Toronto, June 11th, 1997 -- Youth delegates made a considerable impact on the Environment Ministers of the 18 APEC economies yesterday in Toronto. After deliberating for four days, youth from Canada and around the world presented their recommendations and vision for sustainable development to a receptive and enthusiastic Ministerial meeting. This was the first time youth had been invited to participate in an APEC Ministerial forum.

The 8 recommendations developed by youth delegates included the requests that youth be recognized as stakeholders in the environment and that access to information for youth be increased. Even more important for the future is that APEC economies foster an international network of youth for sustainable development. Other recommendations called for the creation of opportunities for youth to gain experiential knowledge, and the adoption of a holistic approach to coping with environmental issues.

In a joint statement released by the APEC Ministers, it was said that "from young people, we have heard a call for empowerment, inclusion and a recognized role in APEC. We have also heard their willingness and enthusiasm to help us develop and implement solutions for sustainable development. We are committed to drawing on the creativity and energy of the future leaders of our region."

Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations for the Environment, The Honorable John Fraser, stated that: "The youth recommendations not only caught the imagination of everybody, but I think they will return at subsequent meetings to be considered. I think there was very considerable impact. The role of youth will continue, provided two things happen -- that youth want to maintain the initiative they have started, which I think they do, and also provided that the members of APEC are appreciative of how hard it is to do the things we have to do to save the world. We're not going to do it all in our generation, and the generation that's coming after us is going to have to make it happen. I think that the youth contribution to this is pretty well guaranteed. I think I can say on behalf of everybody here, it was very much appreciated."

Ambassador Fraser's feelings were echoed by Sidek Bin Saniff, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for the Environment, who praised the initiative of Canada in including youth in APEC, and said he "hopes to see youth included in the future APEC meetings."

Dato' Abu Bakar Daud, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment for Malaysia also indicated that youth had successfully created inroads into the policy-making process by stating that, "I think that the APEC forum will follow this up because youth are important for the future." When asked if Malaysia, the next host of the APEC meetings, will follow Canada's lead in including youth in APEC, Daud seemed confident that "yes, other countries will follow."

Youth delegates have since returned to their communities, pleased with their efforts on beahalf of youth and the environment and re-energized from their experience. They have high hopes that they will see their recommendations implemented. In the mean time, they plan to continue to work in their communities to encourage sustainable development practices, and to work together to create an international network of youth for the environment.

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