International Youth Day
Ranjan K Baruah
(With direct inputs from UN/WHO publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)
We often talk about young people or youth. The power of youth in transforming society is always a hot topic of discussion when youth becomes the key word. We should know that half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this is expected to reach 57% by the end of 2030. A global survey shows that 67% of people believe in a better future, with 15- to 17-year-olds being the most optimistic about this. The majority of people agree that the age balance in politics is wrong. More than two-thirds (69%) of people across all age groups agree that more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy development and change would make political systems better. Globally, only 2.6% of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, and less than 1% of these young MPs are women.
There is no universally agreed-upon international definition of the youth age group. For statistical purposes, however, the United Nations—without prejudice to any other definitions made by Member States—defines ‘youth’ as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years. In India, according to the National Youth Policy, any young person aged between 15 and 29 is termed a youth. The definition may vary from nation to nation.
One of the other widely used key words is skills. We should know that climate change has already brought more questions than answers. Green skills are needed to combat and mitigate climate change around the world. There is no doubt that it is important to recognise how the green transition is directly linked to green jobs for young people. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a green transition will result in the creation of 8.4 million jobs for young people by 2030. These jobs are called green jobs, i.e., jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring the environment either by supporting environmentally friendly processes or through the production of green products and services. Young people need to be well-equipped with green skills so that they can successfully navigate this changing environment and leverage the opportunities that it presents.
But despite the growing recognition of the relevance of green skills, the available evidence suggests a shortage of such skills among young people. The skills gap represents an obstacle for young people to participate in a world of work that is shifting towards a green economy. If current trends persist, by 2030, more than 60 percent of young people may lack the skills required to thrive in the green economy.
In the Our Common Agenda report, the United Nations Secretary-General emphasised the critical role of education and skills development in supporting 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. Moreover, 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.
We are discussing youth and green skills because this year’s International Youth Day’s (IYD) focus is on green skills. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers of Youth (Lisbon, August 8–12, 1998) that August 12 be declared IYD (A/RES/54/120). Over the last two decades of IYD celebrations, several innovative and timely themes have been explored, including mental health, intergenerational solidarity, safe spaces for youth, and civic engagement.
Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. This year’s theme is “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”. These include technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies and processes in occupational settings, as well as transversal skills that draw on a range of knowledge, values, and attitudes to facilitate environmentally sustainable decisions in work and in life.
IYD shall focus on green skills for youth, highlighting initiatives at the global and national levels, discussing relevant opportunities and challenges, and offering forward-looking policy guidance. The objectives of this year’s IYD are to raise awareness of green skills and their relevance for achieving the SDGs while highlighting the central role of young people in the green transition. More innovation is needed to promote green skills, and young people are capable provided they are mentored properly. Youth must come up with a positive attitude to promote green skills. Green skills are a must for a sustainable world, and let us pledge and commit to promoting green skills for ourselves and for generations to come. (With direct inputs from UN publications)