"We hope such an international event on climate change can motivate both Indonesian as well as international community to be more concerned about climate change issues," Ahmad Doli said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian youths and young leaders are expected to speak out on climate change at the International Youth Forum On Climate Change 2011 (IYFCC 2011) this year.

With the selected theme "Listen to us, Sense Our Worries", the IYFCC is going to be held on February 21-27, 2011 in Jakarta,

South Sulawesi, Central Kalimantan and East Nusatenggara.

The event aims to give an opportunity to youths and young leaders to speak out on climate change by improving, understanding and inspiring the necessary actions to fight global warming and other related factors.

"The IYFCC 2011 will be participated in by youths from 120 countries around the world who are grouped in the World Assembly of Youth (WAY)," Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) chairman Ahmad Doli Indra Kurnia said at a meeting for the preparation of the forum at Bidakara Hotel here on Monday evening.

The event is being organized by Indonesia National Youth Council-Central Board in collaboration with the World Assembly of Youth (WAY), Asian Youth Council (AYC), Indonesia National Youth Council-South Sulawesi Board, Indonesia National Youth Council-Central Borneo Board, Indonesia National Youth Council-East Nusa Tenggara Board and the support of the Indonesian Government.

Ahmad Doli, who is concurrently the vice president of the World Assembly of Youth, said Indonesia was decided as the host of the IYFCC 2011.

He said the organization of the International Youth Forum on Climate Change 2011 would be an honor to the Indonesian National Youth Committee.

"We hope such an international event on climate change can motivate both Indonesian as well as international community to be more concerned about climate change issues," Ahmad Doli said.

He explained that efforts to build awareness of youth as the pioneer in addressing climate change would be discussed in that international forum.

Ahmad Doli said that after the forum, the participants were expected to encourage the leaders of their respective countries to have more care and focus on the implementation of policy to reduce carbon emissions.

"We are going to call on all countries, especially the biggest contributor to carbon emissions, to make a commitment to reducing carbon emission," Ahmad Doli said.

In the 15th Youth General Assembly from November 21-25, 2010 at Putri Resort in Malaka, Malaysia, Indonesia which at the time was represented by the Indonesian National Youth Committee was decided as the host of the 1st International Youth Forum on Climate Change.

The decision was established after the KNPI Delegations presented the capability of Indonesia on becoming the host for the International Forum in the World Youth General Assembly in Malacca, Malaysia.

Chief Organizer Pahlevi Pangerang at the time said the KNPI Delegation successfully convinced the members of WAY`s General Assembly that the youth should have strategics roles on dealing with the negative impact that being caused by the Climate Change and Global Warming.

"We have given the explanation to all World Assembly of Youth (WAY) members through this General Assemby about the importance of IYFCC which will be held in Jakarta on February 2011," Pahlevi said.

Founded in 1949 in London, the World Assembly of Youth is the coordinating body of national youth councils of over one-hundred national youth organizations around the world.

WAY was set up based on certain points in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations.

It has general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and works in close cooperation with several UN agencies, including UNAIDS, UNEP, ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO.

WAY recognizes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the basis of its activities and services.

WAY promotes the work of youth organizations in areas such as: democracy, environment, human rights, population, health, drugs, community development, leadership training, and cultural and religious tolerance.

It provides opportunities for youth representatives from different countries to exchange ideas and experiences, to coordinate program plans, and to reach a better understanding of each others` problems due to differences in racial, religious and national backgrounds.

Since its formation, WAY has increased its membership of national youth councils to the present 93 full members, from as many countries from all continents. Furthermore WAY has 7 associated members and 22 organizations of observer status.

Meanwhile, former Environment Minister Emil Salim fully supported the International Youth Forum on Climate Change to be hosted by Indonesia this year.

According to Emil Salim, the forum would be a good event with a good mission to preserve the environment, and therefore he expressed hope that the Indonesian youth would be united to organize the event in the best possible way.

Emil also encouraged the Indonesian youth to be the pioneer of environmental preservation.

"If we fail to preserve and protect our environment, the global warming would be inevitable and in the long run part of Indonesia soil would disappear," Emil said.
(Uu.O001/HAJM/P003)

Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011