Empowering Youth to Shape Sustainable Urban Futures: A Pioneering EU-ASEAN Collaboration

The European Union (EU) organised a two-day 'EU-ASEAN Youth Exchange on Sustainable Urban Development' in Bangkok on 31 March and 1 April. Youths and experts from the two regions participated in a panel discussion and workshop to explore ways to amplify the role of youth in supporting the sustainable development of cities. A campaign roadmap was co-designed at the event, which serves as a guide for the youth participants to embark on an awareness campaign back in their respective cities. Outcomes of their efforts will be showcased at the ASEAN Mayors Forum in August 2023.

A diverse and passionate group of young leaders from Europe and South-East Asia has convened in Bangkok for a ground-breaking two-day event focused on sustainable urban development, resiliency and inclusivity. The exclusive dialogue, commencing on 31 March, featured collaborative sessions for selected youth and practitioners from the EU and ASEAN, aimed at highlighting the untapped potential of young problem solvers in shaping their cities and exploring ways to actively engage them in policy-making processes.

On 1 April, participants dived head first into an EU-funded workshop designed to co-create a campaign that amplifies the voices of youth on pressing issues impacting their urban communities. The workshop provided a platform to analyse case studies of youth-led urban initiatives in ASEAN, fostering discussions that identify innovative approaches to shared challenges.

As rapid urbanisation unfolds, with 60% of the global population expected to reside in cities by 2030 (according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs), young people are increasingly stepping up to address the multifaceted challenges it presents. However, it is evident that further support is needed to help scale up cities’ solutions for sustainable, inclusive and environmentally friendly urban centres.

H.E. Igor Driesmans, EU Ambassador to ASEAN, emphasised the common challenges in urbanisation faced by the EU and ASEAN, adding that "this campaign aligns with the Youth Action Plan in EU external action for 2022-2027, aiming to engage youth in policy and decision-making, empower them with skills and knowledge, and connect them to their peers in both regions for sustainable development."

"ASEAN is all about realising the full potential of its citizens, and this includes youth," said Ms Rodora T. Babaran, Director of Human Development at ASEAN Socio Cultural Community under the ASEAN Secretariat. "This campaign in partnership with the EU directly supports our ASEAN Socio Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint 2025, towards both inclusivity for high quality of life and equitable access to opportunities for all, and sustainability for social development and environmental protection."

The two-day exchange culminated in a unique interregional and intergenerational convergence, laying the groundwork for a youth campaign roadmap. Participants were encouraged to implement the campaign in their respective cities, focusing on awareness-raising and youth  engagement. The campaign outcomes will be presented to policy-makers at the ASEAN Mayors Forum, planned for August 2023.

Natalia Kallio, Board Member at the European Youth Forum, said, "Young people are often seen only as relevant stakeholders in night life or education, but we are ignored in other fields. For social change to happen, we need to be heard in decision-making across all aspects of urban life. Collaborating and learning across generations is the key to successful transitions of cities into more inclusive and more attractive places for all people."

Qyira Yusri, Campaign Coordinator and youth activist from ASEAN, addressed the youth at the event: "We want this campaign to be wholly owned and built by you. We're here to help make it successful and support you throughout the journey. We eagerly anticipate presenting the ideas and consolidating the learnings from the campaign at the ASEAN Mayors Forum."

The 35 youth delegates from the EU and ASEAN participating in the Bangkok event are influential community leaders in city development, environmental stewardship and climate change. Represented organisations include the European Youth Capital (EYC), European Youth Forum (EYJ), ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF), ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) and Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ), along with local governments, academia and NGOs.