United Nations, New York
On September 18, 2024, the Celebrating the Future with Culture, Youth, Digital Innovation & Localization of SDGs conference was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. The event, ahead of the UN Summit of the Future, focused on youth engagement, digital innovation, and local action to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It brought together youth leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss how to localize the SDGs by empowering youth as active participants in governance.
The conference opened with a session on the localization of SDGs and governance innovation, emphasizing the importance of integrating youth into decision-making processes at the local level. While global frameworks such as the SDGs provide a blueprint for sustainable development, the implementation of these goals must occur within communities, driven by local actors. Throughout the event, speakers stressed that youth engagement must be more than symbolic, with real opportunities for young people to influence policy and planning.
One of the key speakers, Joyati Das, provided insights into the Youth 2030 Cities initiative, which focuses on creating spaces for young people to engage in local and global discourses on urban development. Das shared how the initiative has worked to empower youth with knowledge and tools to localize the SDGs in their own communities. Reflecting on the progress of the initiative, Das stated, “The aim is to empower young people with tools and create spaces that translate their narratives into realistic actions, action plans to achieve sustainable cities.”
Das also highlighted the importance of recognizing youth as key participants in shaping sustainable urban futures. She noted that “Youth 2030 Cities presents a clear action plan to facilitate youth-led movements to mobilize practical action for localization of SDGs,” underscoring the need for young people to play a central role in the governance structures that will influence their future. The initiative is designed to ensure that youth are valued as contributors to urban planning and sustainable development efforts.
Sarah Syed, a 19-year-old climate justice activist and member of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board, echoed similar sentiments in her keynote address. Syed emphasized that youth participation must be institutionalized in governance frameworks. “To build sustainable cities, youth participation must be institutionalized, resourced, and respected,” she said, calling for youth to be seen as essential partners in decision-making processes.
The Youth 2030 Cities initiative, which positions youth as key actors in localizing the SDGs, has already demonstrated its potential in several cities worldwide. Das highlighted how the initiative has led to the development of eight city declarations, which were created with direct input from young people. These declarations focus on addressing local urban challenges and advancing the SDGs in specific contexts. The initiative builds on the idea that empowering youth at the local level is essential to making progress on global sustainability goals.
In addition to youth governance, the conference also explored how digital innovation and geospatial data can support the localization of the SDGs. One session, One Map – One Humanity, focused on the role of geospatial information systems (GIS) in providing real-time data to guide local decision-making. Alexandre Caldas, Chief of Early Warning and Data Analytics at the UN Environment Programme, highlighted the importance of these tools, stating, “Geospatial data allows us to visualize the challenges we face in real-time, from climate change to urban development.” He emphasized that GIS helps translate global issues into actionable local insights, allowing communities to better understand and address their unique challenges.
Caldas further stressed how geospatial tools empower citizens, particularly youth, to hold policymakers accountable. “Geospatial tools give citizens the power to see what’s happening on the ground and track the progress of the SDGs in their own communities,” he said. By making data accessible, these tools enable local actors to actively monitor SDG implementation and advocate for change when necessary. According to Caldas, this transparency ensures that local communities can play a more active role in sustainable development efforts.
The final session highlighted the role of culture, music, and art in advancing the SDGs. Presenters shared examples of creative industries being used to engage youth in climate action and sustainable development initiatives. One case study discussed was the DigitalArt4Climate initiative, which uses digital art to raise awareness about climate change and mobilize youth participation in climate solutions.
As the UN Summit of the Future approaches, the discussions from this conference will inform ongoing efforts to advance youth participation and SDG localization. Joyati Das and Sarah Syed’s contributions underscored the importance of positioning youth at the center of these efforts. By integrating youth perspectives into urban governance and providing them with the tools to take action, the event made clear that the future of sustainable cities depends on the meaningful involvement of young people.
Syed concluded her speech with a call to action: “Together, we can transform the way we govern, the way we plan our cities, and the way we meet the aspirations of the SDGs.”
