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The Indonesian Express
business
Dok/KLHK
Environmental Diplomacy: Deputy Minister Alue Dohong Says Young People Can Fix The Environment
Tuesday, 13 Aug 2024
The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Alue Dohong, emphasized the significance of the LIKE-2 Festival (Environment, Forestry, and Energy), initiated by the Ministry as part of the road to the 29th UNFCCC COP 2024, set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in mid-November. He highlighted how crucial this event is for young people to express their ideas, innovations, and thoughts on tackling environmental and forestry issues, including energy. It’s truly an amazing platform. “We just witnessed competitions and debates, and the youth showcased incredible thinking skills, both in debates and speeches, as well as in their use of foreign languages and Indonesian. Why is that? Because the younger generations, like Gen Z and Alpha, are the future of our nation. With their strong communication skills and quality, they can become key communicators to stakeholders, sharing their ideas about the environment and forestry,” said Deputy Minister Alue Dohong when asked by the press after awarding prizes to winners of various competitions at the LIKE-2 event at JCC Senayan on Sunday night (11/08/2024). He expressed hope that the winners would use this extraordinary LIKE-2 forum as a source of motivation and to encourage their friends and peers. This means that when young people engage in positive actions, it will be recognized by the government and relevant parties. It serves as a rallying point for the youth to implement their ideas about the environment and forestry. Deputy Minister Alue Dohong also mentioned that Indonesia needs environmental diplomacy, and these competitions are part of nurturing future diplomats or skilled negotiators who understand the substance, strategy, and strengthen Indonesia's mission to lead by example on a global scale. “Never tire of loving this nation. Never tire of protecting the environment and forestry.” Alue Dohong, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, pointed out how important the LIKE-2 Festival (Environment, Forestry, and Energy) is. This event, organized by the Ministry as a lead-up to the 29th UNFCCC COP 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, happening in mid-November, is a great opportunity for young people to share their ideas, innovations, and thoughts on environmental and forestry challenges, including energy. It’s a fantastic platform! “Just now, we saw some competitions and debates, and the youth displayed remarkable thinking skills in both their debates and speeches, as well as in their command of foreign languages and Indonesian. Never get tired of encouraging everyone to take action for the betterment of our environment and forests. Without proper care and maintenance of our natural surroundings, the dream of creating a golden generation won’t come true,” said Deputy Minister Alue Dohong. Environmental Diplomacy Competition and HLH 2024 It's clear that young people can drive social and economic transformation while strengthening our connection with nature. Their involvement in tackling environmental issues is crucial. The youth bring a progressive perspective on matters like social justice and climate change. They want to be seen as advocates for communities and groups that can’t voice their interests. In other words, young people play a vital role in the process of change and sustainability in environmental preservation. According to Akerlund (2000), young leaders help communities become more creative, sparking new ideas and promoting sustainable living. Those working in environmental conservation increasingly view children and teenagers as essential stakeholders. Moreover, with a significant population, the youth should be encouraged to actively participate in discussions and policy-making in the realm of environmental diplomacy. The Deputy Minister stated that Environmental Diplomacy involves efforts from all actors, including countries, international organizations, and community groups, to promote global cooperation on environmental issues like climate change, biodiversity, natural resource conservation, and pollution. The goal is to reach agreements, adopt policies, and implement actions that collectively address and improve environmental challenges. Young people serve as catalysts in advocacy and awareness, using their strong voices to engage and educate the community.
