FAO, with GBEP, and YUNGA join forces to engage youth in advocating for renewable energy and climate action

Rome – As part of efforts to engage and empower youth to drive transformative change, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), and Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) on May 2 hosted 25 high school students to an hour and a half of interactive learning sessions to increase their awareness on crucial and timely topics such as sustainable development, food security, climate change and renewable energy.

Using a blended approach that includes visual presentations, demonstrations and quizzes, the activity piqued the interest of the students and provided them with a unique and fun experience while they gained technical and practical insights on how young people like them can play an active role in addressing the climate crisis.

“At FAO, we believe that young people are the leaders of tomorrow, starting acting today. By building their social and environmental consciousness, we nurture a generation passionate to make real, meaningful change to tackle global challenges,” said Maria Michela Morese, Senior Natural Resources Officer and Energy Team Leader at FAO.

Daniela Dodaro, teacher and Vice Principal at Liceo Amedeo Avogadro, was grateful for the opportunity for students and young people to learn about issues like climate change, with a view to concretely inspire them to make a difference in their schools and communities.

During the learning session, YUNGA also showcased the Energy Challenge Badge and the Bioenergy Supplement, educational booklets designed to raise awareness on the importance of energy in our daily lives and the need for cleaner, renewable energy sources like bioenergy, and inspire action among young people. These Challenge Badges were jointly developed by FAO, YUNGA, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). The soon to be published Bioenergy Supplement to the Energy Challenge Badge was developed in FAO by GBEP.

The learning session sets the stage for the first GBEP-YUNGA Bioenergy Youth Day on June 17  to be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, which will culminate with the GBEP Youth Award that will celebrate and recognize outstanding research projects on sustainable bioenergy.  

“Youth engagement has always been an integral part of GBEP’s work. We work with young researchers to advance modern bioenergy; we develop tools to build youth awareness and capacities to innovate sustainable bioenergy solutions worldwide; and we recognize their contributions in advocating for clean energy for all,” Tiziana Pirelli, Coordinator of the GBEP Secretariat, said.

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Stay tuned for updates on the GBEP-YUNGA Bioenergy Youth Day and 11th GBEP Bioenergy Week! Follow FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment and on X, YUNGA on Instagram and GBEP on LinkedIn!