In celebration of their 20 years of cooperation, World Scouting and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have extended their long-standing alliance to involve youth in climate action and education in response to the global climate emergency.
Together, the two organizations will support youth in gaining the knowledge and abilities necessary to become environmental leaders who take decisive action to advance sustainability and make significant progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Renewing their long-standing partnership to involve youth in climate action and education in response to the global climate emergency, World Scouting and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are commemorating 20 years of collaboration.
In order to support young people in gaining the knowledge and abilities necessary to become environmental leaders who take decisive action to advance sustainability and make significant progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, the two organizations will collaborate.
Currently, an educational program centered on the environment is offered by nearly 90% of the 174 National Scout Organizations worldwide, inspiring millions of youth to take up local climate-related issues. 51 National Scout Organizations have adopted the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge as part of this educational program, and other nations are supporting it in tandem with World Scouting’s Earth Tribe educational initiative.
Isaac Makinya, Youth Program Assistant at the Kenya Scouts Association, stated, “We are encouraging our Scouts to take part in environmental conservation and one way to do this is through the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge.””We have begun by enhancing Scout Leaders’ abilities so they can interact with youth at the grassroots.”
According to a 2022 baseline survey carried out by World Scouting through its National Scout Organizations, environmental and sustainability projects accounted for 39% of Scouts’ actions, which had the greatest level of community impact in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, nearly half of the nearly 300,000 actions that Scouts reported through the Scouts for SDG hub were directed toward achieving six specific SDGs, including sustainability and climate change.
Tide Turner Scouts are raising awareness about plastic pollution by cleaning up the river near City Park in Parklands, Nairobi.
Additionally, the partnership will provide recognition components, digital badges, and awards for Scouts who have successfully completed local projects that address plastic pollution and environmental stewardship, as well as support these initiatives locally.