2017 | Youth Assembly x CIV:LAB

Category: Case Study

Industry: Urban Tech

Location: New York / Global

Related to: Sustainability / Urban innovation / Ecology / Urban Tech / Civic Engagement

Reviewer: Calli Sara Goldstein / UG Research Assistant

Company: CIV:LAB / Youth Assembly / The United Nations

Website: UN Web TV

About:

“The Youth Assembly at the United Nations is the global gathering of young leaders, social entrepreneurs, and advocates for sustainable development. It provides a unique platform for meaningful dialogue and partnership between youth, civil society, the private sector, and the United Nations. At the Assembly, young people are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to create action-oriented solutions that help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

-Friendship Ambassador Foundation

Amongst other participants at this Augusts meeting was CIV:LAB, a platform dedicated to scaling and unifying urban innovation globally, discussed this 20th session’s theme: “Equity and Inclusion for a Sustainable Future”.

CIV:LAB describes cities as “laboratories of the 21st century,” citizens as “the new scientist,” in the investigation into urban and global solutions. Understanding cities as the untapped resource to solutions towards a sustainable future, CIV:LAB can facilitate the bridge, closing the institutional, academic, corporate, and community gaps to expand these solutions into the international ecosystem. Engaging the research and technology based outputs at the physical, local scale to form networks of transformation globally, that are inclusive and accessible.

CIV:LAB, Connecting Urban Innovation Hubs, via UN Web TV.

The Youth Assembly engages the unique perspectives from younger generations, encouraging their role as pioneers on the frontier of innovation. Seeking to broaden the dialogue and include the experiences of individuals and communities born into our contemporary global challenges, the Youth Assembly aims at extending the reach of what has been the conventional high profile politics to the masses in order disseminating knowledge and creating comprehensive resolutions. The next assembly meets February 2018 to discuss the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda, specifically goals 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15.

Goal 6 Safe Water & Sanitation: sound management of freshwater ecosystems

Goal 7 Sustainable Energy & New Technology: affordable and accessible energy

Goal 11 Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: inclusive, safe, and ecological urban development and community resilience

Goal 12 Sustainable Economic Development: production & consumption frameworks decoupling growth from resource exploitation

Goal 15 Terrestrial Ecosystem Preservation: conserve and restore biodiversity and land productivity