Thank you for welcoming me today.

It is an honour to accept the World Leader Cycle Award from the Economic Faculty association Rotterdam here at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

I know that you are recognizing not only me, but also the Organization I am proud to serve and lead.  Thank you for this expression of support for the United Nations and its staff.

Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, also known as the wandering scholar, gave his name to your University and to Europe’s longest standing student exchange programme.

Through programmes like these, young people today have wide-ranging opportunities to link up with peers across borders and take action towards a safer, more just and more sustainable future.

At this time of global turmoil and test, we need that kind of engagement more than ever.

We will not be successful in achieving the world we want unless we can harness the energy, idealism, and creativity of the world’s 1.8 billion young people – the largest generation of youth in history.

The world needs young people to do their part to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted last year by the Member States of the United Nations.   This is our 15-year plan to end global poverty, fight inequality and build peaceful societies on a healthy planet.

I also count on young people to help tackle climate change.  I was impressed by the more than 5,000 young people who adopted a Youth Manifesto ahead of the Paris climate talks last December.  The landmark Agreement reached there now points the way towards a new era of low-carbon prosperity.  Two days from now at the signing ceremony at UN Headquarters, we expect to make history with the largest number of signatures of an international treaty in a single day.  Young can help sustain this high-level political momentum with your choices as voters and consumers.

Many of you may be preparing to look for a job. Over the next decade, the world will need 600 million new jobs for all the new workers and for those that are currently unemployed. Even in some of the wealthiest countries, nearly half of all young adults are unemployed.

Many global threats, such as armed conflict and violent extremism, disproportionately affect young people.  But we cannot just worry about youth; we have to invest in them, and work with them as agents of change.

That is why I appointed the first-ever Youth Envoy at the United Nations, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, when he was 28 years old.  He is connecting the United Nations to young people and young people to the United Nations.

The Youth Envoy has launched a Global Youth Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals, and later this year will offer a “Youth Gateway” online platform to engage young people in the implementation of the new agenda.

The United Nations has also launched a Global Initiative on Decent Jobs to promote green jobs, create quality apprenticeships, expand digital skills and build tech hubs.  Our hope is that young people can not only fill jobs but be the entrepreneurs who create them.

Many people are worried about the pull of violent extremism on young people.  I would turn this equation around; we need instead to partner with young people to get at the roots of radicalization.  Labeling young people as the problem is not a solution, is not true and could even end up making them the problem.

I have also been calling for empowering young peacebuilders.  Last December, the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security was a breakthrough in how we engage young people in conflict resolution and peace processes.  Resolution 2250 is our commitment to give young people the seat at the table they deserve.

At this very turbulent moment in world affairs, we must not lose sight of the opportunities that are in our hands today that can set the world on a better course.

One can easily be overwhelmed by the daily headlines -- the latest terrorist attack, the latest extreme storm, new outbreaks of disease.

The world must unite against these threats to save lives today.

But we can also see a better tomorrow taking shape.

Even at this time of division, world leaders came together last year behind the new development agenda and climate agreement. 

Patient diplomacy is showing encouraging signs in several conflict situations. 

Over the past 15 years, we made remarkable gains in health and education under the Millennium Development Goals, and now have an inspiring new agenda with 17 Sustainable Development Goals that can build on those successes and take us even farther by the year 2030.

We are also seeing new mind-sets that recognize the need for global cooperation, the need to stand up for equal rights for all -- and the need to promote global cooperation through the United Nations.

I will look to all of you to show global citizenship.

Show your solidarity with the world’s refugees and migrants, and speak out against the hatred they so often face.

Show your commitment to human rights, including the empowerment of women and girls.

Show your support for humanitarian action.  Next month in Istanbul, the United Nations will convene the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit to find better ways to support the 125 million who need assistance today – and to prevent emergencies in the future.

Whatever path you choose, the world needs you to show allegiance not just to your immediate community, but to the wider common good.

Together, realize our goal of leaving no one behind -- and ushering in an era of dignity for all.

Thank you.