The four-day event, organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme and local non-governmental organization Institute for Public Health, will feature discussions on the role and capacity of young representatives of Central Asian environmental NGOs in addressing environmental problems and promoting sustainable development.

“Our aim is to help raise awareness among young people and promote regional co-operation in Central Asia to safeguard the environment for the benefit of present and future generations,” said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana in his message to participants. “The OSCE Centre in Astana also advocates for a comprehensive approach to promoting development of civil society in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.”

The Forum aims to help streamline the activities of the youth network and prepare the leaders of tomorrow to tackle environmental problems. The event will enable the exchange of opinions and best practices and promote co-operation in the Central Asian region.

“Over the last five years, we have worked to strengthen the youth network in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. This year we prioritized the preparation of young leaders in environmental issues for the upcoming Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” and the United Nations meeting on sustainable development, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2012,” said Dmitri Tereshkevich, the Head of the Institute for Public Health. “Water management, climate change and the development of ecological tourism are also topics for discussion at the Forum.”