The first International Youth Day was observed on 12 August, 2000 after its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1999.
- Theme 2023:
"Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World."
Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”.
This year’s theme reminds us of the importance of ensuring young people gain and apply skills in the burgeoning green economy. From innovative sustainable technologies and renewable energy, to revolutions in transportation systems and industrial activity, young people must be equipped with skills and knowledge to shape a cleaner, greener, more climate resilient future.
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”.
- Did you know:
- Half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this is expected to reach 57% by the end of 2030.
- 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/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.
- Think about what you can do in you community and how you can effectively spread the message. Make it fun and relatable and use all your channels to spread the message. Think Instagram Twitter, TikTok, schooll. college, local radios or newspapers.
- Educational radio show. Contact popular local/national radio stations to request a slot to have a discussion with distinguished individuals and youth.
- Organize a (virtual) public meeting or debate to discuss young people’s contributions to global issues.
- Initiate round table discussions among adults (parents, teachers) and young people (friends, classmates from other school or college) to promote intergenerational understanding.
- Organize a youth forum to exchange ideas and discuss cultural backgrounds in order to help young people accept others and popularize a culture of non-violence.
- Organize a (virtual) concert to promote International Youth Day and the launch of the Year. Invite local young musicians and combine it with a panel discussion or invite a politician, the maire, to hold the keynote speech.
- Create an “info point” about youth-related issues in the center of your town/village, at high schools, or at university campus.
- Organize an exhibition. Get permission to use a public space for an arts exhibit, which showcases the challenges of young people today or how young people are contributing to development. Try to involve young people in the domains of culture, arts and music, to raise awareness on youth-related issues.
- Write to your Minister of Youth to inform him or her about the challenges young people face in their daily lives and to suggest solutions.
- A variety of informational material, such as the logo for the International Year of Youth, will be made available on the International Youth Day Trello board, which will be made public ahead of International Youth Day.
- Note: If you would like to use the logo for your event, read the guidelines for the logo and fill out the liability waiver form, which will also be made available for download
- Celebrating Ways #YouthLead
Follow along at @UNYouthEnvoy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Creating your own #YouthLead content and sharing some of our key messages - which are all available in the campaign communications toolkit.
Please visit the UN Youth Envoy website to learn more about the campaign.
- Resources: Campaign Materials
- International Youth Day 2023 Infographic: 5 Things To Know About Green Skills For Youth. Download PDF version here.
- For those interested in organizing activities to celebrate 2023 IYD, logos in all 6 UN languages, both with and without the United Nations name are available here.
Illustration: UN Women/Poompat Watanasirikul
- Some important issues:
Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. 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”.
