ECOSOC Youth Forum:

BACKGROUND

The 2022 ECOSOC Youth Forum theme “COVID-19 recovery: Youth taking action for a sustainable future”, addresses the ECOSOC and 2022 HLPF theme of “Building back better from COVID- 19 while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” As part of the EYF thematic sessions on the SDGs under review at the HLPF, the Forum will review progress towards SDG 15 - life on land and consider the role of youth.

Young activists, scientists, practitioners are active partners in global efforts to sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and land degradation, halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems.

Through their direct work and by engaging with Governments and other partners, young people are accelerating the transition towards sustainable ways of living and low carbon, resilient, resource efficient and nature positive economies. Young people have a vested interest in ensuring that the health of the planet and its ecosystems are at the core of all plans and policies to build back better.

They can amplify and increase the reach and impact of major international initiatives - from the One Health approach to ensuring the health of ecosystems and people, to the Secretary-General’s global initiatives on “Turning the Tide on Deforestation”, “Climate Action”, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. They can be part of actions to support the most vulnerable groups such as youth living in slums or human settlements exposed to pollution and natural disasters.

OBJECTIVES

The SDG 15 thematic session will provide a platform for interactive discussion on best practices, lessons learned, solutions as well as creative and innovative ideas regarding:

• how young people are creating change through contributing to protect biodiversity and restoring ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combatting desertification and reversing land degradation;
• what kind of support young people need to strengthen their engagement in global efforts to halt deforestation, take climate action and promote ecosystem restoration;
• how to promote more meaningful youth participation in shaping decisions of relevance to achieving SDG15 and to building back better from COVID-19

OUTCOMES

• A constructive and inspiring dialogue on actions young people have taken to support progress towards SDG15 and COVID-19 recovery during the SDG Decade of Action and Delivery;
• Identifying what kinds of policy support and measures are needed to strengthen the meaningful participation of youth in recovery measures and in advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG15;
• Raising awareness of how renewed commitment, political support and accelerated action towards SDG 15 is essential to building back better and transition to a low emission, resource efficient, nature positive, and socially inclusive economy.

PANEL

Moderator: Xuan Zihan, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) 

• Opening remarks: Juliette Biao, Director, UN Forum on Forests Secretariat 

• Lead Discussant: Joshua Amaitum, International Forestry Students' Association (Uganda)

• Lead Discussant: Maximo Mazzocco, founder of Eco House (Argentina)

• Lead Discussant: Mi Hongxu, Ecological Protection Section, Yinggeling Branch, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Administration (China)

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