19-year-old Canadian, Alicia Cundall, was one of the youngest representatives from a nongovernmental organization to attend this year’s U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17) as a member of the youth caucus, one of the major groups of the civil society accredited to participate at the CSD. Alicia delivered a closing statement by the youth caucus to the plenary session of governments on 14 May.
“It is important to note that this statement was a contribution of approximately 20 youth from around the world. It wasn’t about me at all. As Baha’is we are dedicated to the process of serving humanity, and sometimes we might find ourselves in facilitating roles,” said Ms. Cundall, who is an environmental science student at the University of Toronto and one of six youth delegates from the Baha’i International Community to this year’s session of the commission, held 4-15 May, in New York City.
The youth statement sought to emphasize the commission’s responsibility to take future generations into account as it struggles with this CSD-17 cycle’s agenda, which focused on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification and Africa.
“In times of crisis we’re often urged by convenience or panic to fall back on old practices and cheap fixes,” said Ms. Cundall, reading the youth statement.
“But we cannot continue along this road,” the statement said. “We must ensure that wherever possible, even if it’s hard, even if it costs more now, we prioritize truly sustainable practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Tahirih Naylor, also from Canada, is the Baha’i representative to the UN who specializes in sustainable-development issues. She believes that the goal in sponsoring so many young people at the Commission is to ensure that the youth voice is heard, and that strategies emphasizing the importance of education and capacity building – both of which are essential components of sustainable development – are clearly articulated.
For additional information on the Baha’i International Community’s participation at the CSD-17, please visit the playlist on YouTube.