YUNGA Energy Lab

On 23 February 2022, the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) in collaboration with the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) organized the Energy Lab as part of the Education Track of the World Food Forum (WFF), to provide youth with knowledge and actionable solutions to drive agrifood systems transformation and inspire the creation of a better food future for all.

The Energy Lab was held virtually with two youth groups aged 10-13 years - a school class from the United Arab Emirates and a girls guides group from Pakistan. The Lab introduced basic facts about energy and explored how we can produce and use renewable energy in a better way for people and the planet. Children had a chance to learn about the different types of renewable energy and how their use differs from country to country. The interactive activities during the Lab allowed them to investigate the actions we can take to be more sustainable and tackle climate change through our everyday choices.

The Energy Lab was inspired by the YUNGA Energy Challenge Badge and the accompanying Bioenergy Supplement, which was developed by GBEP in collaboration with FAO. The Lab also benefited from capacity building materials developed by GBEP in 2021 (e.g. infographics), to introduce the ideas of sustainability for specific bioenergy pathways. This allowed students to investigate their own local bioenergy potential and discuss its sustainability.

The recording of the Energy Lab, held in English, is available here, whilst many more Labs will be held soon in different languages and topics, with the objective of harnessing the power of school children to create a more sustainable and resilient world.