LocationsOpening Remarks by Ms. Beate Trankmann at the World Youth Development Forum Green Development Subforum
August 14, 2024
UNDP Resident Representative in China, Beate Trankmann, delivered opening remarks at the World Youth Development Forum Thematic Forum on Green Development in Nanning, China.
尊敬的胡 (盛)书记 (Mr. Hu Sheng, Head of the All-China Youth Federation)
尊敬的王(维平)部长（Mr. Wang Weiping, Member of the Standing Committee and the Director of the Organization Department, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China）
各位青年朋友 ，Dear young friends. Good morning everyone.
It’s great to be with you at the Nanning segment of the World Youth Development Forum.
Let me start by congratulating every young person here, for expressing, by your presence and actions, your commitment to a greener, fairer future.
I know many of you came from the Youth Pre-Meeting for the Summit of the Future in Beijing. So, I look forward to hearing about your discussions there.
Because we have no time to lose.
The Sustainable Development Goals, to end poverty and protect our planet by 2030, are way off track[1]. Goal 13, Climate Action, is even regressing[2]. That leaves us only a 14% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.[3] And we all feel it – June 2024 was our thirteenth consecutive ‘warmest month’ on record.[4]
In the face of unprecedented climate change and environmental destruction, sustainable development has never been more urgent. And we need all of society, especially, you, the youth to drive it.
Our world today is very young; with 1.8 billion young people – it is home to the largest youth cohort in history[5] that is also more connected and more tech-savvy than any generation before.
Yet, too often still young people are excluded: from decision-making, from development, and from negotiations. Even when youth change societies for the better, it often goes unrecognized.
We know young people like yourselves are most affected by economic and environmental crises. And we also know you are the most vital agents of change to overcome them.
Your innovative mindset and intrinsic motivation to protect our planet, uniquely position you to drive the green transformation.
Today is an opportunity to celebrate talented young people and your achievements, and to commit to a sustainable, equitable future, for everyone.
"UNDP remains committed to green development, and to empowering young people as partners to play your pivotal part in reaching those goals, for our shared future. No matter who you are and where you from, we’re on this journey with you towards a sustainable, resilient world, including everyone along the way."
UNDP is dedicated to partnering with you on this. Through our strong worldwide presence and broad mandate, we can and must remove barriers to your participation.
Our Youth Co:Lab supports social entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific, helping to build more than 300 youth-led start-ups that promote innovative SDG solutions.
By training trainers, our MOVERS Programme reached more than 50,000 young people to spread SDG awareness and entrepreneurship skills across this region at grassroots levels.
Among them is, Ms. Wang Hanyuan, an alumni of Youth Co:Lab, who started Climind, a “data-as-a-service” platform delivering actionable climate data through AI technologies, to inform mitigation and adaptation solutions. In 2022, the United Nations awarded her as an SDG Young Leader.
I am happy to see so many young climate activists and social entrepreneurs like Hanyuan here today. You bring different perspectives on the challenges we face.
So please: speak up and push boundaries – business as usual is no longer an option.
Going forward, I encourage each of you to be bold and decisive:
1. Firstly, advocate green development awareness. Use social media and other digital platforms to amplify your message and mobilize others to drive collective action towards a green future.
2. Secondly, boost green innovation and entrepreneurship. From renewable energy to sustainable agriculture, from circular economy models to conservation efforts, there are countless ways of contributing to a sustainable tomorrow.
3. Thirdly, make conscious low carbon life and consumer choices. Minimizing waste, opting for public transport and saving energy – everything helps.
As the Chinese saying goes: 正所谓，不积硅步，无以至千里。No step is too small, for even small actions can create great change.
I commend the All China Youth Federation (ACYF) and Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) for hosting this event, so young people can connect - exchange ideas, stories, and lessons- and join hands for action to achieve the SDGs.
UNDP remains committed to green development, and to empowering young people as partners to play your pivotal part in reaching those goals, for our shared future.
No matter who you are and where you from, we’re on this journey with you towards a sustainable, resilient world, including everyone along the way.
谢谢大家!
[1] Source: UN Annual Sustainable Development Report (2024). Url: https://www.developmentaid.org/api/frontend/cms/file/2024/06/sustainable-development-report-2024.pdf
[2] Ibld
[3] Source: UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023. Url: https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2023
[4] Source: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/
[5] Source: UN Youth Strategy (2018). Url address: https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18-00080_UN-Youth-Strategy_Web.pdf
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