On 12 August 2026, UNU-IAS and the global network of Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCEs) hosted a webinar in celebration of International Youth Day, with over 130 participants joining from around the world. The webinar featured an interactive session in which participants shared their perspectives on youth leadership, and a panel discussion with RCE Regional Youth Coordinators (RYCs) who reflected on the issues of youth participation, action and leadership in sustainability initiatives.
The RYCs discussed successes and challenges faced by young leaders, including continuity of programmes and securing meaningful support. Héctor Esparra-Escalera (RYC, Americas) noted that confidence grows when young people are given meaningful opportunities to lead, along with mentorship and resources. Woojin Lee (RYC, Asia and the Pacific) explained that support for young people should not end with a single opportunity; instead a path should be created for them to return, take on new roles and eventually support the next generation. Evance Ouya (RYC, Africa and the Middle East) stressed the importance of mentorship and involving youth in decision-making bodies for lasting impact. Alyson Mackay (RYC, Europe) highlighted the challenge of ensuring that youth are given not only a platform but also the necessary resources and support. Janu Muhammad (RYC, Asia and the Pacific) facilitated the conversation, emphasizing that youth must be seen as partners in transformation rather than subjects or objects of discussion.
Together with Ahmad Ali Karim (RYC, Asia and the Pacific), Gio Miole (JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UNU-IAS) moderated the webinar, underlining that young people are never too young to be in charge. Jonghwi Park (Academic Programme Officer and Head of Innovation and Education, UNU-IAS) closed the event by reminding participants that young people must not wait for spaces to be created for them. They should engage directly with governments and institutions and take the lead in creating their own spaces.
During the webinar UNU-IAS launched Youth in Charge: RCE Leaders Shaping Sustainable Societies, a new publication showcasing youth-led sustainability initiatives from across the Global RCE Network. Nafissa Insebayeva (Consultant, UNU-IAS) emphasized that the publication moves beyond abstract principles to show what meaningful youth leadership looks like in practice, across diverse local contexts. Featuring 12 case studies written by youth leaders and members from RCE regions (Africa and the Middle East, Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe), the publication highlights meaningful and contextualized youth participation and leadership in sustainability initiatives through community action, innovation, education advocacy and intergenerational collaboration.
