Children challenge world leaders on the environment

Six hundred children from around the world gathered for the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) World Summit for the Environment in Japan, are challenging the world’s leaders to pay closer attention to energy, biodiversity, water and recycling.

“We commit ourselves to saving energy and using renewable energy sources” the children said in their statement. They also challenge the leaders in a petition, asking them to “create and enforce laws to improve efficiency in production, consumption and conservation of energy.” They demand that the leaders set examples also on the issues of biodiversity, water and waste processing.

The world summit for children, held in Aichi, Japan, was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, with Prince Akishino of Japan as the honorary president.

At the closing of the four-day summit on Friday, UNEP Deputy Executive Director Shafquat Kakahel promised that the children’s message would be delivered to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He also assured the children that their message, included on a 14 metre long canvas, will have a prominent place in front of the UN Headquarters in New York to remind the world’s presidents and prime ministers of the hope of the children for a better environment.

During this final day of the summit, UNEP announced that the next Children’s Conference on the Environment will be held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in August 2006. The 2008 Tunza conference will be held in Stavanger, Norway.