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Leaving no one behind. UNESCO gives youth a voice to advance sustainable development
In times of global instability and shifting priorities, our unwavering commitment to advancing the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals is crucial. Central to this mission are youth, powerful agents of change, social transformation, peace and sustainable development; their voices are vital for crafting long-term solutions to today鈥檚 most pressing challenges.
These insights were brought to the fore at the 2025 UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) held last April in Geneva. Some 700 representatives 鈥 including policymakers, UN agencies, youth, civil society, and academia 鈥 convened this year.
The intergovernmental forum reflected on the region鈥檚 progress and explored transformative policies and innovative approaches for advancing sustainable development with a focus on 5 SDGs in Europe and Central Asia. UNESCO, through its Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, played an active role in co-leading efforts to accelerate SDGs鈥 implementation with a particular focus on ocean literacy, youth empowerment, and the interlinkages between education and well-being.
During the , titled 鈥淔rom Policy to Practice: Strengthening Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Management under SDG 14鈥, the need for inclusive, intergenerational approaches to ocean literacy emerged as a priority, with youth at the forefront as both current change-makers and future leaders.
The session, co-organised by UNESCO and UNEP, featured compelling perspectives on how marine education, youth engagement, and scientific collaboration can drive meaningful change. UNESCO Regional Bureau Director, Magdalena Landry, underscored the importance of integrating ocean education across disciplines, and emphasised the need for equitable and accessible learning opportunities, and for connecting science, policy, and society through empowered youth engagement.
Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow 鈥 they are the agents of change today. Their voices, ideas, and energy are transforming how we understand and protect our ocean.
Youth perspectives on this topic were amplified through the voice of Rada Pandeva, a young marine scientist who, with the support of UNESCO, contributed to both the and the SDG 14 session.
Drawing on her work with the and initiatives like , Rada championed deeper, more active, cross-sectoral youth participation, including integrating people with disabilities, in marine stewardship. 鈥The ocean doesn't discriminate. It needs everybody鈥檚 voice鈥, she said, advocating for young people as rights-holders who must be meaningfully involved in decision-making processes.
UNESCO also contributed to the supporting Matthew Vella, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta. Vella highlighted national efforts to strengthen education systems as a pathway to public health resilience.
Youth-centred discussions took centre stage during , an online side event where stakeholders and partners explored how effective policies, strategies, and practices can embed learners鈥 well-being into education provisions and strengthen its impact on learning.
UNESCO鈥檚 presence at the 2025 UNECE Regional Forum reaffirmed its leadership in advancing inclusive, science-based solutions for sustainable development. By promoting ocean literacy, amplifying youth voices, and reinforcing the link between education and well-being, UNESCO continues to work toward building resilient, inclusive, and equitable societies that leave no one behind.
