Pacific Emerging Environmental Leaders’ symposium to be held

26 August 2011

Pacific Emerging Environmental Leaders’ symposium to be held in Apia, Samoa

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is seeking applications to attend an inaugural symposium for young professionals who are emerging as environmental leaders in the Pacific islands.

The five-day symposium, to be held in Apia, Samoa from the 15-21 October 2011, will kick-start the Pacific Emerging Environment Leaders’ (PEEL) Initiative, a longer-term programme aimed at supporting action by young professionals for environmental management and leadership.

Ms Seema Deo, SPREP’s Education and Social Communications Advisor, said the PEEL initiative will help bring together young Pacific Islanders (20-35 years) who are committed to improving the state of the environment in their countries, no matter what their area of work.

Ms Deo said: “The main focus of the symposium is to encourage the spread of an environmental ethic across all sectors of society. We hope to create a dynamic, self-motivated group, capable of thinking beyond barriers and can contribute to good decision-making for real sustainable development.”

“Young people need support and mentoring during the early stages of their working life to encourage commitment to sustainable lifestyles and choices in their work and personal situations.”

“The Symposium will serve as a platform for visioning and building innovative solutions to improve environmental management and sustainable development and, hopefully, provide opportunity to rethink the way we do business,” she said.

Individuals from the fields of business, arts, academia, civil society, media, education, science, politics and the public sector, who have already shown significant levels of achievement in bringing environment issues to the forefront of their own areas of influence are being encouraged to apply to attend the symposium.

Participation in the PEEL Initiative will be merit-based. To be considered, potential participants will need to complete an application form and explain why they make a good leader and what contribution they are already making to environment and sustainable development in their workplace or community.

“By participating in the symposium, you are taking on the responsibility of future action, committing to implementing a project and maintaining links with other participants,” said Ms Deo. “We know from past experience that follow up after a forum tends to be limited and we want to make sure we select those individuals who are most committed to and capable of staying the course.”

Applications close on 5 September 2011 and further information, along with the application form is available at www.sprep.org

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