UNA Indonesia, Danish Embassy and UN in Indonesia Hold Global Youth Conference for SDGs

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – With assistance from the UN in Indonesia, the Danish Embassy organized an international conference with the theme “Uniting Youth: Youth-led Actions on a Global Scale for Sustainable Development” in collaboration with UN Association Indonesia (UNAI), a global NGO that advocates for the SDGs, through the Indonesia Youth Development Program (IYDP). The significance of youth leadership in attaining sustainable development is emphasized by this theme.

Approximately 2,000 young people and future leaders from five continents signed up for this conference, according to a press release received by Tempo on January 12, 2025.

“The Sustainable Development Goals are very important,” UNIC Indonesia Director Miklos Gaspar stated in his statement. “This reminds us of comprehensive and collaborative action and the importance of youth participation,” he stated.

Miklos claims that the UN views youth participation as essential to the sustainability goal. Making sure that young people are included in the change is a major goal of many UN project implementations. Additionally, Miklos stressed that young people may effect change in their communities. Youth must be able to choose a sustainable lifestyle, and this can begin in their personal lives.

Jessica Lane, the 2024 Miss Earth, concurred that youth are crucial to sustainable development initiatives. “Youth are not only part of the discussion, but also have a role to lead,” Miss Earth 2024 stated. “And we have the power to make a difference.” This emphasizes how urgent it is for young people everywhere to take action for sustainable development.

Bhagasjati Kusuma, the secretary general of UNA Indonesia, attended the conference today as well.

Bhagas said in his introductory remarks that he was excited to see so many future world leaders attending the conference. He expects that this meeting will give young people a larger network to work together to address global issues. Additionally, Romeo Matthew Pantouw, the Hub Manager, feels that young people need to continue to work toward becoming individuals with influence and make their voices heard in order to achieve sustainable development goals through practical everyday actions.

The IYDP addressed these three following subjects: “Youth and Environment: Cooperation in Water and Waste Management” , “Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities for Women in Education” , and the “Youth Diplomacy as Catalyst in Cultural Exchange and Sustainable Development”

The cooperation between Denmark and Indonesia in sustainable water and waste management, bolstered by youth initiatives and social media as a vehicle to produce impactful solutions, was highlighted by Erika Torres Liquin, Environment Sector Councilor of the Danish Embassy.

In order to empower women and advance gender equality, Rivalni Septiadi, an educator and UN Volunteer Australia, and Een Juliani, a national gender youth activist with UN Women Indonesia, emphasized the significance of digital literacy, local collaborations, and removing obstacles like sociocultural norms and economic inequality.

Climate reality activist Ari Adipratomo emphasized the need of young diplomacy in fostering cross-cultural dialogue and environmentally friendly behaviors for a brighter future.

Vinicius Manfredini, a student from Paraíba State University in Brazil, concluded the meeting by expressing how excited he was to be a part of it. “I am the only Brazilian here. So, I feel very connected to people from all over the world.”

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