Dear Mr. Xu Xiao, President of the All-China Youth Federation,

Mrs. Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative,

Distinguished guests, colleagues, and all the amazing young changemakers.

A warm welcome to you all! I am truly delighted to join you today at this Forum.

Looking around this room, I feel a great sense of enthusiasm and energy. It’s inspiring to see so many passionate young leaders from across the globe coming together to address one of the most urgent challenges of our time—building a sustainable future for our planet.

Ten years ago, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted as a universal call to action to protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

But today, with less than five years to go, we’re at a pivotal moment. The climate crisis is only accelerating, and time is running out.

Our world is sending us a clear warning. 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, with global temperatures 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate action is no longer a choice—it is imperative.

And it is you, the youth —who hold the power to turn the tide. You are systems thinkers, policy shapers, innovation drivers, community mobilisers and changemakers.

Whether you’re organizing at the grassroots level, starting businesses as entrepreneurs, advocating for green lifestyles, or undertaking research and advocacy for policy changes, your active engagement is critical.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The youth have always led the way, challenged the orthodoxy and reimagined the future.

With time, names and personalities have taken greater prominence on some the most profound discoveries that have defined our generation.

It is easy to gloss over the young idealism, imagination and unbridled passion and brilliance that laid the foundations for it.

The Wright Brothers were in their earlier twenties when they redefined aviation and flight. Marie Curie was 36 years old when she was awarded the Nobel Prize. As you know she was the first person to win the Nobel Prize twice – notably as well in two different scientific fields.

Some of the world’s greatest scientists, mathematicians, botanists, computer scientists, inventors, corporate titans, community and political leaders were in their twenties and thirties when they reimagined the world.