On Sunday, June 2, 2019, Cambodian Youth Network (CYN) in collaboration with Equitable Cambodia, Volunteer for Society, Changemaker Cambodia, Youth Resource Development Program, Not One More (N1M) and Trash Youth has co-organized World Environment Day 2019 under the theme  “Protect Our Earth for All”, held in Phnom Penh.

The celebration World Environment Day this year aimed  to promote environmental awareness and environmental impact to youth and public; to create a safe place for young people to express their opinions on environmental issues; to discuss and find possible solution to respond to climate change in Cambodia’s context; and to call for a joint action in all level for environmental protection from the general public, private sector, and government. This event gathered 361 environmental activists, university students, human rights defenders, youth and communities working on forests and natural resources protection for the series of  presentation and penal discussions on climate change, role and responsibility of youth in respond to environmental challenges as well as  the discussions on “National Mechanisms and Actions to prevent climate change” with the presence of representative from Ministry of Environment and Civil Society Organizations working on environmental protection. During the discussion, young people came to share their concern and has joined to develop a joint statement for the ministry of environment and general public.

In the opening speech, Mr. Tim Malay, President of the Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), said that, “This event is for young people raise opinion on environmental issues and make the voice and challenges of youth appear to discuss and find possible solutions to respond to climate change in the context of Cambodia and propose a joint action at all levels on environmental protection from public, private sector and the government. “The climate change is very worrisome for both Cambodians and the world because the destruction has been increasing year after year, and the blockage is coming out from all of us,” he added. This full day activities has provided a safe space for youth discussion and and created dialogue between youth and a representatives of the Ministry of Environment and experts who are working on policies, natural resources governance and climate change. On the other hand, this event also contributes to encouraging youth and public to participate in natural resources and environmental protection activities.

In particular, youth has discussed and developed a joint statement on youth concerns for environmental issues  along with some recommendation for government and general public to take action respond to environmental issues. This joint statement will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment for interventions and responses to loss of natural resources and climate change. To affirm that the World Environment Day is a United Nations mechanism that encourages the world to take part in environmental awareness and to promote environmental policy and action that is held every year on June 5th.