Children and Youth are advocates for future generations. As the issues we are addressing today will have a deep impact on present and future generations, the contributions of the Children and Youth Major Group are indispensable for UNEP’s work on policy and programmatic level. Hence, UNEP recognizes the need to promote intergenerational dialogue and solidarity by recognizing the views of young people. Through the UNEP TUNZA strategy a wealth of outreach and communication material towards awareness raising, education and capacity building is being produced to address youth.

The following example is only a small part of UNEP’s numerous partnerships with Children and Youth at the global, regional and local level.

In February 2003, UNEP’s Governing Council adopted a long-term strategy for engaging young people in environmental activities and in the work of UNEP. The strategy was entitled the Tunza Youth Strategy. The word “TUNZA” means “to treat with care or affection” in Kiswahili. The TUNZA initiative is meant to develop activities in the areas of capacity building, environmental awareness, and information exchange, with a vision to foster a generation of environmentally conscious citizens, capable of positive action. Important by-products of this strategy include the annual

Accredited organizations
Find here a list of all Children and Youth organizations accredited with the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) of UNEP