For decades, youth have been told they are the future — the changemakers, co-creators, and leaders of tomorrow. But are we truly listening to what they have to say? Do we empower young people to be able to lead societal transformations?
And most importantly, do we give them enough power to shape decisions that affect their livelihoods? Younger generations are inheriting a world shaped by overlapping environmental, economic, and social challenges. The U.N.’s 2030 Agenda recognizes youth as “critical stakeholders” in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — yet too often they remain limited to advisory roles or symbolic forms of participation with marginal opportunities to influence decision-making or lead meaningful and sustainable change.
Typically, we focus on youth engagement, as though “participation” is the final goal itself. However, if we truly expect future generations to shape more sustainable communities, we must go beyond merely encouraging participation by developing meaningful opportunities and mentorship that enable leadership — empowering young people not only to contribute, but to influence decisions and have their voices heard. Pact for the Future — adopted by member states in 2024 — marked a significant global recognition that today’s challenges cannot be solved without expanding meaningful youth participation, especially in decision-making.
The pact made it clear: the question is no longer whether to involve youth, but whether governments, institutions and organizations can translate their commitments to youth leadership into practice. Turning commitments to youth leadership into action requires creating spaces where young people can take on meaningful roles and responsibilities. Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCEs) provide such spaces by connecting communities, educators and organizations to facilitate learning and action on sustainability.
A recent RCE publication highlights case studies from communities across the globe, demonstrating that when young people are trusted with real responsibility and are given proper resources, they move beyond participation to become leaders of sustainability action. Below are three takeaways from this important report. First, action-oriented education that empowers young people from an early age is critical.
Building a sustainable future begins with children — long before they become professionals, policymakers or community leaders. Through hands-on learning, youth develop values, curiosity and a sense of responsibility for how they engage with the world — all while understanding their surroundings, building on existing knowledge, and adapting proven solutions to current and emerging challenges. For example, students in Getxo, Spain, are actively transforming their schools through greening initiatives, demonstrating that environmental leadership begins long before adulthood.
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