Emirati is elected to UN agency

Dubai: Jamal Al Falasi recently became the first UAE national to be elected by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to its Youth Advisory Council.

Al Falasi, 20, an Environment Awareness Officer at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, was elected to the council with the highest number of votes for the West Asia region at the Tunza International Youth Conference held in Germany from August 19-26.

Tunza is UNEP's global youth forum that brings together young environmentalists from around the world to share their experiences on the environment. The youth conference is held bi-annually where 12 members are elected from six UNEP regions. Al Falasi is one of the two representatives chosen for the West Asia region.

"Being elected as the UNEP youth representative of West Asia is both flattering and honourable," said Al Falasi, an environmental health student at the University of Sharjah.

In his new role, he will advise the UNEP on ways to better engage the youth of today in environmental issues, represent his peers at international environmental forums and increase youth involvement in UNEP's work.

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