World Scouting and UN Environment Programme renew commitment to climate action and education
World Scouting and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have marked 20 years of collaboration by renewing their long-standing partnership to engage young people in climate action and education in response to the climate emergency facing the planet.
Through the collaboration, both organisations will work together to support young people to develop the skills and competencies to become environmental leaders taking action to promote sustainability and drive meaningful progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
A key priority for the partnership will be to mobilise young people and National Scout Organizations in environmental education and climate action through the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge to tackle the urgent issue of plastic pollution. This initiative aims to encourage young people to tackle plastic pollution by raising awareness, fostering community engagement, and advocating for policy changes. The Tide Turners Plastic Challenge was developed as part of UNEP's #BeatPlasticPollution campaign with support and funding from the United Kingdom Government’s Department of Environment Food and Global Environment Facility.
Nearly 90 per cent of the 174 National Scout Organizations around the world currently offer an educational programme focused on the environment to mobilise millions of young people to take action in local communities for climate-related issues. As part of this educational offering, a total of 51 National Scout Organizations have implemented the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, with other countries promoting it in conjunction with World Scouting’s Earth Tribe educational initiative.
“We are encouraging our Scouts to take part in environmental conservation and one way to do this is through the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge,” said Isaac Makinya, Youth Programme Assistant at the Kenya Scouts Association.“ We have started by building the capacity of Scout Leaders, so they are able to engage young people at the grassroots.”
A 2022 baseline survey conducted by World Scouting through its National Scout Organizations showed that the highest level of community impact by Scouts in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals was seen through environmental and sustainability projects, accounting for 39% of actions. Further, an analysis of nearly 300,000 actions reported by Scouts through the Scouts for SDG hub indicated that nearly half of these actions focused on six specific SDGs, including action on climate and sustainability.
Tide Turner Scouts cleaning up the river near City Park, Parklands, Nairobi to raise awareness on plastic pollution
The partnership will also support local projects led by Scouts that address plastic pollution and environmental stewardship, and provide recognition elements, digital badges, and awards for Scouts who have successfully completed the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge to celebrate their achievements as environmental leaders.
Past projects include awareness raising on climate action in Venezuela where Scouts came together to build a sustainable wall, a green leadership drive in the Philippines, and local community action in Brazil where Scouts turned trash to treasure.
In Cameroon, Scouts were granted permission from the mayor of Bafoussam to collect plastic waste from events, and areas like marketplaces and funeral grounds.
“The mayor also provided tricycles for us to transport waste to recycling centres,” said Nankam Charlie, West Region Scouts Commissioner, Cameroon. “Local authorities also supported the challenge by placing bins at designated points in and around the city for the public to dispose of plastic waste. At the end of every week, Scouts would gather the plastic for reusing or recycling.”
In addition to educational activities, the partnership will foster collaboration at various World and Regional Scouting events, including Jamborees, JOTA-JOTI, and the World Scout Education Congress. These platforms will serve as opportunities to amplify environmental education, while inspiring action and mobilising young people to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The partnership between World Scouting and UNEP marks a transformative milestone of 20 years of collaboration which first began in 2004, and has accelerated over the years through joint activities and events. The partnership forms part of World Scouting’s flagship environmental education initiative, Earth Tribe, developed also in partnership with WWF and Solafrica.
To learn more about the Challenge, visit the UNEP Tide Turners web page and to take action as part of the Scouts for SDGs initiative visit the Scouts for SDGs Earth Tribe web page.