ECOSOC Youth Forum: Turning Youth Insights into Sustainable Action for Future Generations

Thursday, 17 April 2025

08:45 AM – 10:00 AM (EST) / 14:45 PM – 16:00 PM (CET)

Virtual Side event

Turning Youth Insights into Sustainable Action for Future Generations

Young people are leading the charge toward a more inclusive, sustainable world. But how do we turn their bold ideas into systems-level action?

Join the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) for a dynamic side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025 which is being guided by the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF): “Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development.”

This interactive session invites youth, policymakers, and changemakers to co-create a future that is truly fit for generations to come. Speakers will include:

• Mr. Chris Earney, Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub
• Dr. Themba Kalua, Director, Pact for the Future Implementation, Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)
• H.E. Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN 
• Ms. Shurabe Mercado, YOUNGO Representative for the Youth Taskforce on the Implementation of the Pact for the Future.
• Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, UN Youth Office (UNYO)

A mandate for the future – youth participation matters

At the Summit of the Future on 22 September 2024 , the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Pact for the Future, a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. Annexed to the Pact, the Declaration defines future generations as “all those generations that do not yet exist, and who will inherit this planet”. It sets out the foundations to safeguard their needs and interests through concrete measures and follow-up mechanisms. These include a greater use of anticipatory planning and foresight, based on science, data and statistics, strengthened systems of national and global accounting, forward-looking and evidence-based impact assessments or better measures of progress on sustainable development within the United Nations and the multilateral system.

Youth, as critical agents of positive change, already contribute, through their engagement, ideas and networks, to the advancement of peace and security, sustainable development and human rights in their own countries and in the multilateral system. At the United Nations, we are committed to systematically listen to them, work with them and provide them with meaningful opportunities to shape the future. As the leaders of tomorrow, investing in them and integrating their perspectives in decision-making drive innovative approaches and long-term policies that are future-orientated and sustainable. Their voices are thus essential to define the UN future generations agenda.

What to expect

Building on the outcomes of foresight activities undertaken by the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and partners at the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi (May 2024) and the UN Summit of the Future Youth Action Day in New York (September 2024), this session will explore aspirations and develop actionable recommendations for a tomorrow that is fit for future generations.

This session will engage an intergenerational and multistakeholder group in a participatory foresight exercise using the “Headlines of Tomorrow” across SDGs 3 (health & well-being), 4 (education), 5 (gender equality), 8 (work & economic growth), 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water), 16 (peace, justice & strong institutions) and 17 (partnerships). By doing so, it will provide the opportunity to bridge youth and leadership insights in realizing the vision for future generations and result in a practical input to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2025. This will be an interactive session requiring participants to actively engage in the foresight exercise and formulate recommended actions.

Programme

Moderator: Mr. Chris Earney, Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub

Time	Activity
08:45am – 9:00am	Welcome and Opening remarks   Dr. Themba Kalua, Director, Pact for the Future Implementation, Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) H.E. Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN Ms. Shurabe Mercado, YOUNGO Representative for the Youth Taskforce on the Implementation of the Pact for the Future
9:00am – 9:40am	Participatory Foresight Exercise: Headlines of Tomorrow Five rounds of Headlines exercise that reflect youth visions on the following SDGs: 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 14, 16 and 17
9:40am – 9:55am	Discussion and Reflections   Participants share reflections on the Headlines of the Tomorrow and the recommended actions
9:55am – 10:00am	Closing   Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, UN Youth Office (UNYO)

Join us

Youth are not just next in line – they are already leading. Join the conversation, shape the vision, and help turn ideas into action.