International Youth Day 2023: green skills for youth, towards a sustainable world

International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August. The celebration aims to bring youth issues to the attention of the international community and emphasise the crucial role of youth in shaping the future. This year, the theme: “Green skills for youth: Towards a sustainable world” sheds light on the importance of empowering youth with skills and knowledge to create a greener and more sustainable environment.

Date 2023-08-12 Author BIK Team Section awareness Topic media literacy/education Audience children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, educators and professionals
Boys and girls gardening

International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 in Vienna, for the first World Youth Forum. Afterwards, in 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth adopted International Youth Day. 

The primary goal of this commemoration is to promote awareness and understanding of youth issues worldwide. This day allows youth to advocate for youth rights, amplify youth voices and engage young people in various societal matters.

Green skills for youth, towards a sustainable world 

This year, the focus is on creating a sustainable world involving the young generation. Indeed, the urge to transition towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical to respond to a global climate crisis and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Green skills for youth refer to a combination of knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and attitudes needed to develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society. It includes educating young children on renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling, equipping young farmers with eco-friendly farming techniques, and encouraging youth to innovate and embrace sustainable business practices. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the term “green skills”, it is sometimes expressed through other associated words such as “skills for the future” and “skills for green jobs”. While green skills are relevant for people of all ages, they are particularly important for younger people, who can contribute to the ecological transition over a longer period.

In the context of this commemoration, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs(DESA) will organise a global webinar in collaboration with the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and Generation Unlimited. Please find the webinar agenda here.

Better Internet for Kids for International Youth Day 

At Better Internet for Kids (BIK), we support International Youth Day. Empowering youth with green skills creates a more sustainable society and fosters a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards our planet. We also believe in the importance of youth participation in internet governance issues in support of the day. Children and youth shall be considered partners in all efforts to achieve transformational change for online safety-related matters. 

  • Explore the latest articles for children and young people. We work together to ensure that every young European has access to a digital environment where they feel protected, empowered, and respected whenever they go online, that they can access and enjoy what the online world has to offer, and know where to seek support if needed. 
  • The European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) strongly emphasises youth. Its goal is to strengthen age-appropriate digital services and guarantee online protection, empowerment, and respect for every child. Explore the article about the new BIK+ strategy and learn about the EU commitment to safeguarding, empowering, and respecting all children and young individuals online.
  • Discover the initiatives of the Better Internet for Kids Youth Panel. This yearly gathering amplifies the voices of young individuals around Europe on online safety, digital literacy, and internet governance. Explore the active involvement of children and young people in shaping a safer online future through the BIK Youth minisite. 

Learn more about International Youth Day on the website of the United Nations and keep an eye on #InternationalDayofYouth on social media. 

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