Do we live in an ideal world? The Millennium Development Goals have been referred to as the most successful anti-poverty push in human history, and reaching the target of halving extreme poverty rates is a tremendous success.
But the story may not be as beautiful as it may seem. While poverty has been halved when counting percentages, a slightly different story appears if we consider the absolute numbers.
At the same time, our ways of living are so environmentally damaging that we are threatening the world’s life supporting systems. As a result of global warming, we are currently on the path to an increase of 4 degrees by the end of the century. The disastrous effects of climate change on human development are unforeseeable and the vulnerable would be hit the hardest.
The world is dually unsustainable if we refer to most definitions of sustainable development, e.g. “Development that meets the needs of the present while safeguarding Earth’s life-support system, on which the welfare of current and future generations depends” (Griggs et al., 2013).
The needs of today are not met. At the same time patterns of consumption and production jeopardize the next generation by threatening the world’s life supporting systems. This is the same matter but with two different perspectives – a space and a time perspective: within and between generations. So where do we go from here?
When scientists modeling the world got together in 1978 they formed consensus around a few lessons, the first of which stated: “There is no known physical or technical reason why basic needs cannot be supplied for all the world’s people into the foreseeable future. These needs are not being met now, because of social and political structures, values, norms, and worldviews, not because of physical scarcities” (Meadows, 2007).
If we challenge today’s social and political structures, values, norms and worldviews we may still be able to transform to a sustainable world. We could be the generation that ends poverty and as the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon states, avoid the worst effects of climate change. The key to this is integrating environment and poverty eradication.
The good news is that we are approaching a new development paradigm. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), if implemented, could facilitate a shift to sustainable development.
Initiatives are the way, and the shift is often led by young people. Millions are trying to change to sustainable lifestyles. Thousands, if not millions, are mobilizing ahead for the climate negotiations in Paris. Inequality is questioned in both the public and academic debate. The sharing economy is growing, some people chose to consume less and eco-labels and fair trade labels are increasing their footprint in the market. The spread of education for sustainable development is growing. In 2013 on a tour on sustainability in Swedish high schools I met 5,000 young people, many of whom were eager to make the world a better place.
Many of these initiatives fit well within the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP on SCP), which was adopted at the Rio +20 Conference in 2012. The 10YFP is a global framework of action to enhance international cooperation to accelerate the shift towards SCP through its various programmes including on Consumer Information, Sustainable Lifestyles and Education (with a sub-work area focusing on Mobilizing and Empowering Youth on Sustainable Lifestyles), Sustainable Public Procurement, Sustainable Buildings and Construction, and Sustainable Tourism, including Eco-Tourism, and the upcoming Sustainable Food Systems programme. These are in addition to the proposed SDGs, including the stand-alone goal 12 on SCP.
Millions of young people envision a future that would make us proud. A world where all needs are met and mother earth is back on a sustainable path. We could have wonderful days ahead!
For further reading on the topics discussed, please use the following resources that were referenced in the writing of this article:
• Meadows, D. H. and Meadows, D.(2007). “The history and conclusions of The Limits to Growth.” System Dynamics Review, 191–197.
• Griggs, D., Stafford-Smith, M., Gaffney, O., Rockström, J., Öhman, M. C., Shyamsundar, P., Steffen, W., Glaser, G., Kanie, N., Noble, I. (2013). “Sustainable development goals for people and planet.” Nature, vol 495, 305-307 (21 March 2013).
About the Author:
David Collste is a Focal Point for the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) to the 10YFP. He was Sweden’s official Youth Delegate in 2013 and is currently finishing his European Master in System Dynamics at Stockholm Resilience Centre.
The Building Bridges team is in Cameroon where young people had their say and shared their key priorities for the world they want: quality education, job opportunities and access to clean water and sanitation. Follow Dutch Youth Delegate to the UN, Jilt van Schayik, and Teun Meulepas as they connect with young people on the grassroots.
Inter-Agency Update
Members of the Inter-agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) came together on 29 May to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) in a High-Level Event of the President of the General Assembly in UNHQ. Member States, UN entities, and youth organizations discussed progress made in the implementation of the WPAY over the past 20 years, as well as its links to the Sustainable Development Goals. More information can be found here.
And you can watch a recording of the webcast here.
UN Entities Highlighted News
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UN MGCY Assesses Targets and Indicators at PGA Hearings on Post-2015
“Our meaningful engagement does not stop here. What we ask for has to be reflected in the actual outcome.” This was one of the messages delivered by a representative from the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) at the PGA hearings on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The intervention further asserted the important of preserving the gains made on some gender-related targets. In addition, it spoke about Goals 8, 9 and 11 where ‘sustainable’ is used to qualify ‘growth,’ ‘industrialisation’ and ‘urbanisation, and that the respective indicators should operationalize progress on remaining within planetary boundaries.
