Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) – the UAE’s premier youth empowerment platform on sustainability – hosted an insightful programme of empowering discussions and speeches at the Y4S Forum at COP28.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the Y4S Forum opened with a Youth Circle with Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy Awaidha Murshed Al Marar who encouraged the young audience to reflect on the three major factors affecting energy supply – the environment, affordability and security of supply – and emphasised the importance of balancing these factors.
Masdar Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives, and Y4S Programme Director Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, said, “The Y4S Forum at COP28 played a critical role in promoting meaningful, youth-led sustainable development and climate action. By providing a voice for young people, the Forum showcased the vital role of youth in addressing climate change and brought together leading industry speakers and panelists to inspire and empower the next generation of change makers and innovators to become the sustainability leaders of tomorrow.”
The wide-ranging panel discussions included the role of Y4S in climate action, the impact of start ups, and the role of youth as climate policy advocates. Among those speaking at the Y4S Forum, Tom Simmons, CEO of Supplant, described how the company addressed some of the big health and climate issues by taking the most abundant and discarded parts of crops, transforming them into natural replacements for refined sugar and starch.
Esther Wanjiru Kimani, Founder Managing Director at Farmer Lifeline Technologies in Kenya, described how the company had developed the first-ever solar-powered AI-based crop pest and diseases detection devices that can improve farm yields by at least 40 percent.
Shaikha Al Zaabi, Vice President Youth Council, Mubadala, stressed the importance of investing in projects and initiatives to help build a better future for the planet and find solutions for climate change.
Further panel discussions were devoted to the subjects of investment in green technologies, the circular economy and sustainable practices, concluding with a Sustainable Innovation Workshop and networking event.
Y4S aims to empower young sustainability leaders by connecting them with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and technology pioneers. Y4S will continue leading sustainability-focused events and activities for youth during COP28 and beyond, providing the next generation with education, leadership training, and opportunities to take tangible climate action.