Youth from across Asia and the Pacific gathered in Nadi, Fiji, as the Asia-Pacific Youth Environment Forum opened with a call for ambitious, practical action to tackle the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mosese Bulitavu, urged delegates to set clear, actionable, and measurable priorities for governments to adopt. He reminded the young leaders that they are not just the region’s future; they are leaders now, whose work in Nadi will resonate through the Pacific and reach global halls of power at UNEA-7.
More than 100 youth delegates are taking part in the forum, which is co-hosted by the Fijian government and the UN Environment Programme. It marks the first time the forum has been held in the Pacific. A central outcome will be the Asia-Pacific Youth Manifesto 2025, to be presented later this week to senior officials and ministers. The forum’s conclusions are expected to influence UNEA-7 and feed into the Asia-Pacific Youth Roadmap on Sustainability, Environment, and Resilience.
Fiji reaffirmed its commitment to integrating youth recommendations into national processes, promising that decisions on what is adopted or rejected will be reported back transparently. The forum underscores the expanding role of youth in environmental governance, building on milestones such as the Global Youth Environment Assembly in 2021, the Youth Manifesto in 2023, and the ICJ ruling driven by Pacific youth activism.
Additional context and value:
– The event highlights Fiji’s ongoing leadership in shaping youth policy and environmental engagement in the region, complementing related efforts to empower young people through nationwide programs and inclusive governance.
– The Asia-Pacific Youth Manifesto 2025 has the potential to push regional priorities—ranging from climate resilience and conservation to pollution reduction and sustainable development—into high-level policy discussions ahead of UNEA-7.
– The transparent reporting commitment signals a constructive feedback loop between youth and government, which could strengthen trust and accountability in how youth recommendations are used.
Summary: The Asia-Pacific Youth Environment Forum in Nadi brings together over 100 youth delegates to craft a Manifesto 2025 and influence UNEA-7, reinforcing youth leadership in environmental governance and building on a track record of Pacific youth activism and Fiji’s broader youth-development agenda.
Outlook: The forum offers a hopeful path toward stronger youth involvement in regional environmental decision-making, with concrete proposals, ongoing collaboration with international partners, and the potential to accelerate climate and sustainability actions across the Asia-Pacific.
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