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New Zealand | May 26, 2009
Eco-Minds Youth Forum opens in New Zealand
Sustainable energy systems main focus of biennial programme, a UNEP and Bayer partnership in global youth environmental activities
Auckland, New Zealand, May 26, 2009. -- Twenty-five international tertiary students from throughout the Asia Pacific region are gathering in Auckland today for the Eco-Minds Youth Forum 2009, a prestigious event that forms part of a global partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bayer.
Hosted by the University of Auckland, Bayer New Zealand and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, the forum will focus on sustainable energy systems.
The official programme begins today with an opening ceremony at the Hyatt Regency, Auckland.
Key speakers include UNEP Regional Director Dr Young-Woo Park, New Zealand Governor General His Excellency The Honourable Anand Satyanand, Auckland University Vice Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon, National Commission for UNESCO chair Bryan Gould, EECA CEO Mike Underhill and international Bayer sustainability expert Dr Ulrich Bornewasser from Germany.
“Through our international cooperation with UNEP we support specific projects geared to strengthening young people's environmental awareness and improving their knowledge of sustainable development”, Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, responsible for Innovation, Technology and the Environment and for the Asia-Pacific region, pointed out in a video message to the young delegates.
“As a research-based enterprise, Bayer traditionally places great emphasis on promoting science-based education for young people.”
Bayer Australia/New Zealand Senior Country Representative Hans-Dieter Hausner said he was pleased the forum is this year being held in New Zealand.
“Generating energy in a sustainable way is critical in today’s world of increasing population and climate change. I’m sure our visiting students will learn much from New Zealand, particularly in relation to hydro and geothermal power generation.”
“However, the Eco-Minds Youth Forum is not only about learning. It has a practical side too. Students will be divided into multiple-country groups and come up with their own solutions to sustainable energy, not only for their own individual countries but for the Asia Pacific region as a whole,” said Mr Hausner.
These sentiments were supported by UNEP Regional Director Dr Young-Woo Park.
“Sustainable energy use represents perhaps the greatest challenge to the world right now for two reasons. These are climate change and the fact that two billion people still do not have access to electricity – both, left unresolved, represent a serious hurdle to the UN’s poverty-related Millennium Development Goals.”
“I am delighted that we are able to bring some of the regions top students together to work on solutions to such an important issue,” said Dr Park.
The University of Auckland will lead the academic component of the Eco-Minds Youth Forum.
The five-day forum begins in Auckland and concludes in Rotorua. It includes site visits to the Huntly power station, the Lake Karapiro hydro dam and the Wairakei geothermal field.
Students will also be divided into teams and work on a case study based on coming up with solutions to the challenges surrounding sustainable energy systems.
Countries participating in the Eco-Minds Youth Forum are China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
As well as tertiary-level students, country delegations are made up of foreign media and Bayer representatives.
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Hosted by the University of Auckland, Bayer New Zealand and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, the forum will focus on sustainable energy systems.
The official programme begins today with an opening ceremony at the Hyatt Regency, Auckland.
Key speakers include UNEP Regional Director Dr Young-Woo Park, New Zealand Governor General His Excellency The Honourable Anand Satyanand, Auckland University Vice Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon, National Commission for UNESCO chair Bryan Gould, EECA CEO Mike Underhill and international Bayer sustainability expert Dr Ulrich Bornewasser from Germany.
“Through our international cooperation with UNEP we support specific projects geared to strengthening young people's environmental awareness and improving their knowledge of sustainable development”, Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, responsible for Innovation, Technology and the Environment and for the Asia-Pacific region, pointed out in a video message to the young delegates.
“As a research-based enterprise, Bayer traditionally places great emphasis on promoting science-based education for young people.”
Bayer Australia/New Zealand Senior Country Representative Hans-Dieter Hausner said he was pleased the forum is this year being held in New Zealand.
“Generating energy in a sustainable way is critical in today’s world of increasing population and climate change. I’m sure our visiting students will learn much from New Zealand, particularly in relation to hydro and geothermal power generation.”
“However, the Eco-Minds Youth Forum is not only about learning. It has a practical side too. Students will be divided into multiple-country groups and come up with their own solutions to sustainable energy, not only for their own individual countries but for the Asia Pacific region as a whole,” said Mr Hausner.
These sentiments were supported by UNEP Regional Director Dr Young-Woo Park.
“Sustainable energy use represents perhaps the greatest challenge to the world right now for two reasons. These are climate change and the fact that two billion people still do not have access to electricity – both, left unresolved, represent a serious hurdle to the UN’s poverty-related Millennium Development Goals.”
“I am delighted that we are able to bring some of the regions top students together to work on solutions to such an important issue,” said Dr Park.
The University of Auckland will lead the academic component of the Eco-Minds Youth Forum.
The five-day forum begins in Auckland and concludes in Rotorua. It includes site visits to the Huntly power station, the Lake Karapiro hydro dam and the Wairakei geothermal field.
Students will also be divided into teams and work on a case study based on coming up with solutions to the challenges surrounding sustainable energy systems.
Countries participating in the Eco-Minds Youth Forum are China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
As well as tertiary-level students, country delegations are made up of foreign media and Bayer representatives.
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