PHOTO Story: #Stockholm+40

Speaking at the Third High Level Panel on Sustainable Living. #YoungPeopleRights #OccupyNigeria

With the Honorable Maurice Strong  UN 1992 Rio Earth Summit Secretary-General and Earth Charter Mentor  . 

Sir Maurice Strong is a man I have admired from far when I get involved with the Earth Charter Network, a group he inspired.. I had hoped to see him at the Earth Charter+10 Anniversary at the Peace Palace in the Hague, but that wasn't the case. I finally met him at Stockholm+40. You could only Imagine who happy I was.  


“Youth are those with more dreams than memories, which is why they are the leaders of the revolution for sustainable development” – Maurice Strong, UNEP’s first Executive Director at the closing ceremony for Stockholm+40.

What About A World Run by Women?

The Future I Want for My Great Grandchildren

Originally Posted on May 24, 2012 at www.populationaction.org 

by Esther Agbarakwe

Achieving global sustainability: The Elders in conversation with young global leaders

PAI Atlas Fellow, Esther Agbarakwe meets with the Elders in Oslo. Photo Credit: Jeff Moore | The Elders

Nelson Mandela once said that, ‘‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.” The world has been discussing sustainable development way before I was born. Now we have a chance to set our feet on the ground, to unite our voice, and take things more seriously. No more “business as usual” – not with 7 billion people on earth and many still living in poverty.

Last week, I traveled to Oslo, Norway to join a team of amazing global leaders who have dedicated their time to making the world a safer and sustainable place to live. I was invited as one of four “Youngers” to meet with The Elders, an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights. Our job is to call on the heads of government, and all individuals, to begin urgent dialogue on sustainable development.

At a panel titled Achieving Global Sustainability – The Elders in Conversation with Young Global Leaders, I joined Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chair of The Elders; Gro Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and member of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Elders reaffirmed the need to strongly consider the social dimension of sustainable development: poverty, food security, and women’s access to voluntary family planning. Women’s’ and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights is about equality, and women play an important role in development. Gro Bruntdland asked: “What about a world run by women?”

Then it was time for the “Youngers” to present their vision for “The Future We Want.” For me, when I think about the kind of world I want for my great, great grandchildren, my heart is heavy. I reflect on what is happening around us, how women suffer so much to take care of their children, how many women badly want to space their children, how they want the right to determine how and when to have children without losing their lives in the process.

We have overly exaggerated the promise of our children’s future. We tell them they “are the future” without explaining in concrete terms what that means. We don’t provide the ecological, social and financial order and discipline that will result in a better world.

What does the future that I want look like? I want a world where girls have to right to school first before marriage. A world with equality for women and girls, where young people are consulted and truly involved in governance process at local, national and global levels.

This is what I want from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) next month in Rio. This is the vision that I asked the Elders to extend to heads of country delegations during Rio+20.

Join the conversation at www.theelders.org

From Stockholm to Rio. Again!!

The relationship between economic development and environmental degradation was first placed on the international agenda in 1972, at the UN Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm. The Rio Earth Summit was held in 1992


Earlier this year in April, I was invited by the Swedish  Government (Lena Ek,  Swedish Minister for the Environment and Gunilla Carlsson Minister for International Development Cooperation) to participate and speak at the one of the High level panel on Sustainable Living  during  the Stockholm+40 Partnership Forum on Sustainable Development in Sweden, an event that marked the historical 40th anniversary of the first UN Conference on Human environment held in 1972 in Stockholm as well as a preparatory meeting for the UN Rio+20 Conference At the event  500 participants - young people, researchers, decision-makers and representatives of the business community and civil society from 72 countries - had the opportunity to meet , listen to and participate in panel discussions, seminars, workshops and not the least conversations during the breaks. Young people were seen as an integral part in moving towards a more sustainable society.

But this conferences isn’t enough. We need a more radical change in moving forward as the ‘old way’ of doing things hasn’t helped. This radical change must also start inwards as well as at  local and national levels.

