New voice for youth and environment
We have published our Youth Engagement Strategy elevating our plan to work more closely with young people. Last month, our newly formed Environment Youth Advisory Council held their second meeting at NSW Parliament House.
Council member Jess Muir talks to camera at NSW Parliament House
NSW is home to more than 1.3 million young people aged 10-22 years living in our cities, regional towns and rural areas.
Engagement and Education Executive Director Liesbet Spanjaard said that as environmental risks become more prevalent and better known, the EPA wants to connect more with the youth of today.
“As tomorrow’s leaders, they can help us create the right environmental and human health behaviours for the future,” Ms Spanjaard said.
“The Youth Engagement Strategy will guide our youth initiatives over the next three years and is the result of input from EPA staff, our newly established Environment Youth Advisory Council as well as other young people and stakeholders.”
Planned initiatives include greater youth representation on committees, finding the best channels to reach younger audiences, and forming closer connections with schools and universities. We will be releasing it soon.
Environment Minister James Griffin welcomed members of to a special meeting at Parliament House on 17 November. The members are aged between 15 and 21 and hail from regional and metro NSW.
“We have so much to thank the “sessions” people for and also to work alongside with them developing better outcomes right across this state,” Mr Griffin said.
EPA topic experts on climate change and partnerships also attended the meeting and workshopped ideas with the members.
“To actually get down to who makes the decisions and shake their hand and talk to them like real people, yes, it’s pretty sweet!” council member Jessica said.
“They certainly seem to be taking things on board and I really hope that we see the end result of our conversations,” fellow member Evan added.
Play the video to see what else they had to say
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