Youth Workshop 2025 (12-14 October)
The ESDN Youth Workshop 2025, took place on 12–14 October 2025 in Berlin, and brought together around 30 UN Youth Delegates and National Representatives on Sustainable Development (SD) from across Europe to discuss issues most relevant to them. The overarching theme was: “Our Future Beyond 2030: Youth Visions for Sustainability & Security.” The beyond 2030 discussion is just starting – it is a good time for youth to think about what their needs are and what they could contribute. One emerging theme is security, which is increasingly recognized as a vital dimension of sustainability. Traditionally, security has been defined in terms of military strength and institutional control. Today, however, it must also encompass ecological, social, economic, digital, cultural, personal, and global level. True security is not merely the absence of threats but the presence of conditions that allow people, communities, cultures, and nature to thrive. This workshop invites youth to reflect on what sustainability and security mean for their future — and to transform personal insights into collective contributions for the post-2030 discussion. Closely linked to SDGs 13, 15, and 16, the program combines inner reflection, the Inner Sustainability Game, dialogue circles, “How Might We” questions, and structured policy labs with policymakers. Step by step, participants move from personal awareness to shared vision and concrete action, resulting in both a stronger sense of agency and a youth-led policy product. Several ESDN Members from Germany, Austria, Wales, Luxembourg and Finland also joined the workshop to engage with the youth participants. As an outcome, the young participants collaboratively drafted a Youth Policy Note, summarizing their perspectives on the Future Beyond 2030, which they presented at the ESDN Conference in Copenhagen in November 2025.
The Youth Workshop 2025 agenda, discussion paper, report, and policy note can be found below.
