Young leaders from around the world are calling for urgent action on sustainable development as they gather at the United Nations Headquarters for the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum. The event brings together innovators, advocates, and policymakers to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amid growing global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and rapid technological transformation.
Held under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030,” the forum emphasizes the critical role of young people in building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future. Addressing participants, Annalena Baerbock praised the energy young leaders bring, urging governments and policymakers to move beyond discussions and take concrete action. She called on delegates to follow through on commitments, ensure outcomes extend beyond conference halls, and encouraged youth to continue challenging norms and leading change authentically.
Opening the forum, Lok Bahadur Thapa highlighted the complex challenges facing today’s youth, including geopolitical tensions, widening inequalities, and digital divides. Despite these pressures, he described young people as essential agents of change who are already shaping solutions across communities and sectors. He stressed the importance of ensuring equal access to opportunities and decision-making for all youth, regardless of background.
The urgency of inclusion was further underscored by Jaewon Choi, who warned that many young people remain excluded from systems meant to support them. He pointed out that a young person dies every 4.4 seconds due to preventable causes such as malnutrition, disease, violence, and disasters, emphasizing the need for immediate and inclusive action.
With 1.2 billion young people globally—projected to reach nearly 1.3 billion by 2030—the forum highlights the scale of youth influence in achieving the SDGs. Discussions are focusing on key areas including clean water, energy, infrastructure, sustainable cities, and global partnerships, with outcomes expected to feed into broader policy discussions at upcoming international forums.
The gathering reinforces a clear message: achieving the 2030 Agenda will depend significantly on empowering young people, amplifying their voices, and ensuring they are active participants in shaping the decisions that will define their future.
