From July 16 to July 18, I attended the first week of the United Nations’ High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York City as one of three Canadian youth delegates with the United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC). Although the week had a rocky start for me with flight cancellations forcing me to miss the first two days of HLPF, I still had an incredible experience where I learned about the work that member states and civil societies were doing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
As the Vice-President of the LaSalle Youth Council, the borough in Montreal where I live, the first session I attended on SDG #8 (decent work and economic growth) resonated with me in line with the work I do on my local youth council. Indeed, many of the remarks given by member states emphasized the importance of supporting young people through government initiatives like job opportunities to ensure a sustainable development strategy that considers future generations. Many countries highlighted the need for younger generations to have their concerns heard when developing sustainable transitions. For example, Canada highlighted its government strategies supporting young people through job opportunities, allowing young Canadians like me to access good-paying work experiences that develop essential skills for any future career. This strategy allows the government to provide decent work and economic growth in line with SDG #8 by including young people in sustainable development initiatives. An interesting point raised by France was the importance of volunteer work for social inclusion and gaining skills. I had not considered this when thinking about sustainable development initiatives, but it is incredibly valid. I often hear complaints about young people having difficulty finding jobs due to a lack of experience. Volunteer work is an effective way to gain such experience while contributing to society. It can foster the goals of SDG #8 by developing essential skills for decent work opportunities.
SDG #8 is also crucial for vulnerable populations like precarious workers and asylum seekers. Indeed, as highlighted by many member states, these communities are the most at risk if countries develop sustainable development plans without considering them. It was nice to see that countries like Mexico and Switzerland explicitly stated in their speeches the need to foster social inclusion by building sustainable infrastructures and promoting work opportunities for all members of society, including those most vulnerable.
The plenary session on SDG #8 awakened me to the many layers of decent work and economic growth. SDG #8 is much broader than ensuring everyone has a job to meet their living needs. It is about building a society where all its members are included in a modern economy with sustainable infrastructures and labour protections. This must be done through government policies and political coordination within a country’s domestic politics. As the session concluded, I noticed an interesting trend as I looked through my notes. Although government action was at the heart of each country’s speech, countries in the Global North tended to focus exclusively on the work done in their respective countries by showcasing national achievements. In contrast, those in the Global South emphasized the urgency to achieve decent work and economic growth for all, implying that government action alone is not enough to achieve SDG #8 by 2030. This is a global dynamic that I have noticed throughout my time at the conference – an illustration of our international order.
On my final day at the conference, I attended a plenary session on SDG #17 (global partnership) that explored the role of local governments in promoting sustainable development. During the session, many civil societies took the microphone to speak on their importance in achieving the SDGs, emphasizing how multilateralism must include civil societies that are on the ground and not just nation-states. This session resonated with me as it showcased my work on my youth council, as change happens at the local level. To achieve the SDGs by 2030, countries must pay close attention to what is happening in their local communities and support them whenever necessary. Indeed, this was highlighted by South Africa, which proposed voluntary sub-reviews for local governments and societies due to the lack of platforms for local communities to evaluate the SDGs. Malta underlined a fact that I agree with wholeheartedly: countries should not underestimate the importance of youth councils in enacting change from the ground up. It was refreshing to see a country recognize the work that youth councils worldwide do in making changes within local communities and calling on member states to support and acknowledge their youth councils as local changemakers for achieving the SDGs.
All in all, my attendance at the UN’s HLPF 2025 motivated me to continue my work on my local youth council in advocating for the participation of young people in democratic life and supporting the SDGs, especially SDG #8. As stated by many member states, young people are the future, and countries must work with us to meet the SDGs and build a sustainable society. I also want to highlight my participation at UNAC’s HLPF side-event, where more than 70 attendees gathered to hear about the work my fellow delegates and I do in our communities to support the SDGs.
I want to thank UNAC for giving me the opportunity to attend the first week of HLPF and for organizing a remarkable side-event to engage with the SDGs. I also want to thank Ambassador Bob Rae and the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations for meeting with us. I am so grateful that I could attend this year’s HLPF and look forward to advancing our progress on the SDGs ahead of 2030. Let’s keep up the good work!
