“Do Good and Save Your Environment” Campaign

On international volunteer day, and in collaboration with UNV Lebanon, Al Makassed volunteers, and UNICEF, YLP initiated the “Do. For several days, youth from all over Lebanon were invited to volunteer with the UN and their partners to collect and sort plastic waste in order to recycle it. The volunteers could do any of the suggested tasks: from collecting waste from their neighborhoods and dropping it off at Al Makassed’s Volunteering Unit Center, to helping out at the warehouse in sorting out the waste and prepare the plastic for donations. More than 100 school students volunteered from all over Lebanon and as always, it was a pleasure to see how YLP Alumni was engaged in the campaign (special shout-out to Crystel Hajjar, Mohamad Sharif, and Yasmine Naji! ).

Indeed, the youth came through powerfully, as they do every time. The change-makers were able to collect over 360 kgs of plastic in just 2 weeks. They have once again proven to be their community leaders as they all came together for a great cause in response to the aggravating climate situation.

Not only that, but the collected plastic was donated to local initiatives from the YLP to further support their cause. The young leaders were helping out each other with such a great spirit!

The two initiatives were Recycler and Two Better (make sure to check out their Instagram pages @recycler_donation and @twobetter.lb). Recycler used the plastic waste to recycle it and sell it, and then give away all the profits to individuals and families in need. Two Better worked on recycling the donated plastic by turning it into aesthetic products with beautiful designs. Both initiatives are local and are working towards one Global Goal in very creative ways: Fighting Climate Change.

This “Do Good and Save Your Environment” Campaign came as a reaction to the COP26 that was held in Glasgow. The COP26 is a conference held by the UN that gathers over 100 world leaders to discuss Climate Action. The COP26 had greatly warned about the worsening climate situation and thus The Youth felt very involved and had decided to take action through this campaign.

Lebanon’s young change-makers stepped up and acted against climate change through this initiative. This campaign is only a glimpse of what the Youth are capable of and how creative they can get while coming up with sustainable solutions.

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Economic growth should be a positive force for the whole planet.This is why we must make sure that financial progress creates decent and fulfilling jobs while not harming the environment. We must protect labour rights and once and for all put a stop to modern slavery and child labour. If we promote job creation with expanded access to banking and financial services, we can make sure that everybody gets the benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 8

End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, it’s an act of justice and the key to unlocking an enormous human potential. Still, nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, and lack of food and clean water is killing thousands every single day of the year. Together, we can feed the hungry, wipe out disease and give everyone in the world a chance to prosper and live a productive and rich life.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 1

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Hunger is the leading cause of death in the world. Our planet has provided us with tremendous resources, but unequal access and inefficient handling leaves millions of people malnourished. If we promote sustainable agriculture with modern technologies and fair distribution systems, we can sustain the whole world’s population and make sure that nobody will ever suffer from hunger again.

MAINTAIN THE GENETIC DIVERSITY IN FOOD PRODUCTION

By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 2

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone.

SUPPORT RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE VACCINES AND MEDICINES

Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 3

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 5

YLP6 (2020)

KOKO BAGs

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

One in three people live without sanitation. This is causing unnecessary disease and death. Although huge strides have been made with access to clean drinking water, lack of sanitation is undermining these advances. If we provide affordable equipment and education in hygiene practices, we can stop this senseless suffering and loss of life.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 6

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Renewable energy solutions are becoming cheaper, more reliable and more efficient every day.Our current reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and harmful to the planet, which is why we have to change the way we produce and consume energy. Implementing these new energy solutions as fast as possible is essential to counter climate change, one of the biggest threats to our own survival.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 7

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

A functioning and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of every successful community. To meet future challenges, our industries and infrastructure must be upgraded. For this, we need to promote innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 9

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

The Global Goals can only be met if we work together.International investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.

IMPLEMENT ALL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMMITMENTS

Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance (ODA/GNI) to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 17

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people.This often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish, equality and prosperity must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status. When every individual is self sufficient, the entire world prospers.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 10

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

The world’s population is constantly increasing.To accommodate everyone, we need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need new, intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 11

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources.But we have not utilized them responsibly and currently consume far beyond what our planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet.

REMOVE MARKET DISTORTIONS THAT ENCOURAGE WASTEFUL CONSUMPTION

Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 12

YLP6 (2020)

KOKO BAGs

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization.The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.

IMPLEMENT THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 13

YLP6 (2020)

KOKO BAGs

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence.They cover 70 percent of our planet and we rely on them for food, energy and water. Yet, we have managed to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage and protect all marine life around the world.

END SUBSIDIES CONTRIBUTING TO OVERFISHING

By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation.

INCREASE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FOR OCEAN HEALTH

Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 14

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet.We are all part of the planet’s ecosystem and we have caused severe damage to it through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival.

YLP Projects Enhancing SDG 15

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society.Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.