DUBAI, 18th August, 2022 (WAM) -- The Arab Youth Council for Climate Change of the Arab Youth Centre, in collaboration with HSBC bank, issued the Arab Youth Toolkits: ''Action Steps for a Sustainable Lifestyle,'' which highlights the best practices for achieving sustainability to young talents in the Arab region.

The announcement coincided with a training course held by the council's "The Arab Youth Council for Climate Change (AYCCC)," to prepare for 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE.

The training course was attended by the network’s members and several experts and specialists, under the theme, "On the Road to COP," in cooperation with the United Nations (UN) Coordination Office in the UAE.

The guide, the first of its kind issued by the council, focuses on six areas and aims to enable Arab individuals and communities to improve their water and food consumption, shopping patterns, waste management, travel and housing.

The guide and training course aims to improve the work of the council, established in 2021 by the Arab Youth Centre in Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, under the umbrella of the Arab League.

On the occasion, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, lauded the council’s initiative to draft a comprehensive climate change manual, which aims to introduce the youth to the best sustainability and resource rationalisation practices.

He also highlighted the importance of involving young leaders in climate action based on the best practices.

"Due to the directives and unlimited support of the country’s leadership, the UAE has established a successful model of empowering the youth to lead local climate action and participate in global climate action. We are looking forward to the participation of the youth in COP28 hosted by the UAE in 2023 at the Expo Dubai City," he said.

Effective and positive change are started by individuals, and every individual is capable of being an ambassador for sustainability issues and can raise awareness about them, he added.

Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Centre, stressed that youth play a key role in achieving sustainable development goals and addressing the effects of climate change, as well as in the region’s efforts to host COP27 and COP28. The UAE leadership is keen to enable the youth to play their role and contribute to various areas of sustainability.

She then pointed out that the council and the Arab Climate Action Network have set a comprehensive agenda of activities, initiatives, events and programmes, supported by the Arab Youth Centre, headed by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

She also stressed that the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change has adopted several strategic objectives. These include empowering the Arab youth and teaching them the required skills to address the challenges posed by climate change, being vocal at related Arab and international events, presenting strategic recommendations to decision-makers in the Arab region, and suggesting effective solutions in partnership with the public and private sectors.