Youth in Resource Management | UNECE
The youth community plays a pivotal role in supporting urgent actions to deliver on the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through innovation and state of the art solutions, the youth can bring a distinct perspective to facilitate sustainable resource management. On that note, the youth community is a crucial stakeholder for a just energy transition by 2050 and beyond.
The Expert Group on Resource Management (EGRM) is devoting special attention to youth engagement in sustainable resource management.
EGRM acknowledges that the youth community is key for sustainable development. The engagement of the youth in resource management exudes encouraging social, economic, and technological benefits. Therefore, EGRM has enriched its activities to support the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and its targets:
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all
- 8.5 – By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
- 8.6 – By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
- 8.b – By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization
EGRM Resource Management Young Member Group
The EGRM Resource Management Young Member Group (RMYMG) initiative began in 2020 to promote intergenerational equity in the energy and resource industries within the framework of sustainable resource management. In April 2023, the Expert Group noted with appreciation the revised Terms of Reference of RMYMG.
RMYMG at UNECE Resource Management Week 2023
IN FOCUS: Guidebook on Critical Minerals for the Sustainable Energy Transition to Support Intergenerational Action
The RMYMG publication, titled “Critical Minerals for the Sustainable Energy Transition: A Guidebook to Support Intergenerational Action”, was launched at the UNECE Resource Management Week 2024 in April 2024. The Guidebook dives into the details of global critical minerals value chains, the importance of intergenerational equity in resource management decisions, and the need for the adoption of global standards such as the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS).
About the Group
RMYMG is established to facilitate communication with the younger generations and to engage them in sustainable resource management, and the use of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) as tools for sustainable development. In parallel, RMYMG is recognized as a learning platform for the youth to partake in resource policies, regulation processes, decision-making, and research and development over sustainable resource management. In this matter, RMYMG directly supports the following SDGs:
- 7.a – By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
- 12.2 – By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
Who can join?
RMYMG is composed of young members, between the ages of 18 to 35, from various energy and resource backgrounds, including university students, young professionals, activists, and any member of the youth community interested in the sustainable management of resources. Membership for RMYMG is on a voluntary basis.
Membership of RMYMG
RMYMG is a diverse group consisting of over 50 members from Europe, North America, Central Asia and beyond. The group is made up of young individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from academic students and young professionals to representatives from industry, government, and civil society. RMYMG focuses on sustainable resource management, with members expressing their interest in all natural resources and energy sources such as mineral, anthropogenic resources, solar, wind, nuclear and hydrogen. RMYMG collaborates with members from other large youth organizations worldwide to ensure a global approach to addressing issues related to sustainable resource management.
Contact [email protected] to become a member of RMYMG.
Aims of the Group
- Bring new, innovative perspectives and skills into current discussions.
- Form leading decision-makers for comprehensive, resilient, and sustainable energy transition and resource development.
- Ensure a long-term continuation of sustainable resource development, beyond 2050.
Current Work
The work of RMYMG supports the development of educational material on sustainable resource management to shape the minds of the upcoming generations in line with Agenda 2030 which supports SDG 13:
- 13.3 – Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
