Students Get Insight on Climate Change

In a bid to deepen understanding and awareness of climate change, the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sepilok recently hosted the Youth Camp on Climate Change 2025. This enriching three-day event, which took place from April 30 to May 2, gathered forty eager students from the region.

The Youth and Sports Ministry funded the camp, with organizational support from the Sabah Forestry Department. Participating youth, ranging from ages 17 to 25, hailed from several academic institutions including Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Politeknik Sandakan, Kolej Komuniti Sandakan, Kolej Vokasional Sandakan II, and Kolej Komuniti Lahad Datu.

Students were organized into smaller working groups, each tasked with investigating a specific climate-related topic. Their research and findings culminated in presentations delivered during the camp’s concluding session.

Commending the initiative, the Youth and Sports Minister, represented at the event by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, highlighted the importance of nurturing the younger generation’s engagement with environmental issues. The Minister expressed confidence in such programmes and their potential to inspire concrete actions addressing climate challenges. “The fact that Malaysian youth, particularly in Sabah, are keen to learn and actively engage in tackling climate issues is indeed promising,” he noted.

Workshops, a significant component of the camp, were conducted in partnership with the Sabah Environmental Education Network (Seen), along with key environmental organizations like the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). These sessions provided participants with hands-on learning experiences and practical insights into environmental conservation.

Datuk Frederick Kugan, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Sabah Forestry Department, emphasized the hope that this camp would spark further youth-driven climate initiatives across the region. He remarked how remarkable it was to see participants, many from non-scientific backgrounds, showing a fervent interest in grasping climate issues. “The involvement of young people is crucial as they are custodians of the future. They must be empowered to understand and partake in addressing these global challenges,” he stated, with Dr. Arthur Chung, Head of Forest Research Centre, representing him.

The camp also included an educational visit to a landfill under the management of the Sandakan Municipal Council. This experience allowed students to explore the intersection between waste management and environmental sustainability, shedding light on how everyday actions can impact climate change.

With enthusiasm buzzing from the attendees and facilitators alike, the Youth Camp on Climate Change 2025 succeeded in offering foundational knowledge and fostering a collaborative spirit to tackle environmental issues, leaving participants more informed and motivated than ever before.