Youth Forum on the Future of the Environment

Name: Youth Forum on the Future of the Environment
Start: 2024-09-20

20 September 2024

New York

Overview

Objectives

Date: 20th September

Place: Estonian House (243 East 34th Street New York, NY 10016)

Time: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Organizers: Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP, UNEP, ILO, GO4SDGs

Supported by: Oman Sultanate (UNEA-7 Presidency), Brazil (G20 Presidency), Hungary (European Union Presidency)

Registration for In-Person Participation

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Context:

The world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and unsustainable consumption and production patterns. These issues have far-reaching consequences for current and future generations. Young people, with their unparalleled passion, creativity, and commitment to a sustainable future, have emerged as driving forces in the global environmental movement. From leading grassroots initiatives to advocating for policy reforms, they have demonstrated their capabilities to inspire action and drive positive change. Yet, their perspectives and solutions are frequently overlooked or marginalized in decision-making processes, hindering their ability to shape the environmental policies that will determine their future.

The Youth Forum on the Future of the Environment, supported by the UN Environment Programme, GO4SDGs, in collaboration with UNICEF, ILO, and the Governments of Oman and Hungary, is a groundbreaking initiative that aims to bridge this gap and amplify the voices of young environmental leaders from around the world aligned with the spirit and momentum of the United Nations Summit of the Future to advance advocacy of youth and future generations to achieve intergenerational justice and equity through reinvigorated environmental multilateralism for a better and sustainable future. Building on the outcomes of the Global Youth Environment Assembly 2024 and the Global Youth Declaration on Environment, this youth forum will serve as a catalyst for meaningful youth engagement, empowering young people to actively shape policies, drive innovation, and influence decision-making processes that impact their future and the future of our planet.

Primary Focus Areas:

Jobs of the Future: Exploring emerging opportunities in the green economy, promoting entrepreneurship, and identifying the skills and training required to thrive in environmentally conscious careers in line with the goals and targets of the ‘Green Jobs for Youth Pact’
Science Policy Interface: Bridging the gap between scientific research and policy-making through the promotion of strategic foresight for transformative actions by foresighting future challenges and its ramifications in fostering collaboration between youth, scientists, and policymakers to ensure evidence-based, future-proof governance, and future-oriented environmental decision-making.
Intergenerational Collaboration for Upholding the Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment: Promoting meaningful collaboration between generations to empower youth in safeguarding the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment through intergenerational dialogue, where youth perspectives are valued and integrated into decision-making processes.

Target Audience:

Youth activists, youth organizations and networks, youth delegates to the UN
Member states and policymakers
UN agencies and international organizations
Academia and research institutions
Businesses and private sector
Civil society and non-governmental organizations

To learn more visit: https://www.cymgenv.net/sotf-youth-env

Objectives of the Youth Forum:

Define ‘meaningful youth engagement’ in environmental actions and develop strategies to enhance its effectiveness in securing the future of the environment.
Identify opportunities and challenges in accessing green and decent jobs for youth and propose solutions to address them.
Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange for integrating scientific evidence and innovative solutions into environmental policies of the present and the future.
Develop a comprehensive action plan outlining priorities, recommendations, commitments and strategies for upholding the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Connection with the Summit of the Future Pillars:

As the custodians of the future, young people must assume a central role in shaping the environmental agenda and driving transformative change. Therefore, the Youth Forum will:

Explore innovative financing mechanisms and partnerships to support youth-led environmental initiatives, sustainable entrepreneurship, green jobs creation, and aligning environmental priorities to accelerate the implementation of SDGs.
Facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration among young scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, to explore the role of emerging technology and leveraging new digital tools for environmental conservation and solution development.
Provide a platform for youth voices, empowering them to actively participate in the discussion to advocate for intergenerational equity.
Address the need for inclusive and participatory environmental governance frameworks that incorporate youth perspectives and priorities, reforming existing processes, strengthening multilateralism, and fostering accountability in environmental policymaking.

Expected Outcomes of the Youth Forum:

Mobilize youth leadership and stakeholder commitments to advance the green economy by promoting green jobs and skills, while increasing awareness of the ‘Green Jobs for Youth Pact’ co-convened by UNEP, UNICEF, and ILO as a key driver of delivering on global environmental commitments.
Highlight the critical role of the Science-Policy Interface in informed decision-making and environmental management, while equipping young people with the tools and knowledge needed to actively engage in global environmental processes.
Enhance intergenerational understanding and collaboration between youth, UN agencies, policymakers, and other stakeholders in addressing environmental challenges, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the protection of the environment and the promotion of environmental human rights.

The outcomes of the Youth Forum will be captured in a report with key points and recommendations that will serve as the foundation for the CYMG roadmap and advocacy efforts leading up to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7).