Young People's Vision for a Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Asia Pacific

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About Us - The APFSD Youth Forums

The 2030 Agenda, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was adopted by all 193 Member States at the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. This global and universal agenda envisions transformative change across social, environmental, and economic dimensions, aiming to bridge the gaps left by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and advance sustainable development for the planet.

The 2025 Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report highlights that the region is significantly behind in achieving the SDGs. Current estimates suggest a delay of at least 32 years, with the goals projected to be achieved only by 2062. Alarmingly, none of the SDGs are on track to be met by 2030, underscoring the urgent need for immediate and transformative action. With only six years remaining, there is immense pressure to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This is where the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum was born.

The APFSD Youth Forum ensures young people’s voices, their realities and perspectives are meaningfully included, in setting, transforming and implementing the regional agenda on sustainable development, with specific reference to the intergovernmental APFSD and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The APFSD Youth Forum focuses on assessing the progress, identifying gaps, and addressing challenges related to the SDGs.

The APFSD Youth Forum is organised by the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) in together with co-conveners Y-PEER Asia Pacific Centre, Youth LEAD, the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), in collaboration with the RHRN partnership, UNESCAP, UNDP and the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), and in partnership with the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG UNEP).

The APFSD Youth Forum provided a critical platform for young people across the region to reflect on the progress of the SDGs, advocate for meaningful action, and sustain the momentum of global commitments, particularly in the lead-up to the Summit of the Future (SoTF).

Past APFSD Youth Forums

The final day was dedicated to finalising and adopting the Youth Call to Actions and discussing ways forward for youth engagement in regional and global forums. Representatives from five national APFSD Youth Alliances (Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, and Papua New Guinea) shared their experiences of establishing country-level platforms to advance SDG implementation and youth engagement at the national level.



The second day centred on climate action and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), with high-level opening remarks from UNDP, UNFCCC, UNICEF, ARROW and the Embassy of Sweden.



Plenary presentations highlighted critical challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, including:
  • Rising greenhouse gas emissions with the region accounting for approximately 60% of global emissions
  • Significant regression on SDG 13 (Climate Action)
  • Disproportionate climate impacts on women and girls
  • Ocean pollution with approximately 80% of global ocean plastic pollution originating from Asia

Access the APFSD Youth Forum Abstracts here →

An Innovation Walk showcased 18 youth-led innovations addressing various SDGs through technology, indigenous knowledge, and community-based approaches.

Access the APFSD Youth Forum Innovation Booklet here →



Day one focused on gender equality, and health including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The opening session featured addresses from co-conveners and a video message from Dr Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs.



Plenary sessions included presentations from UN agencies and experts on the status of SDGs 3 and 5 in the region, highlighting alarming statistics on maternal mortality, HIV infections, mental health issues among youth, and barriers to SRHR access.