S Asian Youth Environmental Meet begins

The two-day South Asian Youth Environmental Meet (SAYEM) 2011 began at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka yesterday with a call to future leaders of the region to spark discussion about environmental challenges.
Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI), supported by US State Department and the American Centre, US Embassy in Dhaka, organised the meet.
Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira inaugurated the meet as the chief guest.
Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow of International Institute for Environment and Development, M Amanullah, chairman of the Sea Shell Group and Abdullah Hasan, president of Swapnopuri, were present at the inaugural ceremony.
During the conference, the youth leaders will discuss key aspects related to climate change and environment, draft and recommend policy changes that later will be communicated to policy-making level to ensure that youth voices are incorporated and reflected in the national policies relating to environment, climate change, and sustainable development.
Hira said it is well-known that the South Asian region is currently facing the adverse impacts of climate change, which has a massive bearing in terms of economic and social costs.
He hoped that the summit would bring closer integration of ideas amongst the youth in this region and generation of new ideas, which can drive changes in environmental problems.
About 200 young delegates -- 25 from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal and others from Bangladesh -- are taking part in the meet.