On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Over the next fifteen years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. While the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 Goals. Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress made in implementing the Goals, which will require quality, accessible and timely data collection. Regional follow-up and review will be based on national-level analyses and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level.
In this framework, water as essential element for life plays a key role in the achievements of the 2030 Agenda. SDG 6 on Clean water and sanitation and SDG 14 on Life below water are fully dedicated to water, but it´s also directly related to all of them, to hunger, to health, climate action, sustainable cities and desertification for example.
Through this session, Dialogue Café members aim to address the challenges of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with regards to water in a global perspective and by sharing concrete examples of good practices being implemented everywhere. Through this session will also aim at boosting youth participation in the 2030 Agenda and promote their role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Young activists, good practices, civil society organisations, researchers and people in general will debate about the relevance of water in the 2030 Agenda and share their experiences, ideas and good practices to confront the critical challenge of access to water resources.
Some questions to be raised are:
- What are some issues facing water resources?
- What are some challenges to providing clean water?
- What is sustainable water use?
- How can we increase understanding of the many ways water matters?
- How can we minimise the presence of micropollutants in the environment, especially in the water?
Dialogue Café members joining this session are Belgrade, Evora, Lisbon and Novi Pazar.
Programme
Dialogue Café Belgrade
- Uroš Anđelković, UNA-Serbia Dialogue Cafe Team
- Ana Milojević, UNA-Serbia BIMUN Team
- Tijana Djurovic, Belgrade Secretariat for the Protection of the Environment
Dialogue Café Evora (ADRAL| Evora Tech & Social Innovation Centre of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation)
- Alexandra Correia, Project “Alentejo Azul”, which aims to stimulate action on the theme of the sea and water resources, materializing in a program to create new companies and support business innovation in the sector, with integrated actions and promoted by a strong partnership. , claiming to be an unavoidable national reference, with international visibility, of the blue economy.
- Ana Rita Valido, TWIST – Estratégia Transnacional para a Inovação no domínio da Água, Evora – ADRAL
- Barbara Tita, Expert | Environment and Spatial Planning Department EDIA (EDIA – Alqueva Sa Development and Infrastructure Company)
- Ana Ana Ilhéu, Director of the Department of Environment and Spatial Planning (EDIA – Alqueva Sa Development and Infrastructure Company)
With the participation of other guests in Lisbon (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation) and Dialogue Cafe Novi Pazar (Centar Duga).
Participation is free and open.
For further information contact us at info(@)dialoguecafe.org
BACKGROUND
Youth and the SDGs Agenda
Today, there are 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10-24—they are the largest generation of youth in history. Close to 90 per cent of them live in developing countries, where they make up a large proportion of the population. Their numbers are expected to grow—between 2015 and 2030 alone, about 1.9 billion young people are projected to turn 15 years old. Connected to each other like never before, young people want to and already contribute to the resilience of their communities, proposing innovative solutions, driving social progress and inspiring political change. They are also agents of change, mobilising to advance the Sustainable Development Goals to improve the lives of people and the health of the planet.
Provided with the necessary skills and opportunities needed to reach their potential, young people can be a driving force for supporting development and contributing to peace and security. Youth-led organisations need to be encouraged and empowered to participate in translating the 2030 Agenda into local, national and regional policy. They play a significant role in the implementation, monitoring and review of the Agenda as well as in holding governments accountable. With political commitment and adequate resources, young people have the potential to make the most effective transformation of the world into a better place for all.
In a nutshell, this new Cycle of 3 DC sessions – scheduled to take place on 18 May, 25 May and 1st June 2019 aims at inviting youth to:
Achieve the Goals
The Global Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the current challenges we face, and to leave no one behind is necessary to achieve the Goals and its targets.
Lead the Goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the key role that today’s youth play in its achievement. Youth empowerment and action is key in the global efforts being taken in the implementation of the Global Goals.
Live the Goals
Young people are the torchbearers of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and only with their energy, new ideas, voices and innovation we will make a difference.
Young people from 20 to 30 years old are invited to join this cycle of debates organised in partnership between Dialogue Café and Garion Group!!
FIRST SESSION – The SDGs Agenda is our business! Ensuring sustainable and equal lives. Fighting poverty and inequality
At the kick off session, on 18 May, an overview of the SDGs will be provided to all participants and an exchange of views with the audience on how to achieve, lead and live the SDGs will take place. Participants will be asked to share their experience and knowledge on this topic as well as their ideas to take action on the ground. Against this backdrop, the session will focus on SDG 1 and 8 addressing the topical issues of ensuring sustainable and equal lives and fighting poverty and inequality.
Youth based in cities of Belgrade, Évora, Lisbon and Seoul, will discuss on how their understanding of poverty and sustainable economic growth, share ideas on how best achieve SDG1 and SDG8, analyse the impact of climate crisis on poverty and economic growth and understand why having nowadays a job does not guarantee the ability to escape from poverty in many places. Youth unemployment will be also addressed and national experiences and perceptions shared during the debate.
SECOND SESSION – The SDGs Agenda is our business! Ensuring sustainable and equal lives. SDG2 – Fighting hunger in the XXI century.
During the first session, on 18 May, an overview of the SDGs was provided to all participants and an exchange of views took place on how best to achieve the SDGs. Participants shared their experience and knowledge on the SDGs as well as their ideas to take action on the ground. During the second session, participants will be invited first of all, as follow-up of the first session, to make a short presentation of SDG 1 and 8 (5 minutes each) and address how best to fight poverty and inequality.
Afterwards a presentation of SDG 2 – Fighting hunger in the XXI century will be provided and participants will commonly define the concept of hunger. Participants will present how hunger is affecting each participant country, Portugal, Serbia and South-Korea, but perspectives from other countries can be also shared. Participants will be invited to share knowledge and references.
Furthermore, youth based in cities of Belgrade, Évora, Lisbon and Seoul will discuss on the link between climate change and hunger in the XXI century. Following a video of Greta Thunberg on climate change, participants will debate on how best fight against climate change in order to reduce hunger in the XXI century and beyond.
Last but not least, a short introduction of the third session and SDGs 3 (health) and 4 (education) will be made. Participants will be invited to reflect during the week about the challenges confronted by their countries and cities in terms of education and health and how it impacts on sustainable development.
THIRD SESSION – The SDGs Agenda is our business! Ensuring sustainable and equal lives. SDGs 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages and SDG4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
During the second session, which was held on 25 May, first of all participants also made an overview of SDG 1 and 8 and addressed how best to fight poverty and inequality. In the second part of the session, an overview of the SDG 2 – Fighting hunger in the XXI century was provided to all young participants and thoughts and ideas on how best fighting hunger shared. Young participants based in Belgrade, Lisbon and Seoul shared the case study of their countries and a special presentation was made by participants in Belgrade. A special link was made to climate crisis and its impact on hunger rise and consequences. They debated how best fight against climate change in order to reduce hunger in XXI century and beyond. They also shared ideas of policies and actions that should be applied.
During the third and last session, a presentation of SDGs 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages and SDG4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all will be provided to participants and they will be invited to present how those challenges affect their own countries and realities. They will commonly define the concept of education and healthy lives. Young participants based in Lisbon and Seoul will be invited to reflect on actions to implement at the individual, collective and political level to ensure the achievement of SDG3 and SDG4.
Furthermore, following a video of Greta Thunberg on climate change, youth will be invited to reflect on how climate change may affect those SDGs and the access to healthy lives and education opportunities to young people in the near future.
Last but not least, young participants will be invited to share their reflections and commitment to fight against climate change and promote the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
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