The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all of the United Nations Member States in 2015. The agenda provides a plan of action for people and the planet, now and into the future. At the heart of this global framework is an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which identify ways in which countries can collaborate to overcome global challenges, such as hunger, poverty, and the climate crises.
Much effort has been made towards achieving the SDGs, but according to the UN’s annual Sustainable Development Goals Report, there is still a lot of work to be done. The COVID-19 pandemic further slowed down our work and significantly undermined the progress we made so far. With only seven years left to achieve the SDGs, we need to meet these challenges head-on to build a better world for all. We must mobilize efforts to tackle climate change, fight inequality, and end poverty, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
Young people’s voices, actions, and solutions are essential to achieving sustainable development. I served as Sigma’s UN Youth Representative from 2019 to 2022. During my time as the youth representative, I connected with young leaders and changemakers from around the world who are working to solve global challenges. For example, I attended the UN International Youth Day in August 2022, which highlighted the importance of fostering intergenerational solidarity between generations. One of the speakers was Batool Al-Wahdani, who is a medical doctor working for NHS Scotland. She is a youth advocate who led the advocacy work of medical students on Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. I have also worked closely with the UN’s Civil Society Youth Representatives Steering Committee, which features youth representatives from civil society organizations that advise the UN on youth engagement on global issues. I ended my term feeling inspired by their vision, relentless perseverance, and innovation.
As we work together to push through this challenging moment in history, our hope lies with the 1.8 billion youth in the world. Young people are vital for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda—their voices are critical in driving action for sustainable development and shaping decisions and policies.
Over the last four years, I have attended many UN events where speakers highlighted the importance of positioning youth at the center of sustainable development, bringing new ideas and helping inspire innovative solutions. Many organizations are determined to amplify young voices and raise awareness around the importance of youth representation and intergenerational collaboration.
These organizations and governments recognize the vital contribution of our youth. Yet, many young people are still regularly excluded from policy and political decisions that affect their lives and futures. To achieve the 2030 agenda, we must ensure that young people are actively engaged in decision-making processes and supporting the achievement of the SDGs. We can start by promoting and investing in their meaningful participation in SDG implementation. We can also strengthen their involvement in local and global processes, as well as enhance their engagement with issue-based programs that affect them. Young people’s engagement and empowerment is both a means and an end in itself.
To achieve the SDGs, we need to leverage the full potential of all generations. Whether you are a novice nurse or a seasoned nurse, you can help foster intergenerational solidarity to ensure an inclusive and sustainable recovery. You can start by building the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen your advocacy at an organizational community, regional, or global level. Sigma offer’s an Advocacy Certificate Program. Sigma also has a mini academy focused on global advocacy. It offers you the opportunity to refine your advocacy efforts and understand your role in furthering the SDGs.
Another good way is to mentor a young nurse. When young people are empowered and equipped with leadership skills, they can drive change in their communities. You can also support youth-led organizations and networks that ensure the participation of young people, giving them a voice at the UN and around the world. All nurses, regardless of where we work, the population that we care for, or our role in nursing, have the power to be excellent advocates for youth participation in SDG implementation.
Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, said it best, “We must ensure that young people are not only heard, but understood; not only engaged, but empowered; and not only supporting, but leading global, regional, and national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a better world for generations to come.”
Dania Itani Mousa, BSN, RN, CMSRN, is an early career nurse in Los Angeles, California, USA, and a DNP-FNP candidate and clinical instructor at Loma Linda University. She is a member of Sigma’s Iota Eta Chapter and Gamma Alpha Chapter.