The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment organized a high-level dialogue session on youth Innovation, social business and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the 72nd UNGA. The discussions focused on developing ventures that create positive social impacts, particularly in the sustainability sector, and the role of governments to empower and support youth entrepreneurship, in pursuit of sustainable development.
His Excellency Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, hosted the event which saw the participation of H.E. Mr. Gaston Alfonso Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, H.E. Mr. Martin Bille Hermann, Denmark’s State Secretary for Development Cooperation, Diane Jacovella, Deputy Minister for International Development, Global Affairs, Canada, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General of UNCTAD, and Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Prize Laureate, Founder of Grameen Bank.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi said: “Youth play a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Hence, the UAE has prioritized the engagement and empowerment of youth at the highest levels. The UAE has also launched several initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship among youth and attract innovative startups to the region.”
“Youth are a part of all of our official UN climate delegations. For example, at last year’s UN Climate Conference in Marrakesh, the official UAE delegation included 30 international and Emirati students. Moreover, UAE heavily invests in research and innovation in our effort to becoming a knowledge and innovation based economy. We recently launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity, which aims to embark on a new industrial revolution to facilitate the integration of machine, digital and human capabilities, as well as meet the SDGs. The initiative will also have a dedicated pillar to engage youth in finding innovative solutions”, His Excellency added.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi indicated that there are more than 1.2 billion 15 to 24 year olds in the world and young people today are better poised than any generation in history to achieve a prosperous future because of their unique opportunities and characteristics.
“Youth of today tend to be more educated, technologically adept, and resilient to diseases that previous generations were not resilient to. They value independence and autonomy and believe that it is their duty to improve their communities, and eventually, the world”, he noted.
Social Business is a promising model that was developed in 2006 by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. It is defined as a business created to address a social problem and can harness young people's potential to drive economic development, positive social change, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.
“Millennials are the most likely of any generation to self-identify as liberals and are also more supportive of progressive domestic social agenda than older generations. Young people want to build stable democracies, sustainable economies and societies based on equity. They are tomorrow's leaders, parents, professionals and workers and today's assets”, Professor Muhammad Yunus explained.
In conclusion, His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi stated that the UAE has also created a number of platforms that give youth an opportunity to voice their dreams and aspirations, and for government officials to motivate and harness youth driven innovative solutions to issues the world is facing today.