Environment & Climate Change
APAY Sub-regional Green Ambassadors Training
Last Updated (Thursday, 12 October 2017 18:20)
The APAY Sub-regional Green Ambassador Training for the Greater Mekong Sub-region was held in Chiang Mai YMCA, Thailand during 25th to 30th September 2017. The theme of the training workshop was “Capacity Building to Develop Climate Change Response towards a Low Carbon Society”. This training was organized by Sao Hin YMCA of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Around 30 participants mostly youths from Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia and Philippines participated at the event. Though most of the participants were from the YMCAs, there were participants also from various governmental and non-governmental organizations of these countries.
The program started with the welcome remarks from Mrs. Patcharin Sugunnasil, the Board of Directors of YMCA Chiang Mai. Mr. Takao Nishimura, Secretary General of the Y’s Men International, was also present and gave his welcome remarks to the participants.
Regional Conference on Climate Change
Last Updated (Friday, 22 September 2017 12:26)
The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs will be conducting its 2nd Regional Conference on Climate Change in Daegu, Korea on October 15-20, 2017. The conference will serve as a culmination of the E-learning program and will provide a space for the youth to discuss the action plan or initiative on an environmental program or project.
Several topics that were not covered in the E-learning will be discussed and the participants will also have an exposure activity on an environmental program of Daegu YMCA. The APAY hopes that through the conference, we could empower more young people who are environmentally conscious and responsible.
This program is organized by the APAY jointly with National Council of YMCAs of Korea and Daegu YMCA.
4th Green Ambassadors Training
Last Updated (Tuesday, 06 June 2017 13:35)
The APAY 4th Green Ambassadors Training was held in Chiang Mai YMCA, Thailand during 22nd to 26th May 2017. About 30 youths from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated at this training. For the first time that there were participants for the Green Ambassadors Training representing organizations other than the YMCAs and also one participant from the newly formed YMCA group in Laos.
In the inaugural session Ms. Patcharin Sugunnasil, Member of the Board of Directors of Chiang Mai YMCA and Mr. Nam Boo Won General Secretary of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs delivered words of felicitations for the participants. Mr. Takao Nishimura, Secretary General of the Y’s Men International was also present at the occasion had expressed his greetings to the participants. Dr.Chirapol Sintunawa, Professor at Mahidol University, Bangkok presented the keynote paper at the training conference entitled, “New Challenge in Mobilizing Action for Sustainable Production and Consumption”.
During the training program the participants dealt with the topics like “Environmental Protection & Combating Climate Change: A YMCA Imperative”, Water Footprint, Climate Change lobby and Advocacy, the Paris Accord, Concept of Green YMCA and Carbon Neutral YMCA, Energy Efficient Appliances, Carbon Audit and Carbon Calculator, etc.
During the training the participants had the opportunity to visit the Ban Loung Nua School ; Y Green School Model on Waste Management and Integrated Agriculture and visit Dara Academy, Y Green School Model on Low Carbon School and Climate Change Education. They also visited the Energy Learning Center operated by Sao Hin YMCA.
The Prince Royal’s College, Sanpatong Wittayakom School and Sacred Heart College of Chiang Mai had set up exhibition stalls at the training venue, demonstrating environmental activities of their respective schools. The YMCAs of Korea, Philippines and Chiang Mai also shared their environmental good practices during the training course.
During the training the participants also committed to enroll themselves in the eLearning Course on Climate Change developed by APAY. Colin Lambie, Dr. Wasan Jompakdee, Beng Seng Chan, Patcharin Aviphan and Duncan Chowdhury facilitated the training course.
On the final day, the participants prepared action plans, describing what environmental practices they will adopt in their personal life, their communities and in their respective YMCAs after this training.
Bread for the World, Germany supported the training program financially and it was organized by Sao Hin YMCA together with Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs.
DUNCAN CHOWDHURY
Executive Secretary
International Green Ambassadors Training, May 21-27, Chiangmai, Thailand
Last Updated (Tuesday, 21 March 2017 15:06)
The National General Secretaries and related persons
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs.
Sub: 4th International Green Ambassadors Training
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings from APAY, Hong Kong.
I am pleased to inform you that the 4th APAY Green Ambassadors Training will be held during 21 – 27 May 2017 at Chiang Mai, Thailand jointly organized by Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and the Sao Hin YMCA, Chiangmai, Thailand. We enclose herewith detailed program information of the training, the program schedule and the registration form. We encourage only the youths (volunteers and professionals) of the local YMCAs to participate in this training. We expect that the participants after the successful completion of this training shall actively get involved in environmental activities in their respective YMCAs through forming green teams. Green Ambassadors who have been trained earlier and demonstrated commendable performance in their YMCAs are also encouraged to apply in this training.
If you have any further information or have any queries, please feel free to contact Duncan Chowdhury,
our Executive Secretary email :
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thanking you in anticipation,
Yours sincerely,
Nam Boo Won
General Secretary
APAY
Read more: International Green Ambassadors Training, May 21-27, Chiangmai, Thailand
YMCA Youth Initiatives to combat Climate Change
Last Updated (Monday, 23 May 2016 17:55)
After a long and challenging negotiation process at the UNFCCC, the COP21 ended positively with the Paris Agreement. Hundreds of cities, regions, companies and organisations have proven their strong commitment to phase out fossil energies by mid-century. With the long term mitigation goal, a mechanism to dynamically scale up each country’s action over time, a set of common transparency rules and a support package for the vulnerable, all necessary instruments are on board to move forward. COP 21 has been a milestone in the human story to tackle climate change and gives us hope for a climate friendly, resilient and more equitable future.
Paris agreement was an ambitious one. In general, we can consider it a success but… this is for us the beginning of a long journey and we will not give up until we reach nothing less than ambitious and measurable targets.
Civil society and the YMCA have been strong, important and visible during Paris. We have pressured world leaders into being more ambitious, and we have made our voices heard. YMCA should keep up the good work on an international scale as well as making strong national movements as well. Local YMCAs must now work with our ecumenical partners and civil society to ensure the compliance and commitment of our Governments to the Paris Agreement.
Concerned people, civic groups, governments and international bodies are relentlessly working to reduce carbon emissions through concerted efforts. APAY has been engaged in various environmental programs for quite a long time. Most of these efforts are focused on individual change of behavioral patterns and local action programs. Our Green Ambassadors Training program is one noteworthy program. These action programs encourage the youth in our YMCAs to be more eco-sensitive and become conscious and instrumental in preserving the nature.
In 2015 the APAY worked with Bread for the World and Heidehof Foundation to develop an e-learning on Climate Change. Over 40 Youth Representatives and Change Agents have been enrolled in this e-learning for the last 6 months and were mentored by a committed group of 10 mentors.
The Conference on Climate Change will be the final and concluding activity of our e-learning on Climate Change. It will be held in Chiangmai from 20 to 24 June 2016. Priority for participation is given to those who have completed the e-learning on Climate Change and implemented an action plan to indicate comprehension of knowledge learned. Discussions at the Conference will provide additional information on issues related to combating climate change that are not covered by the e-learning. Participants will also have opportunity to share and report on their e-learning action plans and other youth initiatives to combat climate change.
Read more...
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