The Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2026, held in Kuching, has established a new framework for youth-led climate advocacy through the inaugural Planet Futures Forum. By endorsing the Preliminary RAYS Youth Declaration 2026, delegates from across ASEAN and beyond have formalized a collaborative approach to sustainability that integrates indigenous wisdom with Western scientific practices.
The Shift Toward Integrated Climate Governance
The Planet Futures Forum moves beyond traditional summit structures by functioning as an ongoing platform for policy influence. This dual-lens approach is designed to ensure that climate recommendations are not only evidence-informed but also culturally grounded in the realities of local communities.
The “Two-Eyed Seeing” concept encourages the use of both indigenous perspectives and Western science to create more holistic, resilient solutions for planetary health.
Priority Areas of the RAYS 2026 Declaration
Delegates identified nine priority recommendations across three thematic pillars: Ways of Knowing, Living with the Earth, and Power & Responsibility. These pillars serve as the foundation for the Preliminary RAYS Youth Declaration 2026. Supported by the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, these recommendations aim to provide a roadmap for regional climate action that transcends borders.
YB Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Sarawak, stated that this declaration is merely the beginning of a broader movement. He emphasized that the document will remain a living, evolving instrument subject to ongoing consultation and regional surveys to ensure it reflects the diverse voices of youth across the ASEAN region.
Scaling Youth Influence Through Digital Consultation
To prevent the stagnation of climate policy recommendations, organizers are launching a region-wide survey to solicit feedback from youth outside the immediate RAYS network. This process is intended to culminate in a Final RAYS Youth Declaration. By crowdsourcing input, the organizers aim to move away from isolated summit outcomes toward a model of continuous, collective ownership.
Future Trends in Youth Climate Leadership
The RAYS 2026 model suggests a shift in how international summits are structured.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main outcome of RAYS 2026?
The summit resulted in the endorsement of the Preliminary RAYS Youth Declaration 2026, which outlines nine priority recommendations for climate, sustainability, and governance.
Who supported the development of these recommendations?
The Sunway Centre for Planetary Health served as the Knowledge Partner, ensuring that the recommendations were evidence-informed and grounded in community realities.
How will the RAYS Youth Declaration evolve?
The declaration will undergo a region-wide survey to gather feedback from young people beyond the original summit delegates, eventually leading to a Final RAYS Youth Declaration.
What is the “Two-Eyed Seeing” principle?
It is a framework used at the forum to blend indigenous wisdom with Western scientific knowledge, ensuring that sustainability solutions are diverse and inclusive of different ways of knowing.
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