Follow-up to the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Our Common Agenda" focused discussion on identifying ways and means of more meaningful engagement of youth in the work of the General Assembly was successfully held on Tuesday, 30 August 2022, at 3p.m., in the ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters. As a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the UN, the World Eco-Design Conference (WEDC) was invited by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) to participate in this event.

 

In September 2021, the Secretary-General released his Our Common Agenda report, which designed to strengthen and accelerate multilateral agreements –particularly the 2030 Agenda – and make a tangible difference in people’s lives. It presents the Secretary-General's vision on the future of global cooperation through an inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism. In paragraph 47 of the report, a proposal recommending that the Envoy on Youth will prepare recommendations for more meaningful, diverse and effective youth engagement in UN deliberative and decision-making processes for the consideration of the General Assembly, Security Council and ECOSOC and their respective subsidiary bodies.

 

The meeting is followed by a series of broad consultations to be conducted by the Office of the Secretary-generals Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), including with youth organizations and representatives in line with paragraph 47 of Our Common Agenda report. The objectives of the focused discussion are to identify and exchange views on existing mechanisms for youth engagement in the General Assembly, highlighting best practices, opportunities, challenges and potential areas for improvement, and propose specific and actionable ways.

 

The World Eco-Design Conference has always paid close attention to the development of youth, actively participated in the youth-related activities of the UN, hearing their voices, and providing quality education. In 2021, the World Eco-Design Conference, the United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, and the Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University jointly initiated the International Design Education Program to admit 50 students from the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) for each year, cultivate them with interdisciplinary skills, and enhance their innovation and problem-solving capacities. In particular, this Program will focus on (re)skilling and upskilling youth and connecting them from learning to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

 

In the future, the World Eco-Design Conference will persist with its efforts to promote the IDE Program, strengthen the construction of International Design Education Alliance. This will provide more opportunities and wider platforms to facilitate the youth knowledge exchange and cultivate young design talents, and also to make contributions to the implementation of the SDGs.