Young People at the Forefront: United Nations General Assembly Week
By Swarnima Shrestha, +SocialGood Connector, Development Communications Specialist, and Women’s rights advocate
It was like a festival in Manhattan, New York. From the different heads of states, ministers, political and social leaders, activists, protesters, human rights advocates, to local youth leaders from around the world, everyone was gathered in this mesmerizing city. There were flocks of people dressed in their best formal wear walking busily on the streets — everyone looked like they were going to attend the most important meetings of their lives. I heard people talking about world problems at their breakfast tables — it seemed like everyone was on a mission. I was glad, overwhelmed, and humbled to be a part of this crowd.
It was a humbling experience for me as a +SocialGood Connector along with 12 other amazing connectors to be a part of the UN General Assembly and attend the Social Good Summit. It was a week full of insights and learning — meeting inspirational people who were contributing a lot to make this world a better place. It was especially inspiring to see young people at the center stage taking leadership not just in the panels but at the local communities across the globe. For me listening to and meeting these young speakers and activists was the highlight of the experience.
Everyone remembers Greta Thunberg’s passionate speech at the Climate Action Summit, which is only a representation of how serious young people are about the climate crisis. Young people today are aware and taking actions for the planet — and they want everyone including the world leaders to do the same.
During a session called ‘Fighting for My Future’ at the Social Good Summit, 14 year old Climate Activist and leader Alexandria Villaseñor shared how she took leadership in the New York City Climate Strike and Fridays for Future movements, and went on to found her own organization Earth Uprising. Young people like her dread what the future will bring for us if we do not take immediate action.
Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth spoke about the power of youth mobilization at the Social Good Summit. She shared the messages from the climate activists around the world who had gathered for climate strike and then gathered together at the UN to discuss the issues and their solutions. She shared that, “we cannot treat the climate crisis like an issue that needs debate, it is not an opinion, it is a fact. In fact it is an emergency that needs urgent action.”
The young people today are changing the way they live their lives — they know that this is urgent and there is no time to waste. They are aware about the environmental consequences of their everyday actions. They are changing the way they travel, the way they eat, the way they dress, the way they reuse and recycle. They are not only taking everyday actions but also bold steps to challenge the authorities who are not yet taking the issue of climate crisis seriously.
But the future of our planet will depend upon how much support the climate advocates will garner from everyone— as this is a battle that cannot be fought alone. Individual actions can make some difference but unless the big players are held accountable and policy changes are made and implemented around the world, it will be very difficult to make any real difference. Young people today have started taking the burden upon themselves — now it is the time of world leaders to do their part.
