(Abu Dhabi) – H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, attended the global launch by Masdar of the Youth 4 Sustainability, Y4S, platform.
The global platform, launched under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, is designed to equip young people with the skills needed to pursue careers in the sustainability industry, combining tailored workshops and real-world experience to empower youth and give them the skills they need to excel.
The platform aims to directly engage 50,000 young people across the world by 2030. Masdar is one of the world’s leading clean energy companies.
“The UAE government places great importance on the role and empowerment of youth, who hold the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of our future. Through structured programmes such as Youth 4 Sustainability, we can prepare them so they are able to tackle the challenges that our world currently faces,” said Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed. “With the launch of the global platform, we can reach young leaders around the world, creating an even larger network of empowered and informed youth.”
Over the next decade, the green economy will create 24 million new jobs, according to the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation. The global renewable energy sector employed 11 million people in 2018, compared with 10.3 million in 2017, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. Youth programmes are designed to engage youth from a young age to prepare them for a sustainability-focused future.
For her part, Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar, said, “The UAE has established itself as a global leader in the empowerment of youth, recognising that their contribution is integral to the country’s development. Delivering a sustainable future presents a great challenge and a great opportunity, requiring a new generation of engineers, entrepreneurs, consultants and sustainability advocates.”
“The global Youth 4 Sustainability platform will play a crucial role in preparing young people with the skills and experience they need to succeed, as well as connecting youth leaders around the world to kick-start a global conversation about sustainability,” she added.
