The 2022 Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) Summit Brunei kicked off on Thursday attended by 100 participants from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste.
The event, organised by The Embassy of the United States of America (US) in Brunei Darussalam in partnership with Big BWN Project and Malaysia-based Biji-biji Initiative, aims to provide experiential and immersive learning experiences for participants around the theme ‘Empowering Technology for a Greener Future.’
The month-long summit, which will be held in a hybrid format throughout June, started with a virtual opening ceremony featuring remarks from US Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Caryn McClelland and US State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs Jennifer JR Littlejohn.
The President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid also delivered pre-recorded remarks during the virtual session, followed by live remarks from the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) Ambassador to Asia-Pacific and South Asia Ken O’Flaherty.
With a special focus on technological solutions and 21st Century methods of climate mitigation and adaptation, the summit activities in June include a series of online panel discussions with climate experts, a leadership development series, a tech showcase featuring organisations that are actively mitigating climate change through technological solutions, and in-person eco-challenges and carbon-neutral volunteer activities.
“Climate change is the greatest long-term threat we face,” said Ambassador McClelland in her welcoming remarks. “The race to find solutions to that threat will demand innovation, collaboration and the energy of youth. At the same time, this effort to save our planet will also create new technologies and new careers. Those opportunities are precisely what this YSEALI Summit is all about.”
“We hope that all YSEALI members take advantage of the network they’ve fostered through this programme, especially the ones in this region. YSEALI is about harnessing the power and talent of the region to foster change, and those relationships are what make the difference.
Hence we are also very excited to continue on this journey of green recovery in the region,” said Group CEO of Biji-biji Initiative Rashvin Pal Singh.