The Occupy movement and the Arab Spring have thoughts us so many things. My country Nigeria last year witnessed a transformation in the electoral process when young people rallied around and where effectively engaged in the electoral processes from mobilization, to civic education to monitoring of the elections as citizen journalists and as voters. We were involved, and we even made getting involved fun. We saw for the first time what the power of young people combined with access to technology and information can lead to the radical change we all so desired. 

Rio+20: The 20th Anniversary of the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Next June, the United Nations will gather in Rio for one of the most important meetings in its history. Young people can and must play a central role in bringing dynamic new ideas, fresh thinking and energy to the Rio+20 process. We should all work to engage them and ensure that their voices are heard." ~UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon

we believe that youths are the greatest resource on earth and should be empowered to have say in defining their future. As the world population reached 7 billion in October, Young people are becoming more socially aware of issues and are making a difference. Now, more than ever, young people are in need of comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services which will better empower them for the future. When women are empowered to plan and space their children, they are better able to adapt to world’s challenges including climate change and ensure the survival of their families

In 1992, world leaders recognized the vital role that youth play in contributing to the process of Sustainable Development with the adoption of Agenda 21. Twenty years later, young people should and will be present again in Rio de Janeiro, at the conference dubbed Rio+20, in order to strengthen their profile as The moral stakeholderwhen it comes to Sustainable Development. As the conference aims amongst others at securing a renewed political commitment to Sustainable Development and addressing new and emerging challenges young people are preparing to show once again their own commitment. Indeed, balancing the needs of the current generations with those of future generations will be a matter of survival for those who are young at the moment

November 15th 2011 Over 35 youths from around gathered at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss effective youth participation in the UN Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development. The Event titled Mobilizing Youth for successful Rio+20 was organized by The European Union, The United Nations and PeaceChild International and had the UN Deputy secretary Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro and, Mr. Thibault Devanlay First Secretary, Environment, Sustainable Development EU Delegation to the United Nations as well as David R. Woollcombe, President, Peace Child International in attendance.

Esther Agbarakwe, NYCC Co-founder was supported by Population Action International to attend the event.

I Started Activism At 10 -Esther Agbarakwe •Award-winning Environmental Sustainability Advocate

My Exclusive Interview with The Nigerian Tribune: Published Saturday, 05 November 2011

In this piece, SEYI GESINDE takes a look at the activities of Esther Agbarakwe, a Nigerian environmentalist, who at a time represented the African youths at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark.

One Nigerian youth who is so passionate about nvironmental protection is Esther Agbarakwe. Her interest in securing the environment has accorded her recognition on the international scene, fetching her the role of African coordinator of United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Youth and Children Major Group.

Esther, who holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Education Chemistry from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, specialises in teaching, counselling, and coaching, besides, have also won merit awards to her credit. She has equally gone a step further to study courses in health, environment, humanities business management and sustainable development,

As an environmental advocate, Esther, in 2009, was in Copenhagen, Denmark to represent African youths at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP 15).

It was at this conference that her skills in training and creativity in managing and facilitating youth-led projects were further boosted. Her expertise which also spans system’s development and strengthening are currently being displayed as the coordinator of the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC), a group she co-founded.

Apart from this, Esther is also an active member of The Earth Charter Initiative’s youth network, and to boost the environmental initiative of this network, she founded in Nigeria, The Earth Charter Youth Group Calabar, through which, in 2009, she succeeded in managing the Earth Charter Youth Special Project-Nigeria in the aspect of peace development in the Niger Delta. In recognition of Esther’s efforts in the network group, she was invited as a guest speaker at the 10th anniversary of the Earth Charter (EC+10) in the Peace Palace at The Hague, Netherlands, with the Dutch Queen in attendance. The Earth Charter specifically takes a special interest in promoting youth activism in sustainable development, and as a group member of the “First Steps Campaign,” a youth group inaugurated in 2008, in Scotland, during the Civicus Youth Assembly. The following year, 2009, Esther represented Africa at the International Organising committee of the Fifth World Water Youth Forum in Istanbul, Turkey.

