Youth Environmental Forum One Planet — One Future!

On May 26-30, 2019, Khanty-Mansiysk welcomed the guests and participants of the 11th International Youth Environmental Forum “One Planet — One Future”, which exists in the framework of the 17th International Environmental Action “Save and Protect”. This event has been held under the auspices of UNESCO since 2008. 

The Forum once again brought together the delegates of the 12th Conference of UNESCO Associated Schools “The Ob-Irtysh Basin: the youth studies and preserves the natural and cultural heritage in the regions of world great rivers” and the 14th District Youth Environmental Forum “Let’s Save the Blossoming World of Ugra!”. 

The forum was attended by representatives of UNESCO Associated Schools from China, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, as well as youth environmental associations that take part in environmental initiatives of the Khanty-­Mansi Autonomous District — Ugra.

The forum was opened by the Deputy Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District — Yugra Galina Maksimova. The participants were greeted by a welcoming speech by Georgy Ordzhonikidze, the Secretary-General of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO.

At the grand opening of the Forum, the participants had a radio communication session with the crew of the 55th expedition of the International Space Station.

Young environmentalists shared their experience in tackling the problems of preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the countries and regions that they represented, and they also had an opportunity to make new friends.

Participants’ projects were evaluated by Natalia Larionova, Executive Director of the UNESCO Associated Schools project in Russia, Nikita Shalygin, coordinator of edu­cational programs of the Russian Commission for UNESCO, Dmitry Ermakov, Doctor of Pedagogy, PhD in Chemistry, Associate Professor, Deputy Chairman of the Scientific Council on the Problems of Environmental Education at the Russian Academy of Education.

The forum also involved working in teams on the following topics: “Eco Lifestyle: Various Ways to Lead an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle”, “Workshop on Packaging of New Environmental Campaigns and Educational Environmental Projects”, “Engaging Activists in Socially Important Events and Fundraising for Environmental Programs”, theme-based interactive sessions and business games, round tables, workshops, discussion platforms. The children took part in contests for socially important environmental projects, for best presentations about the cultural heritage of their respective countries, regions, and municipalities, while the heads of delegations shared their experience during the contest for best practices in edu­cational and environmental activities among teachers.

For the first time, a meeting on the issue of expanding the participation of educational institutions of the Autonomous District in the network of UNESCO Associated Schools was held with the participation of UNESCO experts, heads of delegations, and the local authorities of Ugra. The participation of Ugra in the implementation of such a project is among the priority areas for the development of cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as defined in the communiqué signed following the presentation of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District — Ugra at UNESCO headquarters in 2014 between the governor of the District and the Director-General of UNESCO.

The Youth Environmental Forum helps create a generation of young people who are actively involved in solving environmental problems, fosters international relations through the exchange of experience between countries and regions, and provides young people with tools for enabling positive changes in their home regions.

Inna Arkanova, N. Zuyko, The Department of Public and Foreign Relations of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District-Yugra