Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 brings together 85 leaders to develop solutions for the SDGs

Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 brings together 85 leaders to develop solutions for the SDGs

The Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 will take place at the Casina Pio IV in Vatican City on October 16. This year, it gathers more than 85 leaders and innovators to develop solutions and partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vatican City, October 15: The Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 will take place at the Casina Pio IV in Vatican City on October 16 (Wednesday). Co-hosted by SDSN Youth and Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS), the Symposium brings together more than 85 leaders and innovators in global development to develop solutions and partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Young leaders have an important role to play in instilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, and Pope Francis's Laudato Si’ among the new generation worldwide. Titled Intergenerational Leadership: Laudato Si’ and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 serves as a brainstorming hub - a forum where groundbreaking solutions and ideas are cultivated and partnerships are fostered to further the implementation of the SDGs on national, regional, and international scales.

Attendees of the Symposium will come together to learn from both experts and each other in sessions covering topics including innovation and technology, education, entrepreneurship, sustainable cities and communities, and moral engagement to fortify global youth movements for the betterment of humanity.

The Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 will be opened by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and Monsignor Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Other high-level speakers include Professor Lorenzo Fioramonti, Italy’s Minister of Education, and Ambassador Dho Young-shim, Chair of ISTO for Peace and Prosperity.

Leaders from civil society, faith communities, businesses, governments, and academia, will facilitate sessions at the Symposium, offering guidance and partnership to build a strong global network of intergenerational changemakers working to advance the 2030 Agenda. 

Representatives from organizations such as the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, C40 Cities, Global Citizen, Scholas (an initiative of Pope Frances), UNITAR, UNLEASH, as well as universities such as Harvard University, Columbia University, University of Oxford, University College London, among others, will provide valuable dialogue and discussions with youth leaders on practices and lessons they can utilize to mobilize on SDG projects.

The solutions discussed and generated at the Vatican Youth Symposium will be wide-ranging and multifaceted. It will have a special focus on the following themes:

  • Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development
  • Education for Sustainable Development, Global Citizenship, and 21st Century Skills
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Laudato Si' and Human Dignity
  • Role of Universities and Academia in Sustainable Development
  • Financing for Sustainable Development
  • Networks, Partnerships and Social Movements for Sustainable Development

The Symposium will provide a space for professionals and young leaders to share experiences, success stories, and best practices in order to empower participants to commit to concrete solutions and deliver meaningful change in their local communities.

The Vatican Youth Symposium 2019 was made possible by the generosity and support of Dr Betsee Parker.

Follow the Vatican Youth Symposium live at @SDSNYouth and #VYS2019.

Learn more about the Symposium at https://sdsnyouth.org/vatican-event/

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The Pontifical Academy of Sciences Founded in Rome on 17 August 1603, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences’ mission is to honor pure science, ensure its freedom and encourage research. It is the only supranational academy of sciences in the world. Its headquarters are in the Casina Pio IV, within the Vatican Gardens.  

SDSN Youth In 2012, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical problem solving for sustainable development, including the design and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national and global scales. In 2015, the SDSN launched its official youth division (SDSN Youth) to empower youth globally to create sustainable development solutions. 

Media inquiries:

For general media inquiries please contact Amy Au at amy.au@sdsnyouth.org

Accreditation information:

Journalists and media organizations who wish to participate must apply, no less than 48 hours

before the event, through the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system available at press.vatican.va/accreditamenti

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