Youth action plan promotes sustainable development

The Action Plan for Global Youth Development was officially initiated on Monday to mobilize youth action in promoting youth development and sustainable development.

Jointly devised by the World Youth Development Forum's organizing committee and the All-China Youth Federation, the action plan calls for youth development action globally and to select 100 excellence actions for global youth development, according to the launch event held online and on-site in Beijing.

The WYDF organizing committee will organize sharing sessions, workshops and field trips to China to empower youth leaders of the 100 excellence actions and expand their networks.

The excellence actions will be publicized and promoted internationally through the WYDF's official website and on various media platforms and social media.

The World Youth Development Forum will be hosted annually. Youth leaders of the 100 excellence actions, together with representatives from their recommending organizations, will be invited to present their programs at the WYDF in China either in person or online.

Each year, a group of youth leaders will be selected through roadshows and public speeches to receive scholarship grants.

Young people from around the world can apply for the 100 excellence actions at the official website of the World Youth Development Forum (www.wydf.org.cn) and send their applications before Dec 31.

Fu Zhenbang, vice-president of the All-China Youth Federation, said development is "for youth and with youth", as they are the potential driving force to change the world.

The action plan will further the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Global Development Initiative through the concrete actions of young people all over the world, advance the exchange of experience and international cooperation regarding youth development, promote young people to contribute to global development and for the world to drive youth development, and work together to create a better future for humanity.

"We call on young people from all countries to take action, with enthusiasm and strength, jointly writing a new chapter of global youth unity and cooperation," he said.

Also at the event, the Global Youth Climate Week was launched by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate and 100 global partners.

Yang Bin, vice-president of Tsinghua University, said: "Youth are the backbone of a net-zero future. They are not only the inheritor, but also the owner, the creator and the leader of such a future."

Climate change is an existential threat that transcends national boundaries and poses lasting impacts on our descendants far into the future. It requires getting society on board as a whole should we hold any chance to conquer the challenge, he said.

Justine Coulson, a representative of the UN Population Fund to China, said the world today is home to 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24, and China has one of the largest youth populations in the world.

The action plan will enable young people to share their best practices with the world, build a network of advocates and practitioners of youth development, and provide training and exchange opportunities for youth leaders from different countries, she said.

Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Envoy on Climate Change, said more than 130 countries have set up carbon neutral or net-zero carbon emission targets, covering 88 percent of the globe's carbon emissions, 90 percent of its GDP and 85 percent of its population.

As the largest developing country in the world, China has taken the initiative to assume responsibility in line with its national conditions. Since 2020, China has exceeded the 2020 climate action target it pledged to the international community and further proposed the goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, he said via video link.

Dealing with climate change and achieving the dual carbon goals requires intergenerational efforts, and young people should assume the responsibility as soon as possible, he said.

"We hope young people will be fully aware of the new global trends, find solutions for global climate governance and realize their own dreams in the transformation."