The mission of UNEP is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

The project entitled "A Look at the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO) for Latin America and the Caribbean" was completed after one-a-half-year's work involving youths from the Caribbean and Latin America under the theme "Open your eyes to the environment."

A comprehensive report of the findings of the project has been compiled and copies were presented to several officials on June 5 - World Environment Day - during an exhibition hosted by the local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The scheme involved more than 800 youths between the ages of 15 and 25 from across the region.

"As the youth of Latin America and the Caribbean we feel it is our responsibility to do a job that lives up to the expectations of those who have made valuable contributions. The report is an expression of our hopes, our dreams and our concerns", the editors of the report stated.

"But the document is not only the result of this process; we have also been able to reaffirm our fraternity, create solid friendships and establish a network to put a stop to the deterioration of the environment", they said.

They added: "This report is written by young people and for young people; we hope it will prove to be very useful as a reference and an inspiration to engage in concrete activities to preserve not only biological diversity but also the variety and cultural wealth of all our people. It is dedicated to those at all levels and in all our countries, who wish to contribute to improving our surroundings, from ordinary people to decision-makers."

Executive Director of UNEP, Dr. Klaus Topper commenting on the project, said: "...young people have shown once more that they will not remain impassive while witnessing the deterioration of the environment. In the chapter `Youth in Action' in particular, we point out that they have taken on the challenge of protecting and improving the environment.

"Many of the stories presented are an inspiration not only for other youths all over the world, but also for those who are in a position to promote better policies and programmes, in which the environment is an essential part of a nation's development."

The report identifies three major problems in relation to the environment in the region.

The first is that 75 per cent of the population live in urban zones where air pollution threatens human health and where there is a general lack of water.

The second is the destruction of forest resources, particularly in the Amazon River basin and its subsequent threat to biodiversity.

And the third is the impact of global climate change which can be seen in forest fires, disasters caused by floods and the rise in sea levels.

There is also a profound declaration in the report by the youths of the region to fulfill the responsibility of ensuring that the future generations inherit an environment that leads to a sustainable path of development.

"We are concerned. We are angry. We are hopeful. We are optimistic. Why did we prepare this report? Why did we invest so much time in this work?

"So that we can swim in Kingston Bay, just as our parents and grandparents did. So that forests can grow. So we do not have to breathe polluted air. To open up a sustainable path for those who come after us.

"The reality is that we are inheriting a world that we feel is unravelling in our hands and we do not want to stand by and do nothing. Our surroundings, our environment, our only means of life, are in danger.

"Nevertheless, there are many people who still do not believe our environmental problems can have fatal consequences. They think that won't happen now; we won't live to see it; or that's still a long way off. Quite the reverse is true and that is our reason for writing this report," the youths declared.

They added: "We are the next link in the chain of responsibilities that passes from generation to generation and we want to set forth our view about the region's main environmental problems.