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‘Green Hope UAE’, a Dubai-based youth sustainability organisation conducted an epoch conference to observe the World Environment Day, echoing the call to put biodiversity conservation at the forefront of the sustainable development agenda. Over 150 passionate youth environmentalists from schools and universities across the UAE along with two student delegations from the British School of Bahrain and Indian School Muscat attended this summit, hosted by the Apple International School in Dubai.
The keynote speaker at this summit, Dr Iyad Abumoghli , Director and Regional Representative of UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme ) West Asia , delivered an inspiring speech exhorting young people , as future leaders , to take charge of their destiny.
Green Hope founder 15-year-old KehkashanBasu, who is also the Youth Ambassador of World Future Council, gave a scintillating presentation to mark the day.
“The escalating rate of environmental degradation is pushing thousands of species to the brink of extinction. Young people like us can no longer afford to be silent observers. Our future is at stake and we must all join hands and take action today,†said Basu.
Eminent international sustainability expert Brendon Jack and Dima Abo Kous, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, shared their insightful messages with the youth attendees during the conference. Green Hope is closely associated with rhino conservation, having adopted a critically endangered Northern white rhino recently through an international charity ‘Helping Rhinos’. Simon Jones, CEO of Helping Rhinos, also held an interactive session, via a video link, urging one and all to join the battle for conservation.
The conference was all about youth voices and environment.