“2030 Agenda Environmental Aspects” National Youth Forum
On June 5, the National Youth Forum on the “Environmental Aspects of the 2030 Agenda” was held at the Baku Congress Center, jointly organized by the IDEA Public Union, the UN Representation in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation.
The main purpose of the event, held on World Environment Day, was to raise awareness among youth about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly their environmental aspects, as well as to encourage young people to become SDG ambassadors, thereby increasing their role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The forum was organized as part of the series of “Green Week” events dedicated to World Environment Day.
The forum was attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union; Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and Edward Carvardin, Acting Resident Coordinator of the UN in Azerbaijan.
Following the opening speeches, a video message from the UN Secretary-General on the occasion of World Environment Day was shown. Afterwards, panel discussions on various environmental topics were held. Specially invited experts, including Alashiya Gordes, a climate change specialist from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Meltem Bayraktar, an energy resilience specialist from the World Resources Institute (WRI), along with other international and local experts, shared international experience in environmental protection and sustainable development with the young audience.
During the first panel, titled “Climate Change: The Role of Youth in Adaptation and Mitigation of Impacts,” the negative effects of climate change on access to nutritious food and clean water, the health of ecosystems, environmental security, and the well-being of young people and future generations were discussed.
The second panel was dedicated to the topic “Biodiversity Conservation: What Is Its Importance for Azerbaijan?” Panel participants discussed the importance of efforts to protect flora and fauna species and the situation regarding species at risk of extinction in Azerbaijan.
During the final panel, titled “Sustainable Energy: Transforming People, Economy, and Planet,” discussions focused on the role of the government and private sector in accelerating the transition to a more affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy system through investment in renewable energy, prioritization of energy efficiency, and implementation of clean energy-based technologies and infrastructure.
