Media Release – 19 June
2012 7:00 pm (local time)

Youth call on government to seize opportunities at Rio+20

The New Zealand Youth Delegation, currently at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil, are calling on their government to take up an opportunity to become a world leader in sustainable development. They have developed a four point action plan based on education, accountability, ending business as usual and awareness.

The delegation believes the first step is to create a generation of knowledgeable children by ensuring that sustainable development is incorporated into education at an early age. Youth delegate Andre Morrison from Ngati Whakaue says “When these children become educated in sustaianbility, New Zealand can become a leader in sustainable development and these children will create a sustainable future for Aotearoa.”

Awareness is a key idea that the delegation wants to take back to New Zealand. Globally the effect of unsustainable practices are having serious consequences, although in New Zealand climate change is not having a noticeable effect on our land or livelihood as it is in other countries. As a result it is easy to be complacent, ignore it or forget about it. Injy Johnstone says, “What I would love to see in New Zealand would an awareness and understanding throughout our communities so we can face the challenges of the future as a resilient nation”.

The conference presents an opportunity for New Zealand to be on a world stage, pioneering sustainable development. “So far we have seen some excellent leadership in New Zealand in removing harmful fuel subsidies, but this is the only area where we are taking a bold lead” says youth delegation member, Ben Dowdle. The delegation plans to ensure the government implements all the signed commitments it makes at Rio+20 and is meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams, while she is at the conference.

The delegation believes that from Rio+20 there is clear evidence that we can adjust our lifestyle without compromising social or environmental wellbeing. The main challenge we face is moving away from business as usual in favour of more sustainable and environmentally sustainable choices. Erin Murphy says, “We believe people must change the way they’re living through a nationwide shift towards sustainable practices”.

The youth delegation has been in Rio de Janeiro since 10th June and has taken part in a range of activities including the ‘YouthBlast’ international youth conference, Forum on science, technology and innovation, visited a local school, taken part in side events, a beach clean up and participated in the New Zealand stakeholder meetings.

ENDS

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