Search
NGO & Charities, Politics & Foreign Affairs, SDG Series, Society, United Nations

Sustainable Development Goals: catalysts for the “Change” Generation to take hold of their future

by
1.27k
EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS PIECE IS  CONTRIBUTED BY THE EUROPEAN  YOUTH FORUM. IT IS PART OF A SERIES EXPLORING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG’S). SEE THE INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES HERE. This piece was previously published by YO!Mag, the European Youth Forum’s platform for youth writing and multimedia content.

The “change” generation or the “lost in transition” generation?

The world today: evolving at break-neck speed

The world is changing more rapidly than any other period in human history. It took 25% of the human population 50 years adopt electricity, 30 years for radio, 18 years for colour television, 13 for mobiles, and only 7 years for the world wide web.
And as the Economist says, “when reality is moving faster than theory suggests, a certain level of fear is a reasonable response”…

For a full mindmap containing additional related articles and photos, visit #SDGStories

Youth complexity in figures: filled with angst, acceptance and motivation

internationalyouthday

Our youth is a youth that….

…Is, maybe legitimately, anxious about its under-preparedness/ inadequacy, when thrust into a world not of its own making…

Take the example of Belgium, a tiny country of 10 million in the heart of Europe that can be seen as emblematic of a whole generation:

  • 46% of Belgian young people think that their education system does not provide a fair chance to all
  • 69% of Belgian young people think that their education system does not adequately prepare for entry in the labour market.
  • 63% of Belgian young people think that their education system does not reward hard work

In short, a world that it doesn’t see as its own. But let’s go on:

  • 62% of Belgian young people have neither participated, nor felt compelled to participate in a political organisation
  • 28% of Belgian young people absolutely don’t trust the various existing media outlets.

Yet it is a generation with an ideal that promotes equality and inclusivity:

  • 78% of Belgian young people think that immigration brings better cultural diversity, essential for cultural enrichment
  • 62% of Belgian young people don’t believe Belgians should have priority picks in the labour market in a high-unemployment scenario.
  • 68% of Belgian French-speaking young people think that men-women equity has yet to be achieved.

A generation that is motivated, excited and searching for self-fulfillment:

  • 69% of Belgian young people think that working is essential to their happiness (compared to 59% only for those surveyed > 34 y.o.)
  • 41% of Belgian young people find themselves fulfilled in their work

A worldwide response needed for 2030: Youth, let us not miss the call.

Related Article: “A SHORT HISTORY OF THE SDGs“

 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The world is getting increasingly complex, thanks to the sheer amount of information growing exponentially, along with faster emergence of tipping points & extremes. In such conditions, only 24% of Belgian youth judge themselves able to lead better lives than their parents, while 45% believe that their own children will exist in an even worse-off world. Again, statistics that reflect a situation that goes well beyond Belgium.

A great urgency, felt by youth, and confirmed by international bodies, led the latter to the Agenda 2030. The 2030 Agenda includes 17 goals, that aspire to leave no-one behind… Indeed, those 17 ambitious goals cannot afford to leave anyone behind, if we want to leave a live-able earth to future generations.

sdg-mosaic-600
PHOTO CREDIT:  YO! Mag

The SDGs: for youth to take (back) in charge their vision of the future – no more “Transition”!

Our ambitious SDGs have no chance of being achieved without half of the global population. Moreover, the SDGs are meaningless if they do not achieve the aim of “leave no one behind”…. Youth represents 50% of our global population, and could be a sustainable development solution task-force to be reckoned with. This non-negligible demographic are the “torch-bearers” and the heirs of our future. Youth rising to become a main actor in the Agenda 2030 is the most direct way for them to harness their future.

Let us start today with listening, consulting and collaborating with youth on their vision, and a common future. Let us start now to include youth in their OWN decisions, in order to ease angst, and mold the “transition” generation into a truly (pro-) active generation of “change”. Let us foster from now on 2030 citizens that are involved, comfortable and in agreement with their world. Let us begin this dream with youth, because the SDGs, with objectives spanning equity, climate change, sustainable consumption, etc should be learned and assimilated as soon as possible.

Youth, allow yourself at the very moment to dream and act for the future – for the best impact possible. Let us raise our voice, spotlight how we already are a solution for sustainable development, and continue coming up with concrete actions!

Recommended Reading: “17 WAYS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THE WORLD“

_ _

Authored by: Annie David, Belgian UN Youth Delegate for Sustainable Development For the Belgian French-Speaking Youth Council.
THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF OUR SERIES ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) – #SDGSTORIES. FOLLOW THE STORIES WITH #SDGSTORIES AND LOOK FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT TO OUR SERIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ACHIEVING THE SDGS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE CAN ACHIEVE THEM, AND WE MUST.
Feature Photo Credit:  UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Donncha O’Callaghan (right) and High Level Supporter Evanna Lynch at a UN Youth Event.  Photo Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider
0
Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , ,
About the Author /

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. Representing 100 youth organisations, both National Youth Councils and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations, we believe youth organisations are the tool through which we empower, encourage, involve, represent, reach out and support young people.

Post a Comment

Related posts you may also like

Children, Shape Your Future

Degan Ali is the Executive Director at Adeso. In 2003 she designed and oversaw the delivery of

Food, Impact, Uncategorized

The food industry is coming under increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, from greenhouse gas emissions, to excessive and detrimental land and water usage, to chemical pollution. Given the challenge of feeding a growing world population whilst simultaneously needing to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts, clearly we need to look at alternatives to “dinner as usual”. The contribution of livestock to global greenhouse emissions is estimated at between 14.5 – 18%. Fortunately, there are companies who are tackling this challenge head on and looking at how emissions from food production can be reduced. With consumer interest increasing in alternatives to meat and other protein sources, we’ve spoken to the founders of three companies. From the seemingly futuristic to the rediscovery of superfood trees, each company tackles this new drive in consumer interest in different ways.

