The Queensland Youth Environment Council (QYEC) is a diverse group of young Queenslanders aged between 12 and 18 years. The council was formed for the purpose of providing advice to the Queensland Government through the Minister for Environment and Minister for Education on key on key environmental and sustainability issues (including climate change, water use, renewable energy, waste and biodiversity conservation).
History and purpose of QYEC
The Queensland Youth Environment Council (QYEC) was created as an outcome of the International Earth Dialogues Forum, held in Brisbane in July 2006. At the conclusion of the Forum, former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie announced that a youth environment council would be established to provide the Queensland Government with a youth perspective on environmental issues.The QYEC was established in May 2007, by the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, and the Minister for Education, Training and the Arts to:Provide a youth perspective to the Queensland Government on key environmental sustainability issues facing Queensland; and Act as youth leaders to enhance awareness and inspire other youths to take action to achieve a more environmentally sustainable future for Queensland.
A youth environmental voice
The Ministers have sought the QYEC’s perspective on the following key environmental sustainability issues:Climate changeWater useRenewable energyWasteBiodiversity conservation The QYEC is currently made up of 22 young individuals, aged between 18 and 25 years. Council members are broadly representative of geographic, cultural, indigenous, age and gender diversity within the Queensland youth population.Involvement in the Council also provides members with a chance to build their knowledge of environmental issues and practice, and to develop other skills such as public speaking and professional communication, as they participate in Council forums and report back on Council deliberations to their respective schools or organisations.Interested young Queenslanders are encouraged to make contact with the QYEC.