28.10.2021

Youth Climate Action Day 2021

Almost one hundred young people from seven Asian UEM member churches as well as Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu youth actively participated in the Climate Action Day on 23 October 2021 in Pematangsiantar, Indonesia. The UEM Regional Office Asia had invited them.

Rumanja Purba, pastor of the Simalungun Church and member of the UEM Council, opened the Youth Climate Action Day with a prayer and a speech. Afterwards, the youth planted 1,000 trees around the building of the UEM Asia Regional Office. In the streets, handouts and badges were distributed to passers-by to raise awareness of the global climate problems among the population. The young people collected rubbish lying around. On social media, they shared their ideas on how to get involved for a better climate and a healthy environment.

In an online workshop, young people from all over the world were then able to discuss and exchange ideas about global climate justice with the UEM team from Asia and Africa.

In 2011, the Westphalian Church and the UEM launched the Youth Climate Action Day. Originally it was limited to Germany. One year later, young people all over the world became active for the climate. Today, this day is a worldwide movement of young people who campaign for climate and environmental protection: They plant trees, sell second-hand goods, upcycle things that others throw away, give radio interviews or make music.

Action ideas and suggestions for the Youth Climate Action Day can be found here: www.climateactionday.de