Voices of Change: A Day at the Palais des Nations

The UN Regional Forum on Sustainable Development brought together dozens of delegates from across Europe and Central Asia. “Being a delegate here is about responsibility. About trust. About the future that we are creating together, step by step” – said Anastasia Tsybulyak, a researcher and founder of the Glossary Eco Foundation.

The Sustainable Development Forum discussed green transformation, the digital revolution, the energy crisis, and demographic challenges. One of the panels was dedicated to the green transformation of the Western Balkans. A representative of the Regional Cooperation Council said that this process is not just about reducing CO₂ emissions. “Digitalization, decarbonization, cooperation are not just trends. This is a chance to stop the depopulation and loss of the region, turning it into a space of opportunities,” said Anastasia Tsybulyak, a researcher and founder of the Glossary Eco Foundation.

Another important topic is coordination between countries. Every strategy, every indicator, every number is not just statistics. It is based on human dignity, security, and well-being. Words worth remembering. At one of the key panel discussions, a thought was heard that touched me the most: “The greatest hope is the desire of people – especially young people – to change the world. And the greatest danger is wasting time on documents instead of real action.”

The Sustainable Development Goals are not the property of the UN. They are a global guide for every person – regardless of age. The future generation is already shaping the agenda, and we must be worthy partners in this dialogue. The role of youth: not the future, but the present. The Parliamentary Assembly emphasized that it is necessary to involve young people. They face economic instability, mental health problems, and disinformation. But it is young people who have the potential to generate solutions. Today’s panel discussion once again confirmed: the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is impossible without quality education and partnership with business.

The representative of the Netherlands, A.Pot, emphasized that even in difficult times for students, we cannot sacrifice the quality of education. It is important to democratize investments so that every business has the opportunity to join the changes. It is expected that this summer at the Social Summit new approaches to the transformation of education, investment policy and youth engagement will be discussed. “We need dialogue. And we must listen to each other” – these words became the refrain of today’s discussion.