Rethinking economy to heal our planet: a UNESCO Campus empowering youth for a sustainable future

Hosted by Gaona Dintwe, students from Budhi Warman II Senior High School in Jakarta, Indonesia; Kerala Public School Kadmain Jamshedpur, India; BelbeisGovernmental Language School in Sharkia, Egypt; and Hellenic College of Thessaloniki in Greece had the opportunity to explore the complex challenges of the economy during this UNESCO Online Campus, gaining valuable insights on how to take action and address contemporary global issues.

Charles Karangwa, Global Head of Nature-based Solutions Centre at IUCN, opened the discussion by explaining the fundamental principles of regenerative economics. Unlike traditional economic models, which prioritize short-term growth, regenerative economics focuses on three pillars: reuse, recycling, and sustainable regeneration of resources. According to the expert, over 1 billion tons of food waste are produced worldwide each year. The approach of regenerative economics is thus more than necessary to address current global crises such as poverty, biodiversity loss, and climate change, Charles explains.

The students showed a strong interest in concrete solutions for contributing to the regenerative economy on a daily basis. The expert encouraged everyone to adopt simple actions, such as recycling or avoiding food waste. He also spoke about upcycling, suggesting that people turn their objects into works of art and try to add value to them. His final piece of advice: change our behavior and become aware of our consumption habits to bring about a real collective transformation

Following Charles Karangwa's insights into the regenerative economy, Damien Pommerettook the floor to discuss the crucial role of the textile industry in this sustainable and environmentally friendly economic model.

Regional Manager Western Europe at Woolmark, Damien focused on the impact of the textile industry on the regenerative economy. Nowadays, synthetic materials such as polyester are omnipresent in fashion, even though they are harmful to our environment and to ourselves. The introduction of natural fibers, such as wool, is emerging as a sustainable and recyclable alternative, helping to preserve biodiversity and reduce our ecological footprint. "A regenerative economy encourages us to rethink the way we protect and restore biodiversity", he explains.

The students asked themselves: How can we identify truly sustainable products? The expert stressed the importance of checking the composition of clothing and encouraging brands to be transparent about the materials used. The students also discussed the key role of businesses and consumers in this transition. The young people were encouraged to favourquality over quantity, even at lower cost, and to demand that brands adopt more sustainable practices to tackle fast fashion.

After looking at how consumer choices in the textile industry can support the regenerative economy, Anna Abraham, Communications Consultant at the United Nations Environment Programme, addressed participants to explain how, at an individual level, each player can contribute to this change. While governments and industries play an essential role in changing the system, each individualcan have a significant impact by modifying his or her consumption habits. The expert encouraged young people to be agents of change in their communities by opting for more responsible choices to actively combat over-consumption and waste, which are massively damaging the environment.

The students asked many interesting questions about how they could influence their peers and their community. Anna stressed the importance of understanding the wider impact of individual choices. She explained that social networks influence young people's purchasing behaviourand that they can use these platforms to promote sustainable practices. In addition, she emphasized that the fight against over-consumption must start with 1) changing mindsets and 2) advocating policy changes at a local level.

Finally, the event ended with a Kahoot quiz, giving students the opportunity to share their ideas, perspectives and personal commitments to the regenerative economy. This online Campus allowed students to fully realize their role in the transition to a regenerative economy, encouraging them to adopt a responsible stance for change and a sustainable future.

In line with UNESCO's commitment to promoting sustainable developmentand using it as leverage to protect nature and improve people's lives, this event highlighted the importance of collective action in building a better, more sustainable world.

This event was organized with the support of TECH4ALL by Huaweiand the collaboration of 6C Conseil.