Media Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Young Asian Environmental Leaders Leave Green Footprints In Singapore

Singapore, 11 February 2012 - The Japan Environmental Education Forums (JEEF) Young Environmental Leadership Program (YELP) in Asia held its second meeting at Fort Canning Park today. Seven young delegates, aged 17 to 27 years old, from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan shared their experiences in solving environmental issues in Asia. Graced by more than a hundred environmentalists from non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations, environment ministries, academics and various education institutions, the forum and networking session saw distinguished guests such as Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Allan Lim, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Biofuels and Jessica Cheam, Founder and Editor of Eco-business.com. In August last year, the first YELP meeting was attended by a total of fourteen delegates two delegates from each country presenting their project proposals that were aimed to solve some of the environmental issues faced by their home country. The best project from each country was awarded a sum of 100,000 YEN and given a period of six months to execute their project. The young delegates have now returned to Singapore to share the outcome of their project and learn from one other. According to the Asian Development Banks 2009 report on climate change in Southeast Asia, the region is one of the most vulnerable to climate change

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 because of the high economic activity in its coastal areas, and the heavy economic dependence on natural resources. 1 Co-operation among Asian countries is important if we want to address these issues. JEEF has always been involved in promoting environmental cooperation in Asia, but previous programs tended to be short-term in nature and it was difficult for participants to build a deep relationship. With YELP, we hope to lay the foundation for a long-term working partnership for these young environmentalists, said Kazue Tsukahara, JEEFs Director of Strategic Planning Division. Besides the project presentations, a dialogue session was also held between the three distinguished guests each representing the public sector, private sector and people and three delegates. The panel discussed important environmental issues faced by the world today, such as environmental awareness in Singapore, waste management and the potential of alternative energy. The YELP forum is a great opportunity for young Asian environmentalists to take the first step towards effecting change in the environment. It allows them to network, exchange knowledge and build a solid support network for future projects, said Mark Cheng, Executive Director of Avelife. We hope that this program starts Asia off on the right foot for greater crossborder, environmental co-operation and that it continues to nurture more young environmentalists that are dedicated to making a difference in the region, said Jeff Tung, Managing Director of ThatGreenMan. ####

The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review, Asian Development Bank, 2009
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About Young Environmental Leadership Program (YELP)

The Young Environmental Leadership Program (YELP) in Asia is a green initiative by Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF), Japans Ministry of Environment and Avelife Foundation, supported by ThatGreenMan LLP. It aims to foster young leaders in addressing environmental issues and assist them in establishing co-operative relations across boundaries by creating a strong environmental network in Asia. More information on YELP can be found at www.jeef.or.jp/yelp

About Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF)

JEEF is a non-governmental organization (NGO) specializing in

environmental education. It provides a variety of environmental education opportunities ranging from nature programs for kids to employee trainings, by collaborating with governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, educators and researchers. In 2010, it organized the first Young Environmental Leadership Program in Asia with the aim of fostering young environmental leaders and establishing a firm network for them in these countries. More information on JEEF can be found at www.jeef.or.jp

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About Avelife
Avelife, a fully volunteer-run NGO, is a registered environment non-profit and charity that aspires to be an educational platform for effective green innovation for active learners and corporate leaders. Since its inception in November 2009, it has grown to include an advisory board, a board of directors, 22 volunteer management team members and close to 3,000 volunteers. Avelife sees itself as a resource provider that has established a strong communication network with both public and private organizations. Its projects are centered on bringing the community and corporations together to work on environmental projects. The NGO has successfully completed 47 community projects to date. More information on Avelife can be found at www.avelife.org

About ThatGreenMan
ThatGreenMan was envisioned by a group of four students from Singapore Management University. Brought together by a passion to bring about a positive change in preserving our environments, the group is committed to developing ThatGreenMan as a leading profit-making environmental social enterprise in Singapore. The company aims to spread awareness of green consumerism in Singapore through its easily identifiable Green Man and social media platforms. More information on ThatGreenMan can be found at www.thatgreenman.com

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