UAE launches global youth dialogue to shape sustainability beyond 2030

The UAE has launched a new global initiative to amplify youth voices in shaping the future of sustainable development beyond 2030, WAM reported.

The effort was unveiled during a special youth session titled “Voices for 2045: Youth Shaping the Future” on the sidelines of the 2025 United Nations Sustainable Development Forum in New York.

Hosted at the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the session brought together 40 young leaders and members of the UN General Assembly’s Major Group for Children and Youth. The dialogue focused on reimagining the future through the lens of the Extended Sustainable Development Goals (XDGs 2045) — a long-term vision for inclusive global progress first introduced by the UAE at the 2023 World Governments Summit.

Participants explored how youth can take a more active role in crafting policies, strategies, and solutions for sustainable development. They responded to key questions about their motivations, the changes they seek, challenges they face, and what support they need to drive transformation.

Key priorities that emerged included:

• Empowering youth through direct involvement in policymaking
• Expanding access to quality education and healthcare
• Fostering global cooperation and innovation
• Protecting natural resources for future generations

Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chair of the UAE’s National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals, emphasized the central role of youth: "Young people are not just beneficiaries of development — they are co-creators of the future. Their voices must be integral to shaping the global agenda."

Lootah added that the session reflects the UAE’s commitment to ensuring meaningful youth participation in international development dialogue and decision-making.

The event aligns with the objectives of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN’s key platform for reviewing global progress on the 2030 Agenda. This year’s HLPF features in-depth reviews of five key goals: health and well-being, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, ocean conservation, and global partnerships.