MEDIA RELEASE
July 2008 - For immediate release
Young sustainability leaders of India and Australia give statement of hope for the future
A group of Indian and Australian university students have released the Australia India
Sustainability Protocol – a statement detailing their hopes for a more sustainable future for the
world.
The protocol was issued following the first Australia India Universities Youth Forum (AIUYF) on
sustainability, an initiative of IDP Education Australia Ltd, held this month in Australia. AIUYF
participants were nominated by their universities in Australia and India and spent time meeting
with sustainability leaders from government, industry, academia, and community groups in
Sydney, Canberra, outback Australia and Darwin during the two week forum. The students
discussed management and allocation of resources, energy, transport, water, waste, town
planning, and individual sustainability initiatives.
IDP Education Australia Ltd, an organisation owned by 38 Australian universities undertaking
activities to support international education, developed and funded the AIUYF. Chair of the
AIUYF Steering Committee, Professor John Ingleson, says: “The Australia India Universities
Youth Forum aims to develop links and foster understanding and dialogue between Australian
and Indian students. The theme of sustainability was chosen for its importance to youth and for
its relevance across a broad range of academic disciplines”.
Some of the solutions in the Australia India Sustainability Protocol focus on education, media,
governance and individual commitment towards sustainable living.
"Creativity should be fostered and encouraged in order to create innovative solutions. Our motto
should be 'catch them young' and education programs should be accessible to industry,
government, business and local communities and contain local content and local environment
ethic," says Nikki Holdsworth a environmental design student from the University of Tasmania.
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The protocol details the importance of avoiding doom and gloom by encouraging positive
solutions. “Legislation and planning that obligates sustainable development and change is
needed at all levels of government including the very top levels” says Pradnya Bivalkar, a
Masters student from the University of Pune in India who worked on the protocol with
Holdsworth.
The statement points out that a sustainable future requires individual commitments, and each
member of the AIUYF has made a personal pledge to doing their bit to create a sustainable
future and will work in their local communities to create change and spread the message of
sustainability.
Full details of the AIUYF program, including blog postings from the student participants and the
Australia India Universities Youth Forum will be held in India in June/July 2009.
ENDS
Caption – AIUYF student participants at Uluru.
Attachments - Further details about the 2008 AIUYF participants are provided in the AIUYF
Biographies document, and program details are provided in the AIUYF Program document.
Contact for further information - Carlie Blake, IDP Education Australia Ltd Tel + 61 (0) 418
604 138 or email carlie.blake@idp.com
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