Youth Coalition On Sustainable Urban Development

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly emphasized that the global struggle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities. As urban areas present both the world’s greatest challenges and its greatest opportunities, meaningful local action has become indispensable to achieving sustainable development and climate goals. The Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), convened by UN-Habitat in Cairo under the theme “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” reaffirmed this urgency. Paragraph 10 of the Cairo Call to Action highlights the need to build coalitions and alliances that scale local impact through inclusive, action-oriented collaboration among communities, governments, civil society, and the private sector. Within this context, youth must be placed at the center of urban transformation. Young people constitute the majority of urban populations globally, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making processes shaping cities, particularly in areas such as housing, energy, decent work, mobility, and digital equity. Youth are not only long term stakeholders but also critical drivers of innovation, social cohesion, and sustainable solutions and uptake at the local level. Drawing on our skills, knowledge, and organizing experience within the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Sustainable Communities Constituency, we propose the formation of an action-oriented, youth-led coalition focused on advancing sustainable urban development through practical collaboration. The event will convene more than 10 youth-led and youth-focused civil society organizations alongside local authorities, practitioners, and partners to identify shared priorities, exchange good practices, and co-create pathways for coordinated and inclusive local action. Aligned with the Cairo Call to Action, the session will emphasize coalition-building as a mechanism to empower youth, amplify community voices, and bridge local initiatives with national and global urban agendas. By fostering cross-sector partnerships and centering youth leadership, the event aims to unlock collective action that accelerates progress toward inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. Ultimately, this side event affirms a simple but powerful message: sustainable urban futures begin with local action, strengthened by collaboration; And it all starts with us.