United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on 16th March 2023, announced the second cohort of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
This is a group of seven young climate leaders who will primarily provide advice and practical recommendations towards accelerating implementation of the Secretary-General’s climate action strategy.
Saint Lucian national Jevanic Henry is one of seven young leaders appointed by the Secretary-General to this group for a two-year period and is the first from the Caribbean region to serve on this board, with a view to ensure the youth perspectives remains at the heart of climate action at all levels.
Jevanic is no stranger to the climate change arena having previously worked on various climate and development initiatives particularly around climate finance at the Commonwealth and United Nations level.
He has also been instrumental and continues to support local youth organisations in identifying and accessing funding sources for community-based climate projects.
Speaking on his appointment, Jevanic highlights that “Our survival particularly as small island developing states, now depends on a global community which is unified in urgently advancing the climate agenda with the power of young people being a crucial catalyst to drive this much needed accelerated action.”
He credits the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) for his initial exposure years ago in helping him identify how he can contribute to driving climate solutions.
It is his hope that through this role he can be an avenue through which new doors can be opened for Caribbean youth in climate action, whilst ensuring the voices of those often unheard, yet most impacted, especially from the region can be channelled to influence policy and action at the highest levels that will allow us to continue building climate resilient economies.
Jevanic is also Saint Lucia’s first Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Fellow currently assigned to the Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the United Nations in New York.
The AOSIS Fellowship is a programme currently funded by the Government of Italy, providing young diplomats from small island developing states with practically training in international negotiations around climate, oceans and sustainable development issues, geared towards boosting their national capacity.
SOURCE: Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the United Nations.
Very handsome guy. Congratulations and well done!
Big up, well done sir. Make us proud