"The environmental agenda is about the future, while the future is you"
How Open Consultation Process Among The Youth and Business Took Place
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In cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus, the Republican Center for Ecology and Local History held an open consultation among the youth and businesses on climate change and environmental protection. Businesses met with the youth who are highly interested in environmental issues. The objective of the meeting is to build a dialogue between business and the youth, to introduce children to companies that invest in a better future through the implementation of practices to environmental sustainability. After the consultation, all recommendations and questions from the youth for business will be collected to continue dialogue and exchange of views beyond the event.
The consultation was attended by experts from MTS, DoubleTree by Hilton Minsk, Belinvestbank, 21vek.bу. The young audience composed of young activists from Minsk and the regions being involved in environmental groups, students of "green" schools, SDG youth ambassadors, members of the Youth Advisory Group and UNICEF volunteers.
The meeting is timed to coincide with the UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, which takes place at Expo City in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, where the voice of the youth from around the world will also be heard and where a young delegate from Belarus, Polina Zhoglo, will participate – Understudy for Youth Ambassador, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
It is important for UNICEF that the views of the youth in Belarus are taken into account when developing decisions on issues related to education, the environment, mental health, and business. Their voice is a valuable resource. In 10 to 15 years, it will be today’s children and teenagers who will make big decisions in the country, while some of them will develop the private sector.
Moreover, environmental issues directly affect children. Thus, according to UNICEF estimates, over six years, 43.1 million children worldwide were forced to leave their homes due to natural disasters. One in six children in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region – a total of 17 million children – live in areas suffering from water scarcity.
Representatives of businesses that implement the ESG agenda came to meet with the youth. ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. This is to say that the company, in its activities, cares about nature, social issues, and business transparency.
"Business is not just about making money. Companies should have an important component in their activities, that is, to changing lives for the better," Daria Spichakova noted, the Head of the HR Department at the DoubleTree by Hilton Minsk Hotel.
The youth talked with a representative of the DoubleTree by Hilton Minsk Hotel and found out why they care about environmental issues and how they help to fight against climate change. For instance, they found out about the LightStay platform, which allows each of the Hilton Hotels to monitor their environmental impact. The platform allows monitoring energy, water, and waste management, tracking personal and collective results in line with sustainable development goals.
A representative of MTS described how the organization implements environmental and energy-saving measures: expanding electronic document flow, practicing separate waste collection, recycling waste paper, polyethylene, used batteries, and end-of-life equipment.
Belinvestbank employees shared their contribution to the economy and said that the bank lends to and finances many projects aimed at protecting the environment. For instance, the bank provided financial facility for the construction of the tallest wind power plant in the CIS with one blade rotation providing one residential building with 16-hour long power.
"The environmental agenda is about the future, while the future is you," Anastasia Tserkovich talked to the youth, a HR Manager of 21vek.by online hypermarket. She came forward with an unusual initiative developed together with UNICEF volunteers: creating accessories from vinyl banners. In this way, the company upcycle materials and lessens the negative impact on the environment. Soon, the hypermarket will announce an initiative on social networks: a competition to develop designs for accessories.
"It is difficult to overestimate the role of private companies and large-sized businesses in sustainable development. We are ready to maintain strong coordination with representatives of businesses, who are focusing on the environmental agenda and are essentially advocates to this topic in society and set an example for others," Rustam Haydarov emphasized, the Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus.
This is the second time this type of an event among the youth and business is being held and is dedicated to dialogue on current agenda topics. Open consultation helps to ensure an exchange of views that will benefit both the development of business and future generations.
