The youth are increasingly playing a more important role in determining the future we are going to have in an age where the world is facing more challenges than it ever did. The world is currently experiencing crises in all sectors, be it political, social, economic, and environmental, which need to be addressed urgently and collectively. Whether it is the climate emergency, political oppression, economic inequalities, or social injustices, young people are not only spectators, but they are change-makers. In these globalized times, youth activism is not a choice but a necessity.

Youth activism is not a choice but a necessity.

Climate change is another burning problem of the modern world that endangers the future generations’ existence. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have an associated deadline of 2030, which demands immediate collective effort. Nevertheless, the progress is sluggish. Based on the report of the United Nations 2023 SDG Report, only approximately 15 per cent of the goals are on track. All the others need to be expedited, and it is in this area that youth leadership has become a force to be reckoned with.

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who, at the age of 15, became an international phenomenon, leading the movement Fridays for Future and uniting millions of people. Her activism proves the possibility of young voices to change the debate in the world and make leaders accountable. Youth engagement in climate action is currently redefining policy and forcing governments and businesses to go green.

In addition to climate change, the youth movement has served as a hope to many areas that have been hit by conflict and injustice. Cases of humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the continuing conflict in Kashmir, and the political and human rights challenge in Balochistan are some of the few examples of youth voices that are being voiced against oppression. Young journalists, activists, and medics have been at the forefront of documenting human rights violations and seeking global solidarity in Palestine.

Only 15% of SDGs are on track, youth leadership must fill the gap.

Against great odds, in Kashmir, the youth still find space to express in art and literature, and online. In Balochistan, due to the student protests and social media activism, the issue of forced disappearances and economic marginalization is becoming more and more well-known. These are youth-led movements that are rewriting the narratives, breaking boundaries and seeking justice where none was even spoken.

History has given us deep examples of change instigated by the young. In the United States, young leaders such as John Lewis, who was only 23 years old when he addressed the 1963 March on Washington, were witnesses to the Civil Rights Movement. On the same note, the Tiananmen Square riots in China in 1989 were also organized by university students who wanted political changes to be implemented.

The Arab Spring that started in 2010 was mostly fueled by youths who demanded freedom and democratic rule in the Middle East and the North African region. Such moments are reminders of an eternal fact: when young people stand up, societies can change.

The digital revolution in the modern-day connected world has increased the strength of youth activism. Social media has become the means of international solidarity, mobilization, and awareness. Such hashtags as #ClimateStrike, #FreePalestine, and #BalochLivesMatter have bridged the gap between people with different backgrounds and united young activists around the world.

Hashtags like #BalochLivesMatter and #FreePalestine unite youth across borders.

Young people are teaching millions of people through digital campaigns, resisting the spread of misinformation, and building virtual communities that are moving people to action. A 2022 study conducted by the Pew Research Centre suggests that online activism has been performed by almost 46 per cent of young adults in the global community, which means that the online space is one of the major battlegrounds of social justice.

Nevertheless, youth activism is not a smooth process. Activists are usually threatened, monitored by authorities, and sometimes even beaten up. Freedom of speech in most countries is a siege. However, all these challenges do not make the will of young leaders less inspiring. Malala Yousafzai, a survivor of an assassination attempt over her activism in support of the education of girls, is an epitome of resiliency. Her activism has led to a change in world policy and the inspiration of millions of people to fight to get their education rights.

There is an urgent and undisputable necessity for youth leadership. The world economy is also in a transition, where unemployment, inflation, and the expansion of the gap between the rich and the poor are on the increase and are disproportionately impacting the youth. The question of youth unemployment is alarming, and the rate stood at 13.6 per cent in 2023 by the International Labor Organization (ILO), a statistic that poses a threat to disempowering the youth. The importance of youth activism is not only related to seeking solutions to social and political problems but also to calling for the reform of the economy that provides sustainable opportunities and will guarantee inclusive growth.

The young people have become the pulse in the global social movements. Their outbursts can be heard at climate demonstrations in Europe, online protests in Asia, student activism in Africa, and grassroots campaigns in Latin America. The world is changing in its approach to injustice and crisis due to the energy, creativity, and moral courage of young people. Tomorrow is not the future of the youth- they are the leaders today.

The world cannot afford to muzzle the greatest instruments of change, young people.

With a little more than a decade to the 2030 deadline to meet the SDGs, young people need to step up their efforts. The youth should not stop leading with urgency and vision through accountability of policymakers, speaking up on behalf of the oppressed, climate justice, or the use of technology to leverage social good. Not only is their role significant, but it is also essential. It is high time we did something. The world cannot afford to muzzle the greatest instruments of change – young people – who can act for social change.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.