Since 2010, the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), the secretariat of RCE Thiruvananthapuram, has been organising an annual Children’s Agri Science Congress on a specific theme to inspire children to practice agriculture, to see farming as a dignified profession, and to provide them with an understanding of the scientific and social values inherent in agriculture.

Reported by Katherine Olson

On 15 February, 2019, newly acknowledged RCE Sakon Nakhon held an informal RCE meeting at Kasetsart University Chalermprakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus, Thailand, in conjunction with the 10^th International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development (ICERD), with RCEs in Thailand and neighbouring countries joining the meeting.

On 10 February, 2019, UNU-IAS held a Japanese RCE Youth Meeting in Kitakyushu, Japan, with around 40 participants (including 20 youth members) from all seven Japanese RCEs in attendance. The meeting was held back-to-back with an RCE Working-level Meeting (hosted by RCE Kitakyushu) and the Kitakyushu ESD Forum (hosted by RCE Kitakyushu and the City of Kitakyushu).

“Afforestation is a must if we are to improve on the current loss of biodiversity and enhance rainfall.”

This was the submission of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Sani Mashi at the launch of the Regional Centre for Expertise (RCE) Ogun and Climate Change Convention held recently at Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, on 4 February, 2019.

The first Asia-Pacific SDG Challenge held in 2018, 'Youth for the Goals: Climate Action and Life Below Water' aimed to inspire and mobilise on-ground projects led by youth, centred around SDGs 13 and 14.

Collectively it achieved an engagement of nearly 40,000 youth participants across the Asia-Pacific region.