World Cafe: Part 2 Youth-led Future for Earth

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

Program Description:

This session leads on from Part 1, "Where the question is asked, "what does the earth of tomorrow that's better than today look like to you?" In a world framed by a plethora of catchy titles that reflect policies and frameworks - SDGs, NBSAPs, GBF - what does it really mean? How can young people lend their voices to today's decision-makers so that their opinions and expertise are relevant to the policies that drive states, nations, countries? And so the conversation will revolve around what are some policy options that are meaningful and practical that young people can get involved in, how they can make it relevant and what avenues exist or can be created so they can connect to decision-makers to get the conversation rolling. Guiding questions: a. What sustainability topic would give you nudge to connect to the decision-makers of your country or state? Why? b. Do acronyms like SDGs, NBSAPs, etc. mean anything to you? In what way would you like them to be more meaningful for you? c. What don't you like about environmental policy that is being developed? Why don't you like them? What are the challenges that you see or face in working on policy? d. What do you think is a practical and effective way to feed back to policy-makers?

Learning Outcomes:

Gain an understanding of how they can actively engage with decision-makers and contribute to the development of sustainable policies, recognizing the importance of their voices in shaping the future. Through discussions on acronyms like SDGs and NBSAPs, you will will enhance your awareness of global sustainability frameworks and explore ways to make them more relevant and accessible to young people. Critically evaluate existing environmental policies, identifying areas for improvement and potential challenges in implementation, developing your analytical and problem-solving skills. Explore practical and effective ways to communicate with and provide feedback to policy-makers, equipping youwith advocacy skills to influence decision-making processes.