In May of that same year, Esther was supported by the German government for participation at the 17th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development programme held at the UN headquarters in New York for her work on Youth in Sustainability in Nigeria. Esther delivered the opening statement for the Youth and Children Major Group. Esther is also the focal person for the Young Commonwealth Climate Network in Nigeria. She has also volunteered, consulted for Actionaid International Nigeria and currently sit in its General Assembly as the only Youth Representative

Esther strongly believes in Inter-generational equity and partnership for sustainability. She is a young leader in Nigeria and has already achieved a great deal. She tells her own story: “I was 10 years old when I began ‘activism’ on issues of children rights, then in the old town of Calabar, where I was raised. In fact, I was still in primary school then. My dad was the chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and that too helped me to live up to the expectation.

“Well, not until May 27, 1995, that I was asked to participate at the Children Day celebration at the Government House, Calabar with the wife of the then military administrator. “Now, did I stop there? No! I realised a calling for me in youth work that, when I got into secondary school, I was very active. The school brought out my interest and dedication, thus they sent me to various adolescents workshops and symposia on adolescent sexuality, education and career. “Another thing I got from my mom is giving back, so I started a Health Club in my school known as WAPI Health club. This inspired the authorities to make me the Senior Girl prefect. I had mentors both in the school and outside, which greatly helped me.

“My university days were even more interesting as I became more knowledgeable on issues on adolescent and youth sexuality, and leadership building as I volunteered for Nigerian Youth Aid Programme (NYAP), University of Calabar, as a youth counsellor and activist. Well, it was not easy combining academics and activism and peer-education, but as inspired and determined as I was, I just did it! Thank God, my parents supported me.”

6th African Economic Conference: Youth employment within the new African Green Economy Agenda

According to the United Nations, Africa is well poised to take advantage of a host of opportunities on the continent for building a ‘green economy,’ one that generates decent jobs in an environmentally sustainable way 

The concept of the green economy is one of the several closely related constructs that have emerged in recent years to enhance convergence among the three pillars of sustainable development. According to the UNEP Green Economy Report, a green economy is defined as an economy that results in improved human well-being and reduced inequalities over the long term, while not exposing future generations to significant environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient, socially-inclusive, and that protects and enhances biodiversity and ecosystem services.

But is how will all this potential be harvested for the benefit of Africa’s citizens and in a way that promotes stability in Africa and beyond? How will the millions of African youth find peace and stability through job opportunities which has been seriously promoted as one of the results of this ambitious transition to green Economy?

So I packed my bags and travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate at the 6^th Annual African Economic Conference on the invitation of UN Economic commission for Africa, African Development Bank and UNDP to share the views of African Youths and to speak at a special session on the Role of the state in promoting Green Economy.  

The Conference which started from the 25^th to the 28^th October, 2011 had “Green Economy and structural Transformation’ as the theme. Green Economy being one of the themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 (Rio+20) which was decided at the The UN General Assembly Resolution 64/236, to convene a summit 20 years after the Rio Earth Summit with the aim of reviewing progress in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, deliberate on new and emerging challenges and reinvigorate the political will for sustainable development. The two themes of the conference are “A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”, and “The institutional framework for sustainable development. During the Opening Plenary, The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Jean Ping, said the theme of the meeting was very timely and will help Africa’s preparations for the COP17 negotiations later this year in Durban, South Africa; and the Rio + 20 meeting in Brazil in June 2012.

While participants were made to understand that African leaders have already embraced the green economy concept as exemplified in several declarations and resolutions, namely: the 3rd African Ministerial Conference on Financing for Development (May, 2009); the 13th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) of June 2010; the 1st Pan African Biodiversity Conference (September 2010); the 7th African Development Forum (October 2010), and most recently, the 18th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (January 2011), I on the other hand was planning and coordinating with other African youths via social media on how to inform  the participants  that African youth are ready to support government efforts but want Government to make reforms and also understand that African Youth will hold  govt. accountable if the Jobs are not  created for them in this new green economy agenda on the context of the three pillars of sustainable development: Health, Economic and Environmental sustainability.

