World Water Week 2025 Youth Statement of the EAAFP Youth Task Force

The East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership Youth Task Force, a network of young leaders and advocates across the flyway region, calls for proactive, inclusive, participatory, and urgent actions and initiatives for the protection of our migratory waterbirds and their habitats.

Migratory waterbirds depend largely on healthy water ecosystems including lakes, rivers, tidal marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and the open oceans. The theme for this year’s World Water Week is “Water and Climate Action” emphasizing the interconnectedness of waters as a source of livelihood for humans and critical habitats and food sources for our migratory waterbirds. However, anthropogenic pressures and climate change impacts pose ongoing threats to our water resources, underscoring the urgent need for proactive and inclusive actions to protect and preserve these vital ecosystems.

Our Call to Action:

• Implement policies that safeguard our water resources. Existing laws, policies, and agreements that protect our water resources should be enforced. Individuals responsible for polluting our waters should be helfd accountable for the damages caused.
• Implement measures to mitigate climate change. During the 2016 Paris Agremeement, nations committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and last year, we reached an average concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) OF 422.8 ppm. With this, we advocate for the promotion of renewable energy sources to climate climate change and promoting climate resilience and protecting our biodiversity.
• Integrate youth participation in the conservation of waters. Youth members globally are committed to safeguarding our vulnerable wayers, and their involvement is crucial for achieving sustainability and ensuring intergenerational equity, especially at this time of climate crisis.

The EAAFP Youth Task Force is resolute in its commitment to protecting our remaining water resources for the migratory waterbirds within the flyway region. We sincerely hope that all stakeholders, particularly governments, are steadfast in their actions to promote the preservation of these resources for the next generations to come.