Opening Remarks The meeting commenced with a warm welcome by Ms Livleen Kahlon, Associate Director, Environment Education & Awareness, TERI on behalf of Dr Annapurna Vancheswaran , Senior Director, Communications Outreach and Advocacy Unit, TERI. Ms Kahlon also conveyed apologies from Dr Vancheswaran, who has just had a grandchild hence, could not attend the meeting. During her address, Ms Kahlon stressed on the need to enhance synergies and efficiencies of implementation through networks such as this. She also mentioned that this is indeed a great learning experience to see in place partnerships, platforms to put in place the SDGs and other possible areas for collaboration such as forestry, climate action, etc. and focus on local action. Case studies on success and not success to learn from to make local action possible will be the focus of our discussions. She added, the RCE network is a Family of friends and hence we should use this opportunity to learn from each other. She also extended an invitation to all the delegates to view the exhibition of Aravalis ou tsid e, w h ich w ou ld enh ance th eir kn ow led ge on In d ia‟s local heritage. During his opening address, Mr. Naoya Tsukamoto, Project Director, UNU-IAS, on behalf of UNU congratulated the Asia Pacific community for assembling for the 10th time and the 2nd time in Delhi for the 10th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting. He further added that TERI is the lead agency for RCE Delhi and thanked the organizers for their hard work in organizing the meeting as well as the symposium. He also thanked Mr Yasushi Nagami and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan for supporting the RCE movement. UNESCO support was also acknowledged by him. Mr Tsukamoto further added Asia Pacific is a dynamic region characterized by great diversity, including cultural diversity. Currently the region has 58 RCEs, forming dynamic ESD network and it is great to see so many coming together to discuss and deliberate their work. RCE movement is a UNU response to the need for SDG actions in communities. It is valuable to discuss GAP and SDGs. He stressed the importance of empowering and mobilizing youth and communities at local level. He ended his speech by emphasizing the role of RCEs, who can contribute to localization and implementation of ESD at local level and p rovide solutions for important issues affecting local communities. Mr. Yasushi Nagami, Director, Office of En vironm ental Ed u cation , Ministry‟s Secretariat, Ministry of the Environment, Japan extended a warm welcome an gratitude to all the delegates on behalf of Japan Ministry of the Environment. Mr Nagami in his address abreast everyone that RCE is on e of th eir Ministry‟s flagship programs conducted by UNU-IAS. As the supporter and only donor from the beginning of RCE program he thanked all the RCEs that have contributed to the network making it such a valuable program. Since beginning with 7 in 2005 now there are 158 RCEs internationally. The 3
10th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting Report
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