The document summarizes the 18th ASEF University, which brought together 42 youth participants from 33 Asia-Europe countries to discuss sustainable consumption. The event included presentations on topics like behavioral economics and social media campaigns for sustainability. Participants engaged in workshops and a street action campaign to promote sustainable consumption creatively. Key learning points addressed taking personal and community responsibility, engaging civil society through inclusive campaigning, and the need for comprehensive education on sustainability to drive behavioral change.

1. Youth Perspectives on
Sustainable Consumption
18th ASEF University
By Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

2. 18th ASEF University (AU18)
42 Participants from 33 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) countries
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

3. 18th ASEF University (AU18)
• “Conscious Consumers for
Environmental Sustainability”
• Academic presentations and
interactive workshops
• Topics included: Behavioural
Economics, impact of social
media campaigns
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

4. 18th ASEF University (AU18)
Street action campaign
• Creative way to promote
sustainable consumption
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

5. Learning Points: Responsibility
The art of taking personal
responsibility
• Individual level
• Community level
• National level
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

6. Learning Points: Civil Society
Engaging civil society
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

7. Learning Points: Inclusion
Inclusive campaigning
• Youth
• Women
• Elderly
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

8. Learning Points: Education
• Lack of complex
knowledge and
comprehensive
information source
• Differences between
educational systems in
Asia and Europe
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

9. Learning Points: Education
Role of non-formal
education in changing
behaviour
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia

10. Conclusion
• The act of sustainable consumption starts from ourselves
• There is the need for people-centric, non-discriminatory
policies and activities to encourage mass participation
• There is the need for comprehensive (non-) formal education
on sustainable development to change behaviour
Zsuzsanna Vári-Kovács and Alvin Chia