6 September 2022 – Leading up to the International Youth Day 2022, WHO led an intergenerational youth dialogue in August on nutrition, food security, climate change and health, together with other United Nations agencies, including Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations, World Food Programme, UNAIDS and UNICEF.

Lining up with the theme of the Day of the year “Intergenerational Solidarity”, the event facilitated dialogue and inspired action on some of the most pressing issues that the young generations will be forced to live with, namely climate change and its impact on food security, nutrition and health.

The dialogue comes at a time when Egypt is scaling up its work on health and climate action in the run up to COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference, that will be hosted in Sharm El Sheikh next November.

The event brought together youth volunteers from different governorates, representatives of student organizations, nongovernental organizations, experts and religious leaders.

“Climate change will affect food quantity, quality, and safety. Climate change will cause a reduction in food production and this disruption will have a negative impact on access to healthy diets,” said WHO Regional Adviser, Dr Ayoub Jwaldeh, during the event.

WHO Climate Change Youth Associate presented the recommendations to His Excellency Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy who applauded the work of youth at a celebratory event that was coorganized by the UN in Egypt and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

During the event, WHO Representative in Egypt Dr Naeema Al Gasseer reiterated the essential role of youth in working towards our joint goal of building back greener, healthier, and fairer post COVID-19. She also addressed some of the biggest threats to health and the environment, including tobacco consumption among youth.