN Plenary at the Annual Sub-Committee Meeting of UNEA

During the 8th Annual Sub-Committee Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), a briefing on Stockholm+50 took place on the 27th October 2021.

Children and Youth Major Group representative Alphonce Muia from Catholic Youth Network on Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) delivered an intervention at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, calling for urgent action and meaningful stakeholders engagement in the Stockholm+50 International Meeting. Updates on youth engagement were also provided.

• Submission from youth constituency on Stockholm+50 for the Annual Sub Committee

• Presentation by the UNEP secretariat to member states

Intervention on Agenda Item 6. Briefing on the preparations for the international meeting entitled “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”; 27th October 2021

Madam Chair, Thank you for the floor.

I am Alphonce Muia, from Kenya from youth organisation CYNESA and part of the Steering Committee of the Children and Youth Major Group. The youth constituency applauds the progress made so far on Stockholm+50.

The Stockholm+50 International meeting serves as a useful measure of the progress on the global discourse on human and environmental health, since 1972. Issues faced by children and youth are prominent and require urgent action.

We congratulate Executive Director Ms Inger Andersen on her designation as the Secretary General of the Stockholm+50 International Meeting, and Ms Haruko Okuko on joining the secretariat. We welcome the presentation on Stockholm+50 by Ms Ligia. And we appreciate the continued cooperation.

We highlight the importance of the intergenerational engagement approach at Stockholm+50, including cross-cultural engagement of youths, as mentioned in the presentation. We are delighted to hear statements from member states supporting youth participation.

We suggest that milestones like the World Health Assembly, the Migration Forum, the Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as regional intergovernmental processes be added in the roadmap prepared by the secretariat.

On the overall regional consultations in the roadmap, there is the need that these must be implemented inline with regional civil society engagement structures.

Furthermore, activities conducted within Stockholm+50 must be based upon best practices and strengthen existing modalities. We also look forward to contributing to the subsequent versions of this roadmap.

Given the paced progress since 1972, we emphasize the need for a paradigm shift to generate accelerated action. It is crucial that the importance and the strong intention for Stockholm+50 is reflected with similar ambitious outcomes that assure the livelihood of future generations.

Children and Youth Major Group, together with the LSU - Swedish National Youth Council have been in dialogue with the Swedish government on the Stockholm+50 Youth Engagement Framework.

A public briefing on youth engagement on Stockholm+50 took place mid-September, as well as the first youth leadership dialogue during the Asia Pacific Regional Youth Forum. Preparatory consultations hosted by LSU and MGCY during 2020 and 2021 have concluded successfully.Furthermore, to facilitate the formal preparation, input and engagement of young people in the process of Stockholm+50 a Youth Task Force is being constituted - an introductory event for the same will take place in November 2021

The roadmap of activities, includes among other things, regional and thematic consultations, children engagement activities, capacity building sessions and a proposed global south fellowship program The events will culminate in a two-part youth Pre Event for Stockholm+50, part 1 to be hosted in Nairobi in February 2022 and part two in Sweden.

Special focus is being given to engage diversity of youth groups including from grassroots and non-organised youth movements.

We are at a turning point in history, where we can either repeat the mistakes of the past or push forward and finally apply actions that critically accelerate action. We do not have the luxury of another 50 years. The fact that we have not taken greater action in recent years of acceptable climate quality is a collective failing.

A holistic political will and consensus among governments is the path to a brighter future.

Thank you for the floor.

Delivered by:

Alphonce Muia

Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA)