Hosted by Masdar at ADNEC, the annual Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Hub is being held at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023 from January 16-18.
Y4S is a sustainability and youth empowerment programme, which aims to nurture young talent and inspire smart, disruptive innovation to aid climate action.
Held under the theme of ‘Advancing Youth Engagement for Climate Action,’ Y4S Hub 2023 will host networking events that connect young people with industry leaders.
It will also showcase young innovators who have developed sustainable solutions and increase knowledge and awareness of important sustainability issues via a series of high-level panel discussions and speeches.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President Designate, and chairman of Masdar, said: “We know that young people can bring fresh perspectives to climate action. For years, Masdar has been committed to empowering young people, both at home and abroad, to lead the transition to a more sustainable future. As the UAE looks forward to putting inclusivity at the heart of COP28, the Y4S hub at ADSW 2023 serves as a vital space for young people where transformational ideas can come to the fore.”
Y4S at ADSW 2023 will hold high-level discussions with speakers including Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, Permanent Representative of the UAE to IRENA; Omar Al Braiki, head of negotiations at the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change; Ineza Umuhoza Grace, The Green Protector and coordinator, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition; and Nelson Switzer, managing partner of Climate Innovation Capital, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
Y4S Hub is supported by ADSW 2023’s principal partner, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy.
Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said: “Innovation is key to solving many of the planet’s problems. Young people, with their energy and curiosity, are well placed to develop and lead innovative solutions and it is our duty to help and support them to do so. The Y4S Hub at ADSW 2023 provides an ideal space for young people to collaborate, share ideas and develop beneficial initiatives for the UAE.”
The Y4S Hub will include an ‘Out-of-Labs’ workshop, showcasing nine innovation projects developed by UAE-based university students. There will also be an ‘Ecothon Innovation Challenge’ pitch day, where judges will select two winning innovations from entries submitted by eight teams.
Y4S has reached over 38,000 young people through online and in-person youth programmes, over the past seven years.
At last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), in Egypt, Y4S brought together young teams from the UAE, Africa, and Europe to develop innovative sustainability solutions such as solar-powered home lighting and clean electric stove systems for rural communities.
