Youth-Driven Action Needed to Address Nuclear and Climate Disasters – Global Issues
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 23 (IPS) – Conducting the Future Conference The core messages of international solidarity and decisive action are young people who are willing to face the intersecting problems facing the country today.
During the Working Days of the Conference (20-21 September), it was young people who led the discussions to expand and define meaningful dialogue, both inside and outside the background from the United Nations Headquarters.
Not only do they conduct the discussion, but in the Pact for the Future adopted by world leaders at the United Nations on Sunday (September 22), youth and future generations are at the forefront of world leaders’ concerns, and their role was clearly defined. with the first-ever Future Generations Declaration, with strong measures to consider future generations in our decision-making, including potential ambassadors for future generations.
This includes a greater commitment to “reasonable opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.”
Building the Future: Synergetic Interactions on Nuclear and Climate Issuesa side event whose organizers include Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and the Future Action Festival Organizing Committee, with the support of the United Nations University (UNU) and the United Nations Information Center (UNIC), brought together young activists for discussion. the intersection between two different issues and what will define meaningful youth engagement.
Kaoru Nemoto, Director-General of UNIC in Tokyo, noted that it was “uphill” to see the agenda of the Working Days of the Conference being largely led and organized by young participants, as noted by the fact that most of the seats in the General Assembly Hall are filled with young activists.
“There is a general message that the youth can make this world a better place to live,” said Nemoto. “No matter what agenda you’re working on, whether it’s climate change, denuclearization, fighting inequality… youth issues are diverse, very strong issues that affect everyone.”
Nemoto also added that the United Nations needs to do more to involve the youth to participate in a meaningful way. This would mean allowing the youth to participate in decision-making and leadership positions. The existence of youth cannot be reduced to tokenism.
Climate and nuclear problems are the most closely linked existential threats, says Dr. Tshilidzi Marwala, director of the United Nations University. Climate instability is fueling factors that lead to conflict and migration. Conflicts, such as those in Sudan, Israel, Palestine and Ukraine, increase the risk of nuclear proliferation. As today’s leaders address these issues, Marwala urged the youth to continue to voice their voices and for the powers that be to respond.
Marwala noted that the United Nations University would be committed to “seeing meaningful participation” in all organizations. For young people, although they are motivated and show concern for deep social issues, they face challenges to voice their voices or feel motivated to take action. Marwala noted that it is important to communicate with those young people who are not involved or who feel discouraged from being involved in political work and activism.
High on the agenda of the Future Summit is increasing youth participation in decision-making processes. It has long been recognized that young activists and social actors drive significant social change and are motivated to act on complex issues. However, they often face challenges in participating in policy making that will shape the conditions of their countries.
Among these challenges is representation in political areas. Within the Japanese context, young people are underrepresented in local and national politics. As Luna Serigano, a representative of the Japan Youth Council, participated in the event, there is a widespread belief among young voters in Japan that their voices will not be listened to by the authorities.
This is reflected in voter turnout, which shows that only 37 percent of voters are 20 years old, and only 54 percent of voters believe their votes matter. In contrast, 71 percent of 70-year-olds voted in the election. People aged 30 or younger make up only one account for professionals working in government councils and forums. The Japan Youth Council is currently encouraging young people to actively participate in the country’s climate change policy by asking young people to participate directly as committee members to implement next year’s new energy plan.
Yuuki Tokuda, founder of Genuine, a Japan-based NGO that examines nuclear issues from a gender perspective, shared that young people are out of decision-making positions. Although their voices may be heard, it is not enough. As he told IPS, climate and nuclear issues are on the minds of Japan’s youth. And although they have ideas about what can be done, they are not told how to do it.
There is hope to increase participation. Tokuda shared among policy makers on nuclear issues, 30 percent of whom are women, who have started to engage with youth in these discussions.
“It is time to rebuild the programs so that the youth can play an active role in these programs,” said Tokuda. “We need more international participation to work on the ban on nuclear weapons and the climate crisis.”
During the event, there was a discussion about what youth engagement should look like. It was acknowledged that efforts have been made to give space to the ideas of young people. Bringing new people into the conversation is a critical step. It was suggested that guidance should shift to ensuring that young people are empowered to take the necessary action to solve cross-cutting, complex problems. Otherwise, the installation makes no sense.
“Futuristic youth are needed more than ever to face the challenges of building and maintaining peace,” said Mitsuo Nishikata of SGI.
“As a youth-driven program such as the Future Action Festival shows, youth solidarity can be the starting point for problem-solving and transfer.”
Next year (2025) will mark 80 years since the end of World War II and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima-Nagasaki. Nishikata pointed out that this will be a time of important opportunities to advance negotiations on the cessation of nuclear weapons and climate action, before the Third Meeting of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the 30th.th UN Climate Conference (COP30).
“We will continue to unite in our desire for peace, share responsibility for future generations and expand grassroots actions in Japan and around the world.
Other commitments in the Future Treaty include the first international commitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, and a clear commitment to the goal of total nuclear disarmament.
It also promised a reform of the United Nations Security Council from the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representation of the Council, including fixing the historically under-representation of Africa as a priority.
This agreement has at its heart a commitment to “charge” the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the reform of the international financial structure to represent and serve developing countries.
“We cannot build a future worthy of our grandchildren with the system built by our grandparents,” as Secretary-General António Guterres said.
This article is brought to you by IPS Noram in collaboration with INPS Japan and Soka Gakkai International in consultation with ECOSOC.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
