On August 23, 2022, Envision and  Greener is Cleaner hosted the Global Youth Conference (GYC) 2022 on the theme ‘Environment and Human Health’. With around 107 registrations from 24 diverse countries, the conference was devoted to learning, sharing, and inspiring others. At the beginning of the conference, the executives of the organizations provided opening speeches with introductions to their organizations. Prof. Emilia Kyung Jin, a senior research scientist at the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) and Dr. Ash Pachauri were invited as guest speakers to discuss the reality of climate change and the role of young people. Dr. Ash Pachauri, Senior Mentor, The POP (Protect Our Planet) Movement with his insightful presentation discussed strategies to protect human and planetary health. The conference was then followed by presentations by young participants. Volunteers from Seoul International School (SIS), Saint Paul Preparatory Seoul (SPPS), and Chadwick International (CI) presented their perspectives about the urgent need for attention to climate change. Presentations focused on: 1) perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination; 2) the Ukraine war’s impact on environment and human health; and 3) impacts of climate change on food security. After the presentations, participants were divided into groups for case study discussions. Topics discussed were: 1) the problem of overflowing dumpsites and landfills in the Philippines and Korea; 2) eco-anxiety; 3) Yamuna river pollution in Delhi and its health risks; and 4) arsenic contamination in community groundwaters in Bangladesh. The session focused on debates in the breakout rooms followed by a brief discussion in the main room by representatives from each group. A group quiz bowl was organized on the topics discussed  during the last session of the conference which gave a fresh review of young thinking.

ENVISION and Greener is Cleaner are now planning to collaborate on future activities as the GYC 2022.