If Not Youth, Who? Advancing Peace, Justice and Climate Action

Half the world’s population is 30 or younger, and are the largest, most educated, connected and diverse youth generation in history. Yet young people remain structurally excluded from decisions that affect their lives. From peacebuilding to climate action and political participation, their voices are often missing.

This is not just a matter of rights. It is a global strategy. When empowered, youth consistently lead with vision, resilience and creativity to build more peaceful, just and sustainable societies.

Youth Leading Local Change

The 2015 adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 marked a turning point. It recognized youth as essential partners in peace and called for their full participation, protection and inclusion.

In Northern Cauca, Colombia, young Indigenous, Afro-descendant and rural leaders have spent years developing a shared agenda for peace. With support from UNDP’s Corredores de Paz programme and the Swedish Embassy, seven of their proposals were included in the regional development plan, and several leaders were elected to local councils.

“Our initiatives have the power to transform our territories,” says youth facilitator Karen Santamaría.

Ongoing Barrier and Youth-Led Solutions

Nearly half of youth aged 18 to 29 live in countries affected by conflict, where violence, displacement and weak institutions limit access to education, jobs and political participation. A UNDP survey across 65 countries found that 82 percent of young people felt electoral violence restricted their ability to vote, while many also face online harassment for speaking out. These barriers are compounded by the climate crisis, especially in fragile contexts where droughts, floods and resource scarcity can deepen exclusion and fuel conflict. Yet young people are also leading solutions. In Nigeria, UNDP’s Climate-Peace Hubs trained 150 youth to install and maintain solar energy systems—tackling energy poverty, creating stable jobs and offering alternatives to violence.

Investing in Youth Leadership

From youth-led podcasts in Timor-Leste to action plans in Africa and Central Asia, young people are shaping development agendas. UNDP supports this through initiatives like Generation Nexus and Generation 17, amplifying youth leadership across sectors. Still, more than 260 million young people remain without access to education, employment or training, and two thirds of them are women. Realizing the vision of Our Common Agenda and the Pact for the Future depends on unlocking their potential and embracing youth leadership as a driver of more just, inclusive and sustainable societies.

 

Read the full story by UNDP here.