From the recent uprising in North Africa to anxiety over the prospect of more protests by young people throughout other African region, youth unemployment and underemployment is increasingly recognized as a potential trigger for social instability in other world regions. Africa in particular faces demographic challenges as its population of young people ages 15 to 24 increases and access to secure jobs continues to be problematic. In addition, the global financial crisis threatens to further strain labor markets and exacerbate a tenuous situation for Africa's youth. 

Africa has the fastest-growing and most youthful population in the world. Over 20 percent of Africa's population is between the ages of 15 to 24 and, since over 40 percent of Africa's population is under 15 years of age, that number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to the International Labour Office, youth make up as much as 36 percent of the total working-age population and three in five of Africa's unemployed are youth.

So does Green Economy bring hope to African youths seeking Jobs? Speaking at the Special Session on the Role of the State in promoting Green Economy, African Youths and experts urge government to ensure that decent Jobs are indeed created for Africa’s  youths and not use the notion of technology transfers and innovation to give jobs to non-Africans employed to help Africa transits to a green economy.  African government and development partners needs to look inwards and access what technological potential and innovation exist among African’s youths, what area need improvement and how can the various ‘crude’ innovations across Africa can be harnessed towards an inclusive green economy development agenda.

African youth want unemployment to be reduced through the creation of green jobs with a living wage and the stronger consideration of the impact of employment policy on youth. Governments should promote young people's role in the workforce by providing them with the appropiate skills and knowledge to improve their employablity . Possible initiatives could include locally appropriate job-training in the context of sustainable development, start-up capital for young entrepreneurs, and apprenticeship programmes.  Entrepreneurship opportunities like the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (You WiN!) Programme of the Nigerian Federal Ministries of Finance, Communications &ICT and Youth Development should be encouraged across African countries, while engaging the creative innovations of African youth. With aging populations in advanced economies and rising wages in Asia, Africa has the opportunity to become the next center for manufacturing, ICT and service sector jobs. Africa’s “youth bulge” need not be a harbinger of conflict and instability in Africa.

The conference ended after four days of brainstorming on the environment, climate change and green growth and how they affect Africa’s future prosperity, participants called for the reform in many sectors including the educational system in Africa to increase skills & productivity of workers, train young graduates to be entrepreneurs.  Speaking at the Closing plenary, Professor Nnadozie, Director, Economic Development and NEPAD Division UN ECA also urged that participants take the dialogue further once leaving the conference to their respective communities

These positive signals coming from the continent’s political, economic and social leaders confirmed the view that African countries are intent on a green revolution. African youth  (including African youths in Diaspora) are also ready to support this Green Revolution through peer-to -peer education, innovations  but will continue to hold their government accountable when this promises are not fulfilled.  As we move to Durban for the next UN Climate Talks, African youths under the Umbrella of African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) is mobilizing  hundreds of youths across the continents to engage local, state and National leaders towards having a successful outcome in Durban, the AYICC is also planning a Youth Climate Justice Caravan (We Have Faith) with other partners that will move from Nairobi to Durban. We Have Faith is a campaign slogan with a very strong yet positive message about climate change. It demands action, and gives options and solutions. We Have Faith Campaign believes that the COP 17 in Durban can find a lasting and sustainable solution to protect people and the planet from climate change. Yes African Youth are ready and we are not alone.  

A Poem in Memory of Prof. Wangari Maathai

I slept and dreamt,
Of the greenest Earth,
I awoke and felt,
The prevailing dearth

I dreamt of trees,
Then woke up to plant them
Stung by political bees,
But soldiered on; devoid of shame

Now that I'm gone,
Of more trees do plant,
Here; the torch that my path shone,
The song of eco-warriors forever chant!

~ In Memory of Prof. Wangari Maathai


by: Kennedy Liti Mbeva,UNEP - Bayer Young Environment Envoy 2010
Africa Union Youth Volunteer