Preparing for Y20 in South Africa
In the heart of Johannesburg, a city known for its vibrant culture and indomitable spirit, a gathering of young minds is set to take place that will bring together thought and community leaders from all over the world shaping the future of global policy. This event is the G20 Youth (Y20) Summit, the official youth engagement group of the G20, where the leaders of tomorrow come together to address the challenges of today.
The Y20 is a unique forum that empowers young leaders from the G20 nations to contribute to the global dialogue, offering policy recommendations on issues that resonate with the younger generation. It’s a platform where the energy and innovative spirit of youth converge to influence the highest echelons of global governance.
The Y20 is not merely a conference; it’s a process, a journey of engagement that culminates in the Y20 Summit. Here, delegates from G20 countries, along with invited guest nations, engage in rigorous policy discussions across various tracks such as climate change, digital transformation, and social inclusion. The outcome is a communiqué, a powerful document that encapsulates the collective recommendations of the youth delegates. This communiqué is then presented to the G20 leaders, ensuring that the perspectives and priorities of the younger generation are considered in high-level decision-making.
This year, the Y20 Summit in Johannesburg is poised to tackle five critical themes, each reflecting the urgency and complexity of the challenges we face globally.
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
The first track highlights South Africa’s leadership in global climate action, building on its legacy from COP17 in Durban and setting the stage for an ambitious environmental agenda. With climate change and sustainability at the core of the Y20 Summit, this track will focus on advancing a Just Energy Transition and strengthening climate resilience across Africa. Given South Africa’s rich biodiversity and reliance on natural resources, young Africans are acutely aware of the challenges posed by rising temperatures, droughts, and ecological strain. Delegates will push for equitable climate policies, while emphasizing sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and conservation. By championing resource equity, biodiversity preservation, and energy access, this track aligns with South Africa’s G20 presidency priorities and positions African youth as essential voices in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future.
Inclusive Economic Growth and Employment
This track focuses on tackling economic disparities and youth unemployment by advocating for policies that promote decent work, foster innovation, and expand economic opportunities, particularly in underrepresented regions. The Y20 will emphasize job creation in emerging industries such as technology, manufacturing, and the green and blue economies while ensuring young people are equipped with future-ready skills. Addressing wage disparities, systemic inequalities, and barriers to entrepreneurship will be central to achieving truly inclusive economic growth. By championing equitable development and improved regional employment outcomes, this track aligns with South Africa’s G20 presidency priorities and reinforces the importance of empowering youth as key drivers of economic transformation.
AI, Digital Innovation, Skills Development, and the Future of Work
The third theme focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI), innovation, and the future workforce, aligning with South Africa’s G20 presidency priorities. As AI and digital technologies rapidly transform the global economy, this track will emphasize the need to equip youth with digital literacy, foster AI education, and address the ethical challenges of emerging technologies. Discussions will explore strategies to bridge digital divides, ensure inclusive access to technological advancements, and mitigate risks such as job displacement and algorithmic biases. A human-centered approach to AI governance will be prioritized, ensuring that technological progress supports equity, privacy, and inclusivity while empowering young people to drive innovation in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Meaningful Youth Engagement and Reforming Multilateralism for a Just Future
This theme highlights the importance of fostering youth engagement in multilateralism, global economic reform, and financial equity, aligning with South Africa’s commitment to a fairer international system. It aims to provide young people with a platform to voice their perspectives on international development, cooperation, and economic policy while addressing barriers to their participation in global decision-making. Discussions will focus on reforming multilateral institutions to rebuild trust, ensuring they better serve the needs of developing nations and support sustainable development. By prioritizing transparency, inclusion, and equitable resource allocation, the Y20 seeks to empower youth as active contributors to shaping a more just and representative global order.
Inclusive Social Development and Fighting Inequality
The final theme focuses on addressing social disparities, including poverty, healthcare accessibility, and gender equality, aligning with South Africa’s G20 presidency priorities of food security, health, and inequality reduction. This track will explore community-driven social development and inclusive policies that promote equitable opportunities, particularly within African contexts. With the United Nations hosting the second World Summit for Social Development in 2025 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration on gender equality, the Y20 will play a crucial role in amplifying the voices of young people from Africa and the Global South. Discussions will center on ensuring that youth perspectives are reflected in global efforts to reduce inequality, while also developing a strategy to align with the W20 engagement group in advocating for the empowerment of young women and girls.
As the delegates prepare to gather in August, the eyes of the world will be on Johannesburg, watching as the next generation of leaders drafts a communiqué that will be presented to the G20 leaders. The recommendations made at the Y20 Summit have the potential to influence global policy and bring about a just and sustainable future. Nobody knows yet how successful this youth consultation will be in the end. However, the annual summit serves as a reminder that when young people come together with a shared vision, they can make a profound impact on the world already.
As the summit approaches, the anticipation builds for what has the potential to be a transformative event, not just for the participants, but for the global community at large. With an increase in domestic and international conflicts over the policy areas that will be discussed a global gathering like the G20, including the engagement groups of which Y20 is only one, might be the missing piece to find common ground and align positions for a brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable future.