Blog by Shaleen Wanjiru, SI Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi.
The Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 7) recently concluded in Nairobi. Among the 11 resolutions adopted, the resolution to enhance the meaningful participation of children and youth in environmental governance resonates particularly well with the mission and advocacy priorities of Soroptimist International (SI).
Why This Resolution Matters
Environmental challenges do not exist in isolation. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution intersect with gender inequality, access to education, health outcomes and economic opportunity – areas at the very heart of SI’s work. By explicitly calling for the meaningful participation of children and youth in environmental decision‑making, UNEA 7 reinforces that sustainable solutions are stronger, fairer and more effective when those most affected (especially girls and young women) are included at the table.
For SI’s this resolution provides a global policy anchor for ongoing and future advocacy. It elevates youth participation from a voluntary ideal to a recognised component of effective environmental governance.
Aligning with Soroptimist International’s Mission
SI works to transform the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment, and advocacy. This resolution aligns with that mission in several keyways:
- Leadership and Voice: It supports the inclusion of young people particularly girls and young women in shaping environmental policies that affect their present and future.
- Intergenerational Equity: It reinforces the importance of intergenerational dialogue, ensuring that today’s decisions do not undermine tomorrow’s opportunities.
- Rights‑Based Environmental Action: By emphasising participation, the resolution echoes SI’s commitment to rights‑based approaches that place people, dignity and equity at the center of sustainability efforts.
Beyond Participation: From Policy to Practice
The adoption of this resolution is the beginning of a new phase of accountability and implementation. As highlighted during UNEA 7, ambition must now be matched with financed, inclusive and coordinated action. For civil society organisations like SI, this opens space to:
- Advocate for gender‑responsive implementation of environmental policies at national and local levels.
- Support capacity‑building and leadership opportunities for girls and young women engaging in environmental governance.
- Strengthen partnerships that bridge environmental action with education, health, and economic empowerment.
The Spirit of Nairobi Lives On
UNEA 7 concluded on Jamhuri Day Kenya’s Independence Day imbuing the outcomes with a powerful sense of history and collective responsibility. The resolution on youth participation reflects The Spirit of Nairobi: a commitment to inclusive multilateralism and the belief that global challenges require all voices, across generations, to be heard.
For SI, this moment affirms that environmental sustainability and gender equality are inseparable. As the world moves from negotiation to implementation, the task ahead must be to ensure that girls and young women are not only beneficiaries of environmental action, but leaders and decision‑makers shaping a resilient, just and sustainable future for all.