UN MGCY Habitat III Working Group Elects New DOPs
To enhance accountability, the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) has just concluded its elections for Deputy Organising Partners (DOPs) for the Habitat III process. The newly elected DOPs are Debora Leao and Amanda Segnin representing Engajamundo from Brazil and Hirotaka Koike from Japan Youth Platform for Post-2015. We are calling more young people to take part and join the conversation on sustainable urbanization issues. This is the right moment and the right place. Join the official space for young people in the process. More
ILO’s video on youth employment wins the 2015 Animation Intermedia-Globe Silver Award of the 16th WorldMediaFestival
The ILO’s animation video "Youth Employment Crisis: A Call for Action", developed with MTV, won the 2015 Globe Silver in the animation category during the 16th WorldMediaFestival, presented in Hamburg on 6 May 2015. This Festival is an international forum for leading communications professionals from around the world and is the only forum of its kind in Europe. It was established in the year 2000 and is dedicated to recognize excellence in Corporate Film, Television, Web and Print productions.
UNFPA Palestine: Vulnerable youth deserves another opportunity
UNFPA in Palestine supported a youth exhibition in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs targeting more than 300 vulnerable youth including juveniles, disabled, school drop-outs and others in marginalized geographical areas. These youth took a leading role in organizing and managing the event. The slogan of the event was “future and hope” conveying a message of social inclusion of these disadvantaged groups and other Palestinian youth envisioning a peaceful secured life. More
UNRIC: While in Brussels, Ban Ki-moon sent a message of peace to the people of tomorrow
On 27 May 2015, the UN Secretary General attended the site of the “Tomorrowland” Music Festival, where he carved a message of peace - "Let's work as one towards dignity for all" - on behalf of the United Nations on the One World Bridge. The bridge was designed by a Belgian artist symbolizing some of the core values of the United Nations: dignity, respect, diversity and solidarity. More
UNEP: Two Minutes on Oceans with Jim Toomey Video Showcased on Ocean Today Kiosks for World Oceans Day
Using clear and simple language, the Two Minutes on Oceans with Jim Toomey video series provide scientific information about urgent issues facing our oceans today, as well as suggesting actions to address them. They use animation and humor to illustrate the importance of oceans to human well-being and the environment. The series was created through a partnership between the UN Environment Programme’s Regional Office for North America and nationally-syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey, creator of the Sherman’s Lagoon cartoon strip.
ILO and IFAD partner to build evidence on gender in employment project in the Middle East and North Africa
ILO’s Youth Employment Programme and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) partner to implement a new initiative on strengthening gender monitoring, evaluation and mainstreaming in rural employment projects in the Middle East and North Africa. The initiative builds on a strong and well-established platform of ILO’s “Taqeem Initiative” and its “Community of Practice”, a highly accomplished knowledge sharing initiative consisting of fifteen organizations implementing innovative results based measurement strategies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. More
UNDP Bangladesh: Raising Young Voices! Dialogue Between Youth and Mayoral Candidates in Bangladesh
In April 2015, UNDP Bangladesh hosted the second Youth Dialogue with the City Corporation mayoral candidates of Chittagong under the theme “Raising Young Voices!” The objective of the event was to create a platform for young people to identify and voice their priorities to their potential mayors. Eight of twelve candidates attended the session and spoke on a range of issues. UNDP Country Director Pauline Tamesis opened the event and over 200 young people from all walks of life attended.
