Young Canadians Leading the Way to Sustainable Development
Minister Whelan Recognizes the Contribution of Canadian Youth at WSSD
WINNIPEG — Former participants in the Canadian Government's Youth International Internship Program (YIIP), representatives from international organizations and Canadian government officials gather at a reception hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development to hear how programs such as YIIP have advanced Canada's contribution to sustainable development.
The YIIP program is funded through the Youth Employment Strategy and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
"Many of the answers to the complex challenges of sustainable development involve fundamentally changing the way we think and the way we live; and youth are not only better prepared to make such changes, they are better prepared to lead the way, " said Minister Whelan. "Canada supports international internships to provide youth with the skills, knowledge, and contacts required to deal with the realities of the world today."
IISD has been a sponsoring organization of the Government of Canada's YIIP since 1997. The IISD works to match the skills and interests of young Canadians with the needs of international organizations focused on sustainable development issues. Over 130 young Canadians have been placed in over 50 different host organizations where they have had the opportunity to share their skills, promote sustainability, and gain international work experience. The reception for Canadian interns will highlight the success of YIIP and the direct contributions being made by the youth of Canada to the WSSD and to the sustainable development movement at home and abroad.
"It is no accident that wherever you go in the world, you find young Canadians making progress towards sustainability within the United Nations, international corporations and non-profits. The YIIP program has been instrumental in cultivating a generation of young leaders with a global outlook and concern for the environment," said David Runnalls, President of the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
Former interns recognize the contribution it makes to building careers in sustainable development. "The program was invaluable to me in my pursuit of a career in development," said Alyson Slater, a former YIIP intern who helped to organize the World Summit parallel event. "The face-to-face contact and cross-cultural flow of ideas has allowed me to develop extensive international contacts, and enriched my ideas and values."
Many current and former interns are playing a pivotal role at the WSSD, including organizing NGO participation, developing sustainable development reporting guidelines for companies, and contributing to key WSSD documents, most notably the Global Environment Outlook (GEO), and Conserving the Peace.
The event will be held at 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm at the IUCN Environment Center, Aloe Room 135 Rivonia Road, NEDCOR Bank Building, Sandton Square, Johannesburg.
About IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 250 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.
You might also be interested in
We all have to keep plastics out of our lakes and rivers
In an opinion piece, IISD-ELA's Pauline Gerrard writes that researchers in Toronto found an average of 123 microplastics in one serving of freshwater fish, vastly more than the nine microplastics ingested in a serving of grocery store Alaska pollock found in a study by the same authors published earlier this year.
Senegal’s LNG Drive Is an Economic Gamble
Senegal’s plan to drive economic growth through exports of LNG—largely to Europe—is a gamble, new research warns, as forecasts indicate an imminent decline in international demand for gas.
Canadians on the Hook for up to CAD 18.8 Billion in Ongoing Subsidies to the Trans Mountain Pipeline
Canadian taxpayers could end up contributing up to CAD 18.8 billion in subsidies to the Trans Mountain Pipeline if the federal government continues charging discounted transportation tolls to the oil industry, according to a new IISD report.
Understanding the United Nations’ New Principles for Resourcing the Energy Transition
Greg Radford explains new principles and recommendations developed by the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and designed to advance equity and justice.