United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand

2 – 4 December 2024 

CONCEPT NOTE

IFESD Youth Day & ISETS-ESCAP Youth Dialogue

4 December 2024, 09:00-12:00 (Bangkok)

UN Conference Centre Theatre Room and online

Background                                                     

The IFESD Youth Day on 4 December 2024, hosted by ESCAP, is a full-day program aimed at repowering youth in the global energy transition. The program comprises three key sessions:

1. Opening Session of the IFESD Youth Day & ISETS-ESCAP Youth Dialogue. It will set the tone for both the morning and afternoon sessions. 

2. ISETS-ESCAP Youth Dialogue (Morning Session). The International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS), in partnership with ESCAP, is hosting the annual Youth Voice on Energy Transition program. This program includes two main components: the Global Competition of Youth Voice on Energy Transition (Youth Voice Competition) and the Youth Dialogue. 

This annual Youth Voice Competition provides a unique opportunity for young individuals worldwide to demonstrate their creative ideas, technologies, products, projects, and solutions that contribute to the development of sustainable energy systems. The winners and other participants of the 2024 Youth Voice Competition will be invited to take part in the ISETS-ESCAP Youth Dialogue. Before this dialogue, the winners will advance to the 2024 Global Final Competition, hosted by the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, China, from November 28-30, 2024. This sequence of events offers a unique platform for these young leaders to showcase their innovative ideas, engage with their peers, and convey key messages on sustainable energy transition. Youth representatives from around the world will also join the dialogue to share their perspectives. 

In addition, the ISETS Youth Network for Energy Transition and Climate Action (ISETS Youth Network) provides a global platform that empowers young leaders to contribute actively to the global energy transition and climate action efforts. The network encourages collaboration, innovation, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development among youth committed to addressing global energy and climate challenges.

The outcomes of the morning session will inform the youth activities in the afternoon, carrying forward the morning’s discussions into broader themes of regional and international cooperation. This approach fosters a seamless, day-long continuity of dialogue and collaboration.

3. Asia-Pacific Energy Youth Engagement Platform (Afternoon Session). The afternoon part of the IFESD Youth Day is organized by ESCAP with support from other UN Regional Commissions and in partnership with ISETS, Youth for Energy in Southeast Asia and the BRICS Youth Energy Agency. The meeting will focus on building relationships between representatives of youth energy organizations from the Asia-Pacific region.[Concept note of the Asia-Pacific Energy Youth Engagement Platform, (14:00-17:00) is available separately.]

Objectives 

• Foster global and regional youth collaboration on energy transition initiatives.

• Showcase youth-led innovations contributing to sustainable energy systems.

• Engage youth with policymakers and international organizations to drive the global  energy transition.

• Develop messages from youth for global energy transition discussions, which will be finalized and presented in the afternoon session.

Target Group

Representatives of youth-led and youth-focused energy organizations from the Asia-Pacific region and globally together with mentors from the UN regional commissions and international organizations, including delegates from the ISETS-ESCAP Global Competition of Youth Voice on Energy Transition and representatives from the Asia-Pacific Energy Youth Engagement Platform. 

Program 

09:00 – 09:25 Opening of IFESD Youth Day & ISETS-ESCAP Youth Dialogue

• Mr. Hongpeng Liu, Director, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

• Mr. Anthony Monganeli Mehlwana, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

• Mr. Rodrigo Furtado Messias, Associate Economic Affairs Officer,  United NationsEconomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

• Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief of Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

• Mr. Dario Liguti, Director, Sustainable Energy Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

• Dr. Xiansheng Sun, Chairman of Council, ISETS; Former Secretary General, International Energy Forum

•  Moderator: Mr. Xunpeng (Roc) Shi, President, ISETS and Professor, University of Technology Sydney

09:25 – 12:00 ISETS-ESCAP Youth Dialogue (Morning Session)

09:25 – 09:45 Award Ceremony for the ISETS-ESCAP Youth Voice Global Final Competition

09:45 – 10:20 Presentations about the 2024 Global Finalists

• Overview of the 2024 Global Final in Chengdu– Presented by Student Ambassadors from the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) (5 minutes).

• Presentations from the winning teams (5 minutes each).The winning teams will introduce themselves, showcase their projects, and share their perspectives on energy transition and carbon neutrality.

• Moderator: Youth Organizers, SWUFE 

10:20 – 10:50 Coffee Break 

10:50 – 11:50 Youth Voice and Action Planning

• Presentation and discussion on key messages and recommendations for advancing energy transitions for sustainable development through enhanced youth engagement.

• Moderator: Dr. Muyi Yang, Secretary, ISETS 

11:50– 12:00 Wrap-Up and Next Steps

• Overview of the ISETS Youth Programs –Xunpeng (Roc) Shi, President of ISETS and Professor at University of Technology Sydney.

Mode of participation

The session will take place in a hybrid format (in-person and online via MS Teams (Meeting ID: 349 808 850 749; Passcode: Ar7F8rR6).

Contact

Mr. Xunpeng Shi, ISETS, xunpeng.shi@un.org; isets@isets.org .