Young leaders, innovators, and advocates from across the globe are gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York for the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, which continues until Thursday. The forum’s primary objective is to generate innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Operating under the theme “Innovate, Unite, and Transform: Youth Shaping the Path to 2030,” the event underscores the critical role of young people as partners in establishing a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.
Bringing the Sunshine to the UN
Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, remarked on the rarity of experiencing such positive energy within the UN halls, thanking the participants for infusing the space with “sunshine.” She stressed the immediate necessity of youth involvement, stating, “This is a test of whether we are truly ready to act.“
Baerbock conveyed three key messages to delegates, ministers, and youth leaders. “First, to the delegates and Permanent Representatives here in New York: Follow up without making excuses. (…) Second, to the ministers and representatives from the capitals: The discussions here must go beyond this hall. (…) And finally, to the youth: Keep pushing the boundaries. Keep questioning. Keep leading.” She urged attendees to leverage the opportunity to interact with policymakers, advising them to remain authentic and embrace their individuality: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to dress like a diplomat or talk like a diplomat to be taken seriously. Because we need your voices precisely because you are unique.”
Youth as Indispensable Agents of Change
ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa, in his opening remarks, addressed the significant challenges facing young people, including geopolitical instability, climate change, economic volatility, widening inequalities, and the digital divide. Thapa stated, “In the face of these challenges, youth are not only the most affected but also indispensable agents of change. Across communities and sectors, young people are not only developing solutions but are also actively shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all.” He highlighted that hope, solidarity, and innovation are already prevalent globally and called for genuinely inclusive progress, emphasizing the need to “ensure that all young people, regardless of geography, gender, ability, or socioeconomic background, have equal access to opportunities, voice, and influence.”
Urgent Realities for Young People
The UN reports that there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15-24, representing 16% of the global population. By 2030, the target year for the SDGs, this demographic is expected to grow to approximately 1.3 billion. Jaewon Choi, a leader from the DMUN Foundation and a keynote speaker, highlighted the persistent exclusion of many young individuals from essential systems. Choi warned, “A young person dies every 4.4 seconds… due to malnutrition, preventable diseases, violence, natural disasters, and the tragedy of exclusion from every system tasked with their protection.” Emphasizing the critical need for immediate action, Choi asserted, “We have the fundamental right to participate in the decisions that will shape our future, the consequences of which we will inherit, and are already inheriting.”
Focus Areas and Future Discussions
Forum discussions are concentrating on key Sustainable Development Goals: clean water (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and partnerships (SDG 17). The critical topic of partnerships will be further explored at the 2026 High-level Political Forum scheduled for July.
