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| Photo Credit: ecoledefaune.org |
12 August 2016 – The world's young people – who make up the largest
generation of youth in history – can lead a global drive to break the
patterns of the past and set the world on course to a more sustainable
future, United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon said youth, with their creativity and idealism are the key
to delivering the goals of the new UN sustainability agenda. “Young people are directly affected by the tragic contradictions that
prevail today: between abject poverty and ostentatious wealth, gnawing
hunger and shameful food waste, rich natural resources and polluting
industries,” said Mr. Ban in his message on International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August. He said that youth can deliver solutions on such issues, which lie at the heart of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
stressing that in the first year of that 15-year plan for a healthier,
safer and more just future, the International community is counting on
the active engagement of young people to transform the production and
consumption of goods and services so they meet the basic needs and
aspirations of the world's poorest people without overburdening already
strained ecosystems. “Young people are traditionally at the cutting edge, and today's youth
have more information than any previous generation. Their dynamism,
creativity and idealism can combine to shape attitudes toward demand and
help create more sustainable industries,” continued the UN chief,
noting that youth are already influencing how the world produces,
distributes and consumes while driving green entrepreneurship by
designing sustainable products and services. As conscious consumers, young people are at the forefront of a shift
toward more fair, equitable and sustainable buying patterns. Youth are
strong and effective advocates of recycling, reusing and limiting waste,
and they are leading technological innovations to foster a
resource-efficient economy. “When we invest in youth, they can contribute to new markets, decent
jobs, fair trade, sustainable housing, sustainable transport and
tourism, and more opportunities that benefit the planet and people,” he
said, adding that he was proud that the UN is actively engaged in
supporting young leaders who can carry out the
Sustainable Development Goals (
SDGs), including
Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns. “I encourage all young people to become involved in advancing the SDGs
and demanding action by their Governments. My Youth Envoy is eager to
connect you to our campaigns, which are being carried out across the
entire United Nations system,” he said urging others to join this global
push for progress, empowering young people with the resources, backing
and space they need to create lasting change in our world. In her
message, Irina Bokova, Director General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (
UNESCO) said that young people are powerful agents of positive change, essential to taking forward the 2030 Agenda. “It is not enough to hope for a better tomorrow – we must act now.
Change is under way, and millions of citizens are already transforming
the way we produce, consume, behave and communicate,” she said, noting
that young people such as #YouthofUNESCO sustainable consumption advocate
Lauren Singer, point the way towards a zero-waste lifestyle, fitting
all of her refuse produced over the past four years into one small jar. “This is an inspiration for this year's celebration 'The Road to
2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Production and
Consumption.' There are countless initiatives like this, all giving
shape to a new humanism, to new forms of solidarity and citizenship to
combat poverty, marginalization and despair,” she emphasized. Optimism and confidence do not mean minimizing the challenges ahead.
Most young people live today in least developed countries, and shoulder
the heaviest burden of conflicts and poverty, stressed Ms. Bokova,
adding: “There can be no sustainable development if they remain on the
side-lines, and I call upon all Member States and UNESCO partners to
support their initiatives, to give them voice, to let them grow, to
shape together the future of dignity that we are building today.”