UNFPA Lebanon highlights GBV in a National Movie Festival
UNFPA Lebanon partnered with the NGO Visual and Performing Arts Association to screen movies on Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention/response during this year’s edition of the Cabriolet Film Festival, May 2015. The movies screened represented the first three winners of the “72 Hours Movie Challenge” competition in 2014, where more than 150 young people competed to develop short films on GBV. The movies shed light on knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, misconceptions, cultural differences, etc. in relation to GBV from the young directors’ perspectives. More
UN MGCY Participates in Round Table on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
During the May Post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations, the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) participated in a round table discussion organised by Muslims for Progressive Values. It discussed how to advance LGBT human rights and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) within the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The discussion brought together various faith constituencies, human rights organizations, and UN agencies to talk about strengthening the synergy that exists between these entities, and how to more strategically advocate for non-discrimination on the basis of SOGI. More
ILO: Youth employment in the CIS discussed in Krasnoyarsk
On 20-24 April 2015, the city of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia hosted a meeting on youth employment within the framework of the “Partnerships for Youth Employment Project in the CIS” implemented by the ILO Moscow Office in partnership with Russian oil company LUKOIL. High level experts from the Ministries of Labour, representatives of social partners from seven countries of the CIS (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and three Russian regions as well as international experts took part in the Conference. More
UNRIC: While in Brussels, Ban Ki-moon engaged with youth on the post-2015 development agenda
Mr. Ban engaged in a lively debate with 15 youth at the Brussels Centre of Fine Arts addressing the kind of future they want and emphasising that 2015 is a year for global action. In the year that the world decides on the post-2015 development agenda, he underscored the vital role of young people in this process, saying: “The world needs you to stand up this year for people and planet. There is no Plan B, as there is no Planet B”. More
UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States: Social Innovation Camp with Youth in the Arab Region: Finding Solutions Together
In lead-up to the launch of the 6th edition of the Arab Human Development Report focusing on Youth, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States, in collaboration with UNDP Egypt, is bringing together 60+ youth from across the region for a Social Innovation Camp to discuss creative solutions to a broad spectrum of development issues covered in the report, including: civic participation, education and transition to labor markets, young women inclusion and empowerment, and most important, the road ahead. More
ILO Regional Conference on Labour Market Transitions of Young Women and Men in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
On 28-29 April 2015, the ILO’s Work4Youth Regional Conference on Labour Market Transition of Young Women and Men in Eastern Europe and Central Asia brought together delegates from ten countries of these two regions. A report summarizing the results of the School-to-Work transition surveys conducted in six countries was presented. Delegates also had the opportunity to discuss current areas of intervention on youth employment and share experience on policy measures. More
UN MGCY Launches online Survey for WHS in Multiple Languages
As part of its continued engagement in the World Humanitarian Summit, and reflective of the changing humanitarian landscape, the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) has finalized the online consultation on youth priorities, available in English, Spanish and Arabic. This is a chance to hear from youth all over the world, with different backgrounds and experience. You are welcome to take part in the discussion! These will be formal inputs into the MGCY position paper and also inform the global consultations. Stay tuned.
ILO: 27 million Latin America and Caribbean youth in the informal economy
The International Labour Organization (ILO) calls for urgent action to help youth in the region move from the informal to the formal economy. "Youth unemployment is very high in the region, but it's just the tip of the iceberg that hides the wider problem of a lack of opportunities for those who are just starting their productive lives," said the ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at a regional meeting in the Peruvian capital. More
UN MGCY Talks about Strong Accountability for Post-2015
“We need accountability mechanisms that include legally mandated, well-resourced and specifically designated measures for meaningful and effective youth participation in monitoring and review, including in the HLPF” was one of the messages from the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) at the Post-2015 IGN in May. This line was spoken during the intervention at the interactive dialogue. The intervention raised points about the need for a major groups’ led peer review, thematic reporting, mapping of ecological footprints, disaggregated data and forecasting of policy impact. More
WFUNA Youth Network: supporting the UN through the engagement of global citizens
The WFUNA Youth Network is an informal network that brings together UN Associations (UNAs) Youth Sections and UN Youth Associations (UNYAs) from all over the world to build support for the UN and the values it represents. Many UNAs Youth Sections and UNYAs are doing brilliant activities, which we showcase in our blog. During the month of May we focused on Europe. UNA and UNYA youths from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden tell us what they have been up to.
UNDP Sub-regional Office for Barbados and the OECS: Caribbean Youth Gather to Discuss and Effect Change in Youth Policy
Youth and youth-workers from across the Caribbean gathered for a three-day workshop focused on evidence-based policy development in the region. Participants started by examining youth policies for their countries towards identifying and rectifying weak areas. Attendees were eager to make necessary adjustments and by day two, one delegation was able to reignite talks with their Government towards implementing a youth policy. Participants shared best practices, mutual grievances and strengthened their capacity to develop and amend policies based on data. More
ILO: Taqeem Policy Lab on youth employment in Egypt
On 30 April 2015, the ILO Taqeem Policy Lab provided a unique platform for policy makers, youth serving organizations, researchers, academics and private sector representatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities to strengthen evidence-based decision making in the field of youth employment in Egypt. The Policy Lab came in the context of the Taqeem Fund for Evaluation in Youth Employment, a technical cooperation programme of the ILO, that aims to improve labour market outcomes of young people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by strengthening evidence-based programming and policy-making.
