AIIJ meeting with AFENES Association

On 8 May 2024, the International Youth Initiative Association, led by its director Ana Belén Domínguez, organised a meeting in collaboration with the AFENES Association. Representing AFENES were David García, technical coordinator and Paula Arribas, psychologist, who joined the event to address key issues related to climate change and sustainability in Europe. During the meeting, the urgency of establishing more unified action among countries to tackle climate change at a local level was emphasised. It was stressed that international collaboration remains crucial for long-term sustainable results, in addition to the individual’s own initiative for these short-term goals. Also, the need to enhance environmental education as a key tool to transform consumption habits and promote greater individual and collective responsibility was underlined. An important point mentioned was the urgency of preparing young leaders with the capacity to question and critically analyse, and to foster environmental awareness in their own communities.

As a general conclusion, it was underlined that to face current environmental challenges and move towards a sustainable future, a joint effort is indispensable. Education and the active involvement of all social sectors, since it is only through the commitment of the whole society that effective and lasting solutions for the protection of the environment can be achieved.