This year, I had the honor of being invited to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum by the Mary Ward Centre and the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto. As an immigrant in Newfoundland, opportunities like this are rare for me, so this was an invaluable experience. The UN has always represented a sanctified organization to me, dedicated to maintaining world order, and being in the room where global decisions are made was immensely inspiring.
However, beyond the initial excitement, I realized that the process was not only complex but also highly bureaucratic. While it is a significant step forward to see NGOs invited to such events, the limited opportunities for NGO representatives to participate in discussions result in a loss of valuable input from those most affected by global issues. This made me question how the UN can better balance the inclusion of diverse voices with the efficiency needed to tackle urgent global challenges.
A recurring concern at the forum was that only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track to be completed by 2030. But there was not enough emphasis on the fact that nearly 32% of the targets are regressing, especially those related to climate action (SDG 13) and peace and justice (SDG 16). This highlighted the need for a more concerted global effort and a commitment to adapt to the evolving global landscape. Smaller countries called for greater support from major carbon emitters to help those most vulnerable to climate change.
On a hopeful note, countries like Oman and Yemen—nations with largely oil and gas-based economies—presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and showed meaningful progress toward climate action. Their efforts demonstrate that change is possible even in challenging contexts, and I look forward to seeing their continued progress.
As a youth representative, attending the UN Youth side event was a highlight. While I was pleased to see the formation of a UN Youth Office, involvement opportunities remain somewhat exclusive. How can we ensure that the youth voice is truly representative and not just limited to those with the privilege and access to participate? It is a question that needs to be addressed in more than just the context of the UN if we are to create a more inclusive and equitable global governance system that genuinely reflects the diversity of our world.
One of my key takeaways from this experience was the lack of awareness about the SDGs in my local community in Newfoundland. There is little work being done to advance this agenda, and efforts are often siloed. I believe that youth can play a crucial role in spreading awareness and advocating for resources to progress toward the SDG targets locally, federally, and globally. Given my involvement in newcomer support, I am motivated to collaborate with newcomer organizations to find more partners and to raise awareness and start with making progress at home!
By Jannath Naveed. JaJannath Naveednnath Naveed Jannath Naveed
Commentaires