Youth Voices for a Sustainable Future: Experiences, Perspectives, and Recommendations on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17

With 2030 just four years away, the world is at a critical moment in delivering on the SDGs. The 2026 HLPF focuses on five goals that are interconnected and foundational to the wellbeing of current and future generations — clean water, affordable energy, resilient infrastructure, inclusive cities, and enhanced through global partnerships. Progress on these goals remains uneven, and in some cases, there is regression. Young people (aged 10 to 24 years) number 1.8 billion today, and this generation is disproportionately affected by the consequences of slow or insufficient action. Youth in low- and middle-income countries face daily realities of water insecurity, energy, poverty, and exclusion from the digital economy. Young residents of rapidly urbanizing cities grapple with inadequate and unaffordable housing, infrastructure deficits, and climate vulnerability. At the same time, young people are among the most dynamic advocates, innovators, and implementers driving SDG progress in their communities. This side event places young people at the center of the conversation as co-facilitators, panelists, and co-creators of actionable policy recommendations for the global community.