Young Leaders for Global Climate Action Summit

Speakers

Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs

Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University;

President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Dr. Joshua L. DeVincenzo

Assistant Director for Education and Training and Adjunct Lecturer, National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), Columbia Climate School

Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard

Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon, New York

Mr. Daniel del Valle Blanco

Chair of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board;

Youth Envoy of the Central American Parliament

Ms. Christina Torres

Center Coordinator, Center For Sustainable Futures, Teachers College, Columbia University

Mr. Ali Mustafa

Representative to the United Nations, AFS Intercultural Programs, Founder of International Youth Conference (IYC)

Dr. Jonathan E. Collins

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Education, and Associate Director of the Center for Educational Equity, Teachers College, Columbia University

Ms. Gege Dong

Founder and CEO of Love & Future; Sustainability Researcher from Columbia University

Event Summary:

Following the United Nations Summit of the Future, Love & Future will convene the 2024 Young Leaders for Global Climate Action Summit, a high-profile, youth-led event focused on climate action. Led by young professionals, this event aims to promote intergenerational dialogue. In collaboration with global experts, it seeks to drive innovative climate action strategies. The objective is to amplify youth voices in advancing the SDGs, supporting the broader global initiative "Youth Leading the Way to 2030: Empowering One Million Young Changemakers." The Young Leaders for Global Climate Action Summit will ignite discussions on the intersections between SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 13, and SDG 17, highlighting the pivotal role of youth leadership in addressing interconnected global challenges and advancing sustainable solutions.

Background:

The world is home to the largest generation of young people in history, with 1.8 billion people currently aged 10-24. By 2030, their numbers are expected to grow, making youth a critical demographic for shaping the future. In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “Young people today are the leaders of tomorrow, but they are also the leaders of today. We must listen to them, engage them, and empower them.” The global community cannot afford to overlook the immense potential of youth; failing to invest in their education, economic empowerment, and innovation is a missed opportunity to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

This event, organized by Love & Future in partnership with leading global organizations, aims to examine how health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), employment opportunities (SDG 8), climate action (SDG 13), and strategic partnerships (SDG 17) can unlock youth's potential to drive sustainable global development.

The event will also launch the Young Leaders for Global Climate Action Education Program, a crucial platform for mobilizing and equipping young changemakers to drive climate action initiatives. The Program will officially kick off at the United Nations in 2024, be hosted in China in the summer of 2025, and culminate in a major event at the UN General Assembly in the Fall of 2025. Over the next five years, we seek to contribute significantly to the goal of benefiting one million young people by 2030. This will be achieved through the global expansion of our educational programs and the formation of strategic partnerships. Our mission is to empower youth to lead transformative actions that accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Young Leaders for Global Climate Action Summit provides a critical platform to tap into the energy and innovative capabilities of young people. Investing in youth today is all the more urgent in order to catalyze effective actions on shared global challenges during this time of rapid change, instability, and polycrisis.

Objective:

The event seeks to:

1. Highlight the importance of youth leadership in achieving the SDGs.

2. Share strategies for investing in youth-led innovations and entrepreneurship.

3. Discuss the role of education in equipping young people with the skills to drive sustainable development.

4. Foster partnerships between governments, international organizations, private enterprises, and NGOs to support youth-driven initiatives.

Key Discussion Areas:

Focusing on SDG 13 (Climate Action), the event will examine the vital interconnections between climate action and key areas such as health and well-being (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and economic opportunities (SDG 8). It will also emphasize the role of effective partnerships (SDG 17) in strengthening and mutually reinforcing progress across these domains.

Centered around these five SDG themes, the event will be guided by the following key questions:

1. Empowering Youth for Climate Action (SDG 13)

   • What are the strategies and resources that can enhance young people’s resilience to sustain their climate activism?

2. Enhancing Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3)

   • How can sustainable health practices, including mental health support and nutrition, be integrated into youth development programs to improve overall well-being?

3. Transforming Education for Sustainable Development (SDG 4)

   • How can education systems be transformed to equip young people with the essential skills to tackle global challenges such as climate change?

   • How can digital platforms expand access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities?

4. Investing in Youth-Led Climate Innovations for Economic Growth (SDG 8)

   • How can resources, such as mentorship and financial support, be mobilized to help youth-led enterprises flourish?

   • What strategies can help upscale youth-driven solutions, particularly in underserved communities?

5. Fostering Partnerships for Youth Empowerment (SDG 17)

   • How can partnerships between governments, universities, and the private sector be strengthened to support youth-driven innovations?

   • How can partnerships ensure the long-term sustainability and impact of youth-led initiatives in advancing the SDGs?

Location: 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017-1822, USA (In-Person Invited Only)

Date: 7 November 2024

Time: 2:00-3:30 pm EST

Online webinar registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYYVqutkqs-G2TajNufAK2Idr6Z9-uFzggMZ4ZVH-oxXkCEg/viewform

Full Event Recording