Youth 4 Sustainability Hub To Empower Young Leaders At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Hub is set to occur during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 from 14-16 January. This initiative by Masdar aims to empower young sustainability leaders through a comprehensive programme focused on innovation, STEM skills, and community involvement.

The Y4S Hub will be hosted by Masdar under the theme ‘Generation Now - Building the Future’. It will explore technology, sustainability, and youth entrepreneurship. The event encourages engagement between youth and government officials, industry leaders, investors, experts, and peers. The programme will delve into how young people can leverage AI and other technologies for climate solutions.

Y4S offers a dynamic programme based on five pillars: Unlocking Potential, Driving Progress; Innovating for Energy Transformation; Empowering Entrepreneurs for a Resilient World; Cultivating STEM Skills for a Sustainable Future; and Fostering Global Collaboration and Cultural Exchange. These pillars aim to equip young individuals with essential skills and knowledge.

Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, stated that since 2016, Y4S has empowered thousands of youths to actively shape a sustainable future. He emphasised that Y4S aligns with the UAE’s mission to advance youth leadership. "The Y4S Hub at ADSW 2025 will provide a platform to connect young voices globally with governments, industry leaders and civil society to enable them to play a meaningful role in driving social, economic and environmental progress," he said.

Participants can engage in various interactive sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities at the Y4S Hub. The Annual Y4S Forum will feature dynamic discussions, insightful panels, and inspiring keynotes from leading experts. Additionally, there will be an Out-of-Labs innovation marketplace showcasing advanced climate technologies developed by startups and student projects.

Youth Connect offers hands-on workshops focusing on climate literacy and engaging simulations of youth climate negotiations. Innovate 4 Climate (I4C) Pitch Day provides a platform for young innovators to present solutions addressing water scarcity challenges.

Global Engagement

Since its inception in 2018, Y4S has hosted four editions of the Y4S Hub during ADSW. It has welcomed over 3,000 global youths from around the world and featured more than 200 speakers including over 40 Heads of State. Y4S has also participated in international events like COP28 in the UAE.

The upcoming Y4S Hub will take place at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi alongside other significant events at ADSW 2025 such as the World Future Energy Summit. Young individuals are encouraged to attend the hub and join the Y4S community for more information about daily programmes.

With inputs from WAM