ILO mobile app: Rights@work for youth, a guide to youth labour rights at your fingertips
As part of ILO’s work to promote rights at work for young people and raise awareness of these rights by using new technologies and social media, a mobile App was developed to inform young people of their rights at work. This app allows them to have the information they need to be better prepared when starting a new job at their fingertips. The app is based on the ILO Guide Rights@Work for Youth: Decent work for young people. Get the app (only in French).
UN MGCY Participates in First Stakeholders Meeting for 10YFP on SCP
Three years after the adoption of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP on SCP) at Rio+20, the First Global Meeting of the 10YFP was held. The Deputy Organising Partner of the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) for SCP and two focal points participated. They stressed the importance of timely implementation of programs in a world where human population is projected to be 9.5 billion by 2050, and in which about 1.2 billion people currently live in extreme poverty and deprivation. More
UNCDF: Youth voices: how I would fight poverty
UNCDF-YouthStart partners ask their youth clients how they would fight poverty in their country. Watch as FINCA-Uganda Smart Start client Vincent Sebuliba explains his view of how he would fight poverty in Uganda and his experience in accessing financial services.
ILO: High-Level Event on the Demographic Dividend and Youth Employment
On 1 June 2015, the President of the General Assembly convened a High-Level Event on the Demographic Dividend and Youth Employment in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This event brought together numerous Ministers and representatives from other stakeholders to discuss challenges, best practices and possible solutions with regard to harnessing the demographic dividend and promoting decent employment opportunities for young people. More
UN MGCY Mobilizes for the Next Phase of the Sendai Framework for DRR
UN MGCY Participates in Monthly Meetings of the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development
June was the second month where the monthly meeting of Inter Agency-Network on Youth Development (IANYD) included an update from UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY). An update and participation from this youth led space will now be a permanent feature on the monthly meeting of the IANYD. This was a decision taken at IANYD’s annual meeting earlier in the year. This decision also included an invitation to the UN MGCY to be part of the different working groups of the IANYD. More
UNFPA Iraq: Youth leaders in Iraq communicate and advocate for young people rights
In Dhi-Qar, a group of young people are working on life skills. Their goal is to raise the awareness over the healthy environment and the importance of civic engagement in their communities. In Basra, a group of young peers also conducted special training for young groups, military forces and some tribes leaders on peace building. These topics are attracting Iraqi communities as a result of the ISIS crisis. Jawad Talal, a peer educator in Basra said, “we need to build new vision in Iraq related to peace building in order to be able to defeat ISIS and racism and we will start from ourselves as young peers. “ The stories of those working to bring positive change can be followed here.
UN Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative: Youth demand key role in future education agenda
Youth delegates joined education leaders at a youth-led event at the World Education Forum in Incheon, Republic of Korea. Organized by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Global Education First Initiative, the May 21 session looked at the role of young people in a powerful new education agenda. The youth advocates released a Call to Action on the implementation of Education 2030, urging governments and education stakeholders to include young people as partners throughout the entire process. More
Youth in Action
Over 130 countries joined the celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day 2015!
International Girls in ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Day, observed annually on the fourth Thursday in April, was celebrated this year on 23 April 2015. More than 66,000 girls and young women took part in over 1,700 celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day 2015 in over 130 countries worldwide. Every year, ITU encourages its Member States, Sector members and other stakeholders around the world to organize events to inspire and encourage girls to take up ICT studies and careers. More
World Environment Day Youth Conference
Green Hope, the youth sustainability organization, conducted a daylong conference in Dubai as a buildup to World Environment Day (WED). The conference was attended by 170 budding environmentalists from schools across the UAE and a student delegation from Oman. The overarching theme of this conference revolved around the theme of WED 2015 “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”. To commemorate the event, the attendees planted 150 Jatropha saplings as an emphatic green statement. More
AMISTAD: Raising involvement of media stakeholders in the dissemination of environmental information
To ensure proper dissemination of information by the media about Volunteer Partnership Agreement (VPA) of Forest Law for Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process to the Ivorian population, AMISTAD is implementing the project of Strengthening media stakeholders abilities on VPA FLEGT process in Cote d’Ivoire supported by the EU FAO FLEGT Programme. AMISTAD raises the involvement of the media stakeholders in the dissemination of environmental information. Since 2013, the Ivorian Government negotiates the VPA with the European Union about VPA FLEGT.
This ILO report presents empirical evidence of how child labour combined with limited education can lead to increased youth vulnerability and greater difficulties in transiting to decent work. This evidence includes results from the ILO School-to-Work Transition (STWT) survey programme, an unprecedented data collection effort allowing the analysis of the trajectories followed by youth to enter the world of work in a total of 28 low- and middle-income countries around the world.
