The Role of Youth in Localizing Sustainable Development.

The Role of Youth in Localizing Sustainable Development



As we start a new year, it is our duty to remember what we can do to build a better world. For that, 2025 marks a pivotal year for Member States to put into action more ambitious action plans towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, and with only 5 years left until the 2030 deadline, countries are falling short of achieving the Goals. This is evidenced by the 2024 Sustainable Development Report (SDR) developed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which shows that “On average, only 16% of the SDG targets are on track to be met globally by 2030, with the remaining 84% showing limited progress or a reversal progress.”

In addition, the current reality of our planet is far from hopeful. From escalating geopolitical tensions to the risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the climate crisis - which is posed to be the biggest challenge for humankind in history- our world is in urgent need of a bold action plan. This also becomes more clear after it has already been confirmed that 2024 broke the record to be the hottest year in history and the first to surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. As this alarming situation continues to raise serious concerns, we must assess what future we are building for our planet, the future of the present youth that will inherit the world, and, of course, for the future generations that are still to come. Against this background, we must ask ourselves: what is the most effective approach for the years ahead to ensure the successful advancement of a sustainable and prosperous world?

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