Youth Power the Planet: An SDG Activate Talk to celebrate Earth Day

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at “Youth Power the Planet: An SDG Activate Talk to celebrate Earth Day”

Ambassador Akbaruddin, Mr. Chandy, young panellists, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen – Good afternoon

I have to start with a confession. I am not a climate change expert. Neither do I fit the United Nations definition of “youth“. But I am clear on a few points. First, climate change is real. Second, we have plans to beat it. And third, we can only beat it together – with young people leading the way.

My first point – about climate change being real – this should really go without saying.

But just in case there is any doubt, ask the young woman who has to walk even further for a drink of water due to desertification. Or look at the Prime Minister from a small island brought to tears after a mega hurricane washed away his people and resources overnight – literally. And think about how this could be you if we do not act urgently to stop climate change.

The good news is that we do have a plan to stop it – namely the Paris Agreement. And we have our Sustainable Development Goals – a universal call for action.

More good news is that our politicians, for the most part, are on board. Every year, world leaders gather in this building for what we call the General Debate. And, this year, 84% of leaders highlighted climate change as a priority – that is the highest number of references to it ever, in a General Debate.

But we need to convert these words and political will into action. Otherwise, our plans will remain just that – plans. In other words, no other topic was mentioned more frequently than climate change.

Which brings me to my next point: we cannot achieve our goals without youth – who represent almost half the world’s people – not to mention, the most vibrant and energetic population.

So, dear friends,

Often when we think about climate action, we think about what our governments should do. But there are things that we can all do to make a difference – and young people are showing us how its done.

For instance, Anela Arifi from Bosnia. She came up with a way to use chicken fat and feathers as fuel for an energy system.
Gitanjali Rao, just 12 years old, developed a water-testing device inspired by the water crisis in Flint Michigan.

These innovations, and many others, show that youth really do power the planet.

But this doesn’t mean that you should let your leaders off the hook. In fact, the experts say that the pledges our governments made to take climate action are not enough. So, we need you to:

Stand up!

Speak up!

Raise your voices!

Use a microphone! Create a comic book! Send a tweet! Post a vlog!

Movements planned by young people, both big and small, have taken root. For example, the climate protests ahead of the Paris Agreement or young people from indigenous communities coming to the United Nations to fight for their water rights.

And, that is what has brought you all here.

To Sona: congratulations! Your work makes me optimistic about our future. We can all do with some comic relief as the threat of climate change closes in on us.

To our young panellists: Thank you for coming here, to inspire and to call for change.

But, on a serious note, these comics confront a difficult truth: we are driving our planet on a destructive course. We need planet-protecting superheroes to turn this around.

But, you are all superheroes. And I will do everything in my power to ensure that you have a platform. On May 30th I will convene a Youth Dialogue – an event where we will listen to young people – instead of asking them to listen to us.

Because, if we ignore you, it will be to our detriment.

Thank you to UNICEF and Comics Uniting Nations for this initiative.

Thank you.