This United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) booklet for youth carries the title TUNZA, meaning "to treat with care or affection" in Kiswahili, a subregional language in Eastern Africa with links to many other languages. It is intended to reflect the innovation, creativity, and optimism of young people in taking action to safeguard the future of the environment. The booklet opens with a brief history of United Nations (UN) conferences on environmental change, including biodiversity loss and climate change and then describes the purpose and authorship of the booklet as:


"... intended to increase awareness on environmental issues among young people and to provide them with tips on how to address these issues in their communities. Access to credible and relevant information that can be adapted in different situations and contexts in life is an essential tool for enabling young people to influence their communities. It is hoped that in the long term, this book will contribute to the development of good environmental ethics among young people and enable them to cope with current environmental challenges and those of the future.


This book is written by young people from around the world... [It] is divided into three parts. The first part presents the global picture and what is happening in the world. It also elaborates the role of young people in sustainable development by highlighting actions that young people from across the world have been involved in since the Stockholm Conference in 1972.


The second part addresses how the youth can act to make a positive contribution towards sustainable development and outlines some of the tools they need to enable them to act. The last part presents some of the most serious environmental problems facing the world community.


Each chapter presents an overview of a particular problem, what is being done in general and what the youth can do. Examples of such activities, and examples of real-life environmental events are provided in the boxes. The chapters also provide tips for youth acting as individuals on organisations."

Contents include:

• For a Better World
• The Environmental Journey
• Part I: Preparing for Action
• Part II: Our World Today
• Part III: Taking Up the Challenge
• Annexes: The UN Environment Programme, Important Websites, Glossary

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Tunza project website.