Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the ECOSOC Youth Forum
16 April 2024
[As Delivered]
President of the Economic and Social Council, Your Excellency Ambassador Paula Narvaez,
Esteemed Youth Leaders,
Excellencies,
It is my great pleasure to join you at the 2024 ECOSOC Youth Forum.
And it is humbling indeed to be the next speaker following these truly inspiring and dynamic young leaders from around the world.
Today, we are here to listen to your innovative ideas for how we can reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and work smarter to end the crushing scourge of poverty, blighting our societies
My message to you is straightforward.
We need your talents, and your engagement.
You are the future of multilateral cooperation; No matter your discipline or chosen course of study.
Eradicating poverty, including extreme poverty, in all its forms and dimensions, is not only the greatest global challenge we face – it is an absolute requirement for delivering on the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda: to leave no one behind.
As the abounding energy in this chamber makes clear: you – the world’s 1.2 billion young people – are not simply waiting for change to happen.
Young people today are taking action to solve the complex challenges affecting their communities – and making a real difference. For example :
- Young business leaders in West and Central Africa are boosting food security by using circular strategies in the areas of aquaculture and poultry farming.
- In China, young entrepreneurs are building robots to clean polluted waters, in Bangladesh, they are empowering local communities through sustainable tourism
- And in Kuwait, Fatemah Alzelzela founded Eco Star, a non-profit that recycles trash from homes, restaurants and schools – one of many young people across her region who are leading the way to a more sustainable future.
As President of the General Assembly, I am not only committed to working with young people to promote sustainable development, I am committed to learning from them.
You are here at a pivotal moment.
This year’s Youth Forum is coinciding with the General Assembly’s first-ever Sustainability Week, which I am convening, here at UN Headquarters.
Our aim? To supercharge action across the 2030 Agenda by promoting sustainability across all activities of the global economy.
Tomorrow, April 17th, as part of Sustainability Week, I will be hosting an interactive “ASKPGA” conversation with youth.
I am eager to hear directly from young people about where we are going wrong, what we’re getting right – and how we can elevate the ideas of young people to shape the sustainability conversation.
I am also challenging everyone to join our #ChooseSustainability campaign – to be loud and proud on social media – about the actions that you are taking to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for all. I repeat, for all.
We recognize that young people are already living with the consequences of our action and our inaction.
The ideas you generate in the ECOSOC Youth Forum will keep us accountable as we prepare for the pivotal event on the UN calendar: Summit of the Future, in September.
Its anticipated outcome – the Pact for the Future – is a pact between the generations, and young people are actively engaging in this process to ensure it is inclusive and representative.
Together with a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, all three of these documents will represent a formidable investment in young people – and define our shared future for decades to come.
We are indeed at a moment of breathtaking change.
We need your determined leadership and your vision more than ever, as we work towards a future that is more safe, just and sustainable for all.
I wish you a productive two days and very much look forward to hearing the fulsome harvest of your important discussions.
I thank you.
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