Biodiversity, climate and ocean action must be implemented together and not treated in isolation. The health of Pacific reefs, forests, fisheries, and communities depends on integrated action and finance and resourcing that reflects the realities and lived experiences of Pacific people.
This was one of four key asks the Pacific chapter of the Global Biodiversity Youth Network (GYBN) put on the table at the 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation through a call-to-action declaration. The declaration puts into perspective the stakes of the next five years, a critical window that will determine whether young Pacific people will inherit of future of abundance, or one defined by loss.
In a time of aging societies and shrinking populations, the Pacific region boasts a youthful population with 50 percent under the age of 25. The decisions leaders make today will ultimately shape the world youth will inherit, and with time, govern.
Pacific Biodiversity Coordinator for the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation, Ms Claire Oiire delivered the declaration during the Ministerial segment of the conference opening.
When asked about the purpose of the strategy she said, “by 2030 young Pacific people will be in or nearing positions of leadership, and the declaration was drafted with this in mind. We are putting our asks on the table now, letting our leaders know what is required for young people to meaningfully participate in biodiversity action. And by the time they assume leadership they would’ve already been included in the decision-making that will determine their future.”
In addition to integrated actions, the youth declaration calls on leaders to recognise young Pacific people as decision-makers and not just stakeholders, a recurring theme from across the week where young people were asking for meaningful inclusion in national, regional and international processes, and not merely being selected for token representation. Investment in youth leadership through financing, capacity building and support for youth-led initiatives is how this achieved according to the declaration.
Intergenerational dialogue and traditional knowledge preservation is also a key ask for young Pacific people. They recognise the strength of Pacific leadership and traditional and indigenous knowledge. Pacific youth have acknowledged that they cannot do this work without the wisdom, mentorship and experience of their elders.
“Our hope is the declaration will go far beyond PCNC-11, with the UN Biodiversity Conference and Climate Change Conference later this year, as well as the High Seas Treaty and Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. Ensuring that actions are integrated across these thematic priorities will strengthen all efforts to protect the Pacific environment. We hope our leaders will take heed of what young Pacific people are calling for now, we are running out of time”, said Oiire.
The Ambassadors of the Pacific Global Youth Biodiversity Network participation in the PCNC11 was made possible through the generous support of the Pacific BioScapes Programme, a European Union (EU) funded action, managed and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), whose continuous commitment to youth engagement and biodiversity conservation has been instrumental in bringing the Pacific Chapter to life.
Further assistance for the activity in Noumea was provided by the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.
