At the core of the SDGs movement is
a commitment to deliver the objectives
of the goals by emboldening the
involvement of young people across
the globe. The UN reaffirmed this
commitment in 2018, launching
Youth2030: The United Nations Youth
Strategy to work with and for youth.
The UN estimates that world’s current
population of young people aged 10
to 24 is around 1.8 billion, making
it the largest generation of youth in
history. In 2020, young people are
facing challenges to their human rights
and environment, with some of these
issues disproportionally effecting
girls and young women in some areas
of the world. The youth of the world
have never been connected in the way
that they are now, creating new, ever-
changing issues with technology, but
also providing a way for young people
to mobilize across the globe to take
action towards change.
Here in Canada, many of the SDGs
are already supported, but there is
still work to be done. In particular,
Canada still faces challenges in
meeting SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG
3 (Good Health and Well-Being),
SDG 4 (Quality Education), and
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
within Indigenous communities.
The frightening epidemic of missing
and murdered Indigenous women
and girls is an unsettling reminder
of our failure with SDG 5 (Gender
Equality), despite progress with
some targets. We are in the midst
of an urgent climate crisis and must
mitigate the effects of climate change
through SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The intersectionality of all 17 SDGs,
however, is essential in making sure
human rights, peace, and security are
maintained not just in Canada, but
everywhere.
Youth in Canada are already driving
change in every aspect of society
through programs led by the United
Nations Association in Canada (UNA-
Canada), working to inform Canadians
about the SDGs and grow its impact
nationwide. These young people join
the many others around the globe in
understanding the importance of action.
For the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development to be successful, active
participation from youth in Canada
and around the world is essential. Their
perspectives must be included in policy
making, and their involvement at a
local level can lead to global impact.
It’s time to stop imagining a better world
and look to the generation that is making
it a reality.
The time for imagining a better world is
over. It’s time to make it a reality and the
youth of today can make it happen.
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