Climate Series IV ‘Youth Matters: Voices and Action in Climate change’ on an International Youth day, 2021, is a joint initiative of the National Environmental Commission, Bhutan Foundation, WWF, Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan Ecological Society, and UNDP. The series was divided into two sessions, The Future We Want and Youth for Climate Action. There were a total of ten speakers representing different schools and colleges.
Jigme Namgyel Engineering College (JNEC) was also invited to represent in this event, where one of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) project work carried out by the Surveying Programme from the Department of Surveying & Geoinformatics along with students from Aalto University, Finland, was selected based on its significance to climate change. JNEC has incorporated Problem Based Learning (PBL) in its project and mini-project modules as an outcome of PBL South Asia project funded by EU, and has been continuously working in collaboration with Aalto University for a few years now.
On behalf of JNEC, Ms. Deki Tshomo (recent graduate of 2021) presented their joint project work titled ‘Landslide susceptibility of Dewathang’ at the event. She highlighted the importance of this project and its linkages with climate changes along with issues that can be considered to address these pressing issues. Ms. Tsohmo also shared that the project teams have come out with a ‘Handbook on landslides’ to raise necessary awareness. Ms. Tshomo, on behalf of the project teams, also thanked the college for initiating such project which they found very effective while working on problems the localities are facing, and also while working in consultations with academics and stakeholders for overall insight as well as addressing the issues.
The young voices from different schools and institutions on climate change and their vision of a green future were truly inspiring and motivational. Their voices and actions on climate change were the highlights of International Youth Day this year, and it was indeed a great experience sharing and learning from young minds. A well informed and awakened youth is one of the biggest treasures of any nation.