[2025] 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth Summer Camp
Documents
Concept Note (updated as of 14 August 2025)
Agenda (updated as of 25 August 2025)
Background
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1) recognized children, young women and men as critical agents of change for implementation of the SDGs. Around the world, young people are actively advancing their knowledge, skills, and mindsets to ensure successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Acknowledging the vital role of youth in implementing the SDGs, the UN has introduced various initiatives- some of which began before 2015- to have their voices heard and ensure their meaningful engagement in the UN processes. These include the annual ECOSOC Youth Forum (held since 2012), the launch of “Youth 2030: The United Nations Youth Strategy” in 2018, and the appointment of Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth since 2014. The UN’s commitment to youth has deepened further with the announcement of Felipe Paullier as the first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs in October 2023.
On the margins of the 79th General Assembly, world leaders convened the “Summit of Future” on 22-23 September 2024, with the aim to re-mobilize the international community around the Sustainable Development Goals. This resulted in the adoption of an action-oriented outcome document, “Pact for the Future (A/RES/79/1)”. The Pact for the Future re-affirmed the younger generation as critical agents of positive change and in the section “Youth and Future Generations” declared four key actions: investing in development of young people for them to reach their full potential, protecting their human rights and foster social inclusion and integration as well as strengthening meaningful youth participation at national and international levels.
In this context, UNOSD has been implementing a youth capacity building programme for sustainable development since the office’s inception over a decade ago. Since 2017, UNOSD began organizing the “SDGs Youth Summer Camp” annually to empower youth leaders to think critically and get engaged in implementing the SDGs. Since its first summer camp, UNOSD has trained close to 300 youth.
Globally, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute and up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, but of the seven billion tons of plastic waste generated, less than 10 per cent has been recycled. Plastics are ubiquitous in the environment, and microplastics have been found in human organs and are associated with serious health issues.
The international community has taken steps to resolve this issue with initiatives such as the Clean Seas campaign, the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative5. In March 2022, a resolution was adopted to develop an internationally binding instrument on plastic pollution. Five sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) have been held so far, first part of fifth session (INC-5.1) took place from 25 November to 1 December in Busan, Republic of Korea and the second part (INC-5.2) held 5 to 14 August in Geneva, Switzerland with the aim to draft a global plastic treaty.
Reflecting on the seriousness and gravity of the plastic pollution problem, this year’s Camp continues to focus on the plastic pollution crisis from last year. The Camp includes sessions where the participants are encouraged to come up with social media messages on innovative ideas and accelerated solutions to contribute to the resolution of the plastic pollution crisis.
Objectives
The objectives of the Camp will include, but are not limited to the following:
- Build and enhance knowledge of youth on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
- Foster youth leadership skills with design-thinking, critical-thinking, and engagement through dialogues and exercises on successful plastic-related SDGs implementation;
- Provide opportunities for networking among youth; and
- Expand the host institution’s partnership with youth leaders for the SDGs.
Participants
Those who are born between 1997 and 2007 are eligible to apply regardless of their nationality by submitting application forms and other required documents via online form. Proficiency in English is required for all participants. The participants must cover their own expenses for transportation (including airflight) to and from the venue. Accommodation in Korea and meals will be provided by organizers. The organizers will select a maximum of 30 participants based on their motivation, capacities, and English proficiency while considering gender and geographical balance and potentially countries of participants from previous years.
Programme and Structure
The organizers will invite experts and practitioners from international organizations, academia, government sector and the private sector to share their insights on SDGs and facilitate productive dialogues with the participants. The programme will be facilitated by sustainable development experts with knowledge in the plastics pollution crisis.
Their knowledge, skills, and experiences will ensure the overall quality of the summer camp and motivate the participants to be fully engaged. The sessions will include group work to allow active interaction among the participants, including through group activities and to share creative ideas on how to develop practical approaches by creating SNS messages to addressing the plastics pollution crisis. All sessions will be conducted in English.
Organizers
This event will be organized by UNOSD and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco), Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea.
Programme and Agenda
Day 1 (19 August)
Opening and Ministerial Remarks
- Mr. Sang-Hyup Kim, Director-General, GGGI
- Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office, UNOSD
Overview of the Course
Speaker: UNOSD/DSDG/DESA
Overview of Waste Management: General Information and International Trends
Speaker: Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office, UNOSD
Understanding Plastics: Key Lecture
Speaker: Professor Yong-chul Jang, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea
Introduction to Group Activity
- Speaker: GGGI COMKS Team
Using AI for Research and Idea Development
- Speaker: Mr. Dukwoo Jun, Circular Economy Community of Practice Lead, GGGI
Recycling
- Speaker: Mr. Taegoan Bae, CEO, Oysterable
- Speaker: Ms. Seunghee Lee, Senior Director, Good Neighbours Impact Fund Group
Reduce, Reuse & Solving Plastic Pollution Problem (Reduce/Reuse)
- Speaker: Ms. Annalis Wiramidjaja, Sustainable Development Specialist, GGGI
Day 2 (20 August)
Re-orient and Diversify
- Speaker: Ms. Bo Hae Na, Research Specialist, Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (Virtual)
- Speaker: Mr. Sang Gwon Moon, CFO, Re_VELOP
Plastic Legacy
- Speaker: Ms. Yuna Lee, Responsible Divers (ReDi) Founding Representative
Strategic Campaign Planning: From Objectives to Implementations
- Speaker: Mr. Nayoon Kang, GGGI COMKS Team
Campaign Creation: Bringing Ideas to Life
- Speaker: Ms. Su Jeung Hong, GGGI COMKS Team
Prepare a group "Idea Concept" for Social Media Messaging
- Moderator: GGGI COMKS Team and UNOSD/DSDG/DESA
Idea Concept Presentation & Feedback Exchange
- Moderator: GGGI COMKS Team and UNOSD/DSDG/DESA
Day 3 (21 August)
Social Media Messaging Development
- Moderator: UNOSD/DSDG/DESA and GGGI
Final Presentations
- Moderator: UNOSD/DSDG/DESA, GGGI, Panels from WEF and UNDP
Announcing of Best-Scoring Group
Closing Session
- Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office, UNOSD
Code of Conduct
The organizations of the United Nations system are committed to enabling events at which everyone can participate in an inclusive, respectful and safe environment.
UN system events are guided by the highest ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards all participants attending or involved with any UN system event: https://www.un.org/en/content/codeofconduct/