Why we need youth at the table

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to hundreds of exceptional young people gathered at the Youth Forum at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The youth delegates who attended the event are part of the largest generation of youth in history. Their visit to the UN came at a crucial time for people and our planet. 2015 is not just another year, but one when we have the chance to set the course for a sustainable future — by agreeing on sustainable development goals and achieving a meaningful, universal climate agreement.

The United Nations also turns 70 this year, which is as much a chance to look back on the Organization’s contributions to peace, human rights and development as an opportunity to look forward.

The power of young people is essential if we are to succeed in facing global challenges, not least ending poverty and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Our one and only planet is theirs to inherit and we need their active involvement and ideas to help reduce emissions and become more climate-resilient.

So, at this week’s event, I made three calls to action to the world’s youth.

First: Help us drive sustainable development that is people-centred and planet-sensitive. Second: Fight injustice and inequality with solidarity so no one is left behind. And third: Be an active global citizen.

Young people have been hit hardest by the global unemployment crisis. Globally, 73 million young people are looking for work; they are three times more likely than adults to be jobless. Many more are trapped in exploitative jobs, child labour or slave labour.

Yet, youth are more than victims of poverty and economic downturn — they can be agents of change. We need to do more to create jobs for young people and to support young entrepreneurs so they can create jobs for others. Ending poverty and creating wealth is part of the solution, but we have to make sure that economic prosperity is inclusive and shared.

I continue to be impressed by energy, talent and optimism that I see in the young people I meet on my travels around the world and the youth delegates who came to the UN this week were no exception. I am counting on today’s youth to do their part as global citizens who act for our common future.

This article is published in collaboration with LinkedIn. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Ban Ki-moon has been secretary-general of the United Nations since 2007.

Image: A young worker sits in the office of a start-up company at the Wostel co-working space in Berlin March 18, 2013. REUTERS/Thomas Peter