Environmental Basis for Action

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared the years 2005-2014 to be the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) www.unesco.org/en/esd/

Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and improving the quality of life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems of the earth.

The Global Youth Service Team pledges to support the ideals of the DESD.

Basis for action

• Children in many developing countries comprise nearly half of the population. It is they who will inherit the responsibility of caring for the earth. In industrialized and developing countries, it is the children who are most vulnerable to the effects of environmental degradation.
• Energy use in industrialized countries increases at a rate of 1.7% per year, but in developing nations, the rate is 3.8% per year.
• Irresponsible use of energy resources leads to conflict over those resources.
• The world is overly dependant on non-renewable forms of energy production that have proven to be toxic to our environment.

Goals

• Due to the global character of environmental problems, it should be the common interest of all countries to pursue policies of sustainable development. Industrialized countries should strengthen technological cooperation with developing countries enhancing their capacity to manage environmental, economic and social problems.
• The foundations for partnerships between industrialized and developing nations should be built such that they will support socio-economic development and prevent the continued deterioration of the environment. Such partnerships should meet the mutual needs and common interests of our societies while ensuring a healthy future.
• Sustainable energy sources should be sought to replace fossil fuels linked to global climate change. Efforts should be made to interrupt the cycle of dependence on fossil fuels before it can begin in developing countries.
• Opportunity should be created for youth participation in the processes that will promote environmental sustainability at the local, regional, national and international levels.