20 November 2024, Nairobi. – In the weeks leading up to the UN Summit of the Future 2024, a series of events at the United Nations Headquarters in New York showcased the power of youth, innovation, and localization in addressing global challenges. From September 8 to 18, 2024, the SDG Localization and Digital Solutions Exhibition, the Celebrating the Future with Culture, Youth, Digital Innovation & Localization of SDGs Conference, and the Youth Reception served as a dynamic prelude to the adoption of landmark agreements at the Summit – the Pact for the Future, Declaration on Future Generations and the Global Digital Compact .
These events demonstrated that youth leadership, digital innovation, and localized action are not just essential for achieving the SDGs, but also fundamental to ensuring a just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
Innovation at the Core: SDG Localization and Digital Solutions Exhibition
Held over 10 days, the SDG Localization and Digital Solutions Exhibition spotlighted transformative approaches to advancing the SDGs at the community level. Organized by IAAI GloCha, ONU Habitat, UNEP, and the International Youth Conference (IYC), the exhibition highlighted youth-led projects and innovative technologies addressing critical global issues.
Key highlights included:
- Youth 2030 Cities advances the localization of the SDGsby building youth’s capacity to engage in local governance, enabling them to share knowledge, influence urban planning, and actively contribute to the creation of sustainable, youth-friendly communities.
- Young Gamechangers Initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing among young people by actively involving them in urban governance, designing inclusive public spaces, and encouraging their participation through digital platforms.
- Citizen Science Projects, showcasing how grassroots data collection and analysis address global challenges.
- The One UN Geospatial Situation Room is a platform to coordinate and use geospatial data, helping the UN address global challenges and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development..
- Challenges Mapping by GloCha, demonstrating how digital tools align local needs with global SDG priorities.
A particular focus of the exhibition was on Affordable Housing, including the launch of the Modelo Comunitario de Autoconstrucción de Vivienda report by Luis Carlos Velasquez, which outlined sustainable, community-driven methodologies for housing solutions.
“The energy and innovation of young people are reshaping how we tackle global challenges. Their digital solutions are not just tools but catalysts for global action,” remarked Miroslav Polzer of IAAI GloCha.
A Platform for Collaboration: The Celebrating the Future Conference
On September 18, 2024, the momentum transitioned into the Celebrating the Future with Culture, Youth, Digital Innovation & Localization of SDGs Conference, a day-long event exploring how youth engagement, digital tools, and cultural creativity intersect to create pathways toward sustainable urban futures.
Keynote speaker Joyati Das, a researcher with the Youth 2030 Cities initiative, emphasized the importance of equipping young people with actionable tools and platforms: “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,” reflected Das.
Sessions covered diverse topics, including governance innovation, geospatial data, and creative industries.
“To build sustainable cities, youth participation must be institutionalized, resourced, and respected. Youth are not just beneficiaries but architects of their future,” emphasized Sarah Syed, a 19-year-old climate activist and member of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board.
The creative economy emerged as a recurring theme, with discussions on how music, art, and storytelling mobilize communities around climate action and sustainable development. Initiatives like DigitalArt4Climate illustrated the potential of art in advancing the SDGs.
A Celebration of Progress: The Reception
The day culminated with the Localization of the SDGs by and for Youth Reception, an evening event celebrating youth-led achievements and fostering dialogue among stakeholders. The reception featured the formal launch of the “Community Model of Self-Construction of Housing/Modelo Comunitario de Autoconstrucción de Vivienda” report by Luis Carlos Velasquez, which emphasized affordable, inclusive housing solutions.
“By integrating social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility, this model offers a blueprint for cities to create lasting solutions to housing and migration challenges,” stated Velasquez.
The reception also served as an interactive space for showcasing multimedia displays and fostering partnerships, laying the groundwork for collaborative action.
Setting the Stage for the Summit of the Future
These events were more than just a showcase of innovation—they were a curtain raiser for the Summit of the Future, which convened just days later to adopt the Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations. These landmark agreements aim to reform global governance, address 21st-century challenges, and elevate youth voices in decision-making processes.
“The Pact for the Future is about turbocharging the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels, and securing a peaceful and livable future for everyone on our planet,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his opening remarks at the Summit.
Guterres also emphasized the central role of youth in shaping these transformative agreements: “It includes a groundbreaking commitment by governments to listen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levels,” highlighted the Secretary-General.
Reflecting on the significance of the events leading up to the Summit, Syed stated: “The events leading up to the Summit of the Future demonstrated that youth are not just passive observers but active agents of change. From affordable housing solutions to digital tools for local action, these initiatives showed the world what is possible when young people are empowered.”
The Road to the World Urban Forum
The discussions and ideas generated during these events not only shaped the Summit of the Future but also set the stage for the upcoming World Urban Forum. The themes of youth empowerment, digital innovation, and localized action will continue to resonate as the global community explores practical solutions to urban challenges.
For more information, visit Road to the World Urban Forum.
A Lasting Legacy
As the Summit of the Future concluded, the energy and ideas generated during the exhibition, conference, and reception continued to resonate. These events underscored the critical role of youth-driven action and innovation in creating a sustainable future and demonstrated the value of collaboration across generations and sectors.
The outcomes of these discussions will shape not only the implementation of the Pact for the Future but also key events such as World Urban Forum.
Stay Connected
- Explore highlights from the exhibition and conference:
Celebrating the Future with Youth at the UN
- Learn more about the initiatives and outcomes:
- Access the Summit of the Future Outcome Documents, including the Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations:
Summit of the Future Outcome Documents
- Discover the Cairo Action Plan for the World Urban Forum:
Learn more about the Cairo Action Plan.
- Read the DeclarACTION for Youth and Sustainable Urbanization and the continued Road to Urban Sustainability
These events showcased the immense potential of youth-driven action, digital tools, and cultural creativity in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. As the global community continues its journey toward sustainable development, the contributions of youth will remain a cornerstone of progress.