Solar Foods, Finland

Dr Pasi Vainnika is the CEO and co-founder of Solar Foods. The slogan of the company is “Food out of thin air”. Pasi was formerly in charge of the single largest renewable energy program in Finland. However, when he found out that 20-25% of the emissions come from food, he realized that emissions from this sector needed to be addressed, as well as those in the energy sector. But with the growth in affordable and renewable energy – particularly solar energy– it led him and his team to question the possibility of producing food solely from energy, carbon dioxide, and water. It turns out, the answer is yes. Solein is a unique single cell protein. It is produced using a fully natural fermentation process like that of the production of yeast or lactic acid bacteria. The powder, which is produced from the process, is 50% protein, 5-10% fat and 20-25% carbohydrate. Most likely, the first product to reach the consumer market will be a replacement in existing plant-based foods. For example, using Solein in shakes or as an alternative to dairy in milks, yogurts, and even in breads and pasta. In the future, a lasagna could include the protein in all aspects of the recipe: the sauce, in the pasta sheets, and in the filling. Further into the future, there is also the possibility that it could be used as the basis for cultured meat production.
In the Photo: Solein Can be used in smoothies as a protein alternative. Photo Credit: Shawn Fields - Unsplash
To produce a kilo of the protein powder takes 10 liters of water in comparison to the 2500 liters of water for a kilo of soy or 15,500 liters for a kilo of beef. Electricity is the main raw material, and the plan is to source this from renewable energy sources. Additionally, Solein binds carbon dioxide rather than emitting it, easing pressure on land use. The product is currently going through regulatory checks and testing at the moment, with a plan to launch in 2021. NASA and the Soviet Union space programs had started to investigate in similar protein production for their expeditions in the past, but Solar Foods has brought it down to earth.

Higher Steaks, United Kingdom

Whilst some people are switching to plant-based diets and others have reduced their meat consumption, some others still want to keep meat in their diets but are looking for more environmentally friendly options. This is where lab-based meat comes in. Benjamina Bollag, CEO and co-founder of Higher Steaks, a UK-based company, believes that it is important to provide alternatives to meat with a lower carbon footprint, but that taste as close as possible to the real thing. She believes that the change required in human behavior to cut emissions will not happen fast enough otherwise. This approach is confirmed by research they have conducted. 52% of respondents confirmed that they would switch from conventional meat to the Higher Steaks alternative, with 21% saying they would prefer a plant-based diet. There are different ways of producing lab-based meat. The process that Higher Steaks is developing is based on pluripotent stem cells, which are taken from a small skin patch or blood sample. The meat that is grown is then shaped into products. Currently, Higher Steaks is working primarily on pork products.
In Photo: Higher Steaks will eventually release pork as its first lab-cultured meat. Photo Credit: Yvonne Lee Harijanto - Unsplash
The company has yet to conduct a lifecycle assessment of the lab-grown meat, but given the high levels of environmental impact from meat production, it should be safe to say that Higher Steaks products will be more sustainable. In addition, as Benjamina explains, other advantages include the avoidance of antibiotic use, resulting in a product which is better for the consumer as well. The level of fat can also be adjusted, depending on consumer preference. The company is working to have the first products in shops within 3-5 years.

Barukas, Brazil

Barukas proves that you don’t always to have to look to the future for more sustainable food sources. Sometimes it is about rediscovering and making available a food source which has been around for a long time to a wider audience. The baruzeiro tree, native to Brazil, has been a long-time source of nutrition for people living in the Cerrado, the vast savannah at the heart of Brazil. The tree produces a fruit, which contains the baru nut. It was the nutritional profile of the baru nut that initially attracted Seth Tuckerman, who had formerly been the COO of Beachbody, a fitness business. The nuts are high in protein, fiber, minerals, and are lower in fat than typical nuts. The taste is often described as a cross between peanuts and almonds. In fact, Tuckerman’s immediate thought on tasting them was “low calorie almonds”. Tuckerman’s passion is not only about the positive health benefits, but also about the trees and the mutual benefits for the communities where they grew.
In Photo: Baruzeiro tree. Photo Credit: Barukas
Tuckerman became a co-founder of Barukas Incorporated. They are on a mission to plant 20 million baruzeiro trees – as a start. The trees need little water and – as native trees – they are already ideally suited to the Cerrado conditions. First, Barukas must prove that there is a market for the fruit of the existing trees. As such, the company is encouraging those living in the Cerrado to collect the nuts by guaranteeing to buy them, then creating customer demand for the nuts. Collecting the fruit from existing trees helps to preserve them from being cleared for intensive and invasive agricultural methods such as soy plantations. Likewise, planting new trees helps to reverse the deforestation of Cerrado. A report by the Climate Observatory estimated that the destruction of surface vegetation in the Cerrado released 248 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. This is roughly two-and-half times the annual tailpipe emissions from all cars in Brazil.
In Photo: Closer look at the baruzeiro tree. Photo Credit: Barukas.
From talking with these three pioneers, it is now clearer than ever that we need multiple solutions to address how to sustainably feed a growing population. We need to cut the carbon emissions and reduce other environmental impacts such as water and land use associated with food production. Some of these solutions are a little way off in the future, but others are available now. We are what we eat, but our choices will increasingly determine what kind of future we will live in as well.   EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com.
Continue reading

Business, Environment, Essays, Foodscape, Impact, Society

Nothing less than food system transformation is required to address the scale and urgency of the health

Scroll Up
impakter-logo-light

Editor's Pick Newsletter

~ Once a week only ~

You have Successfully Subscribed!

I confirm that would like to subscribe to Impakter Editor's Pick Newsletter