The Globalized world has been celebrating International Youth Day since 1999. It was recommended by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible For Youth in Lisbon in 1998. Annually, this particular event has resound with several themes to enhance the awareness and understanding among youth to meet the demand of sustainable life. This time the theme of International Youth Day 2021 is “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”. Due to COVID-19, everybody is suffering and facing the challenges of health and shortages of food. In different countries Health Emergency has been declared in the wake of COVID-19. Tragically, more than million people caused death and several millions are facing the acute poverty especially in the developing countries. High price of commodities is further added fuel to this adverse situation.

Recent estimates for global poverty are that 9.2 % of the world, or 689 million people, live in extreme poverty on $ 1.90 or less a day, according to World Bank. Furthermore, 690 million people are hungry or 8.9 percent of the world population. The majority of 381 million are still in Asia.

All the alarming facts demand, that 1.8 billion youth of the world should come forward and play their role effectively to make the environment friendly and cope up this challenge of status quo.

There is a dire need of youth active participation in all sphere of life. In addition, 20 per cent of all youth in the developing world are not have education and employment. The first and foremost responsibility of the government, all stakeholders and epically youth literate groups are to provide the education of this backward segment of the society.

Psychologically, 60% youth do not feel comfortable when  elder people or experienced person give them advice.

So, educated youth should drive this car safely and spread the awareness on the either side of road. Upper age group of society should get the training under international institutions and respective national government. Without educated youth and education in the society, how innovation is made possible which will beneficial for human and planet.

The educated youth is the key to innovative future.

Earlier this year, Earth day has celebrated 2021 with the theme of : Restoring Agriculture to Transform Food System, which is the analogy of international Youth Day to meet the SDGs especially focus on SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. All these targets indicate to cope up the challenge and meet the target in the form of SDGs which are SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 2 No Hunger, SDG 3 Good Health and Well Being.

If the world try to follow the SDG4 Quality Education and SDG 5, GENDER Equality, it will pave the way to achieve Planetary Health and Food System.

Today, 1 in 10 people still don’t have sufficient to eat and our food and agricultural system is on the point of rapture. The question arise how the world produce sufficient food by transforming production. The solution was given by Petra Hans, Head of Portfolio Agricultural Livelihood IEEA Foundation.

1.      Harness the regenerate power of our Earth

2.      Build stronger local and circular food system

3.      Give farmers a voice and support their planet positive choices.

4.      Move from low coast to true coast.

5.      Foster radical collaboration

The Second part of the slogan is Youth Innovation For Human and Planet.

In the light of above, World Economic Forum states: 3 defining characteristics of youth that led social innovation

1.      Context trumps teach: all the youth of the world must have access to technology in general for this purpose. All stake holders should take interest and make it possible especially in under and developing countries.

2.      Better Health and Life attracts many other to get education

3.      Local issues first.

How a community solve this problem of world if it is unable to solve their local problem. It’s a responsibility of government and institutions to give them quality education and practical science labs that attract youth to put their interest and innovate new thing which cope up the local issues. Every region of the world has different issues and not a single innovation of any region work at other places. It’s a multidimensional approach to boast the youth for innovation and become the bridge between Pandemic affected world to healthy environment.

But the main hurdle to achieve the targets of Environment as well as Youth International Day is economic perception of people. As rightly said by Zephyr McIntyre “We are seeds as well as parasite to the earth. We can either give or take, depending on our perception of growth”

Consequently, the youth of the world should come forward and it is high time to be united and chalk out the strategy under the auspices of UN that it will reduce the poverty, hunger, make possible quality education and economic growth to achieve the desirable results

Because “Men Argue, Mature acts” - Voltaire.

About the Author: Muhammad Owais is a Geologist and an Educationist with an aim to work for environment, climate, and sustainable development. He is an Alumni of American E Teacher 202 and Professional Mentor for Jobs Preparation. He stands up to review the educational curriculum that spurs the motivation among students of climate change that is the only way forward.