Agenda 2030 makes young people part of developing environmental policy
The Agenda 2030 Youth Group’s mission is to increase young people’s involvement in implementing sustainable development policies in Finland. The group, founded in 2017, has two main purposes: to make young people’s voices heard in sustainable development policy and to spread information on climate change to other young people. The group currently has 14 members who serve a 1.5 year term and are from 16 to 29 years of age.
The Agenda 2030 Youth Group engages with decision-makers on sustainable development themes. The group has lately focused on the new Finnish Climate Law and establishing youth participation in its follow-up mechanism. In addition, the group gives young people access to official processes. For example, they often make the opening statement in events organised by the sustainable development committee chaired by the Prime Minister. The group has also prepared their own version of the Climate Law, presented to the Ministry of the Environment.
The group does grassroots work and shares information on climate change. This is done through visits to schools and different hobbies. The group organised the first Youth Climate Summit in 2018 with over 500 young people participating from all over Finland.