**Virtual link is available in our interactive programme**

Organizers

United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) and YOUNGO

Background 

Many young people are struggling to access education and employment. While globally, more than 160 million youth are working, many are living in poverty. At the same time, there is hope and promise in the green transition: up to 60 million new jobs in the green economy could be created by 2030, according to the ILO. Green jobs, then, present an opportunity to foster decent youth employment while simultaneously preserving the environment and increasing climate resilience. 

The preamble of the Paris Agreement underscores the close links between climate action, sustainable development, and a just transition of the workforce, with decent work and quality jobs for all. In the Our Common Agenda report, the UN Secretary-General emphasized the critical role of education and skills development to support people’s capacity to navigate societal transitions throughout their lives. The green transition is shaping the experience of today’s youth in education and work and young people who are equipped with green skills will be better prepared to act as catalysts who can lead the transition to a greener future. Therefore, there is an urgent need to engage youth in the green economy and just transition at scale.

The session will convene various stakeholders with experience in engaging youth in the green economy and just transition. The session aims to build the capacity of youth to lead a just transition, foster knowledge exchange, share concrete examples of green economy and just transition leaders, programs, policies, and best practices, and create a space for conversations to engage youth at scale in the green economy and just transition.
 

Objectives 

• Raise awareness and build capacities of youth climate practitioners, entrepreneurs and activists in the field of skills development for a just transition in their respective communities and empower them to think and identify how their jobs or career prospects are connected to just transition.
• Present an overview of the challenges and opportunities in creating green jobs at scale and engaging youth in the just transition in the Asia-Pacific region;
• Foster knowledge exchange, dialogue and collaboration between youth, party and non-party stakeholders. 
• Showcase success stories and best practices from youth leading actions for a just transition.
• Present opportunities for follow-up collaborations with UNGC, UNU-IAS, YECAP and YOUNGO.
   

Agenda and Format