The 15th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development is a policy session. The Commission will be looking at ways to implement concrete policies that address sustainable development on four themes: energy for sustainable development, climate change, industrial development and air pollution.

Youth everywhere recognize that their future is at stake; future generations will undoubtedly see the long-term effects of today’s policies. Youth deserve a voice in determining a global course of action. We, as youth of the United States of America, have organized effectively to achieve that voice. One way to give that voice more power is to increase involvement across all sectors through education, outreach, and raising public awareness.

Our instrument for education and advocacy is SustainUS, a national network of youth advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment in the United States. We differ in our backgrounds, beliefs, and even our approaches to sustainable development but we share a commitment to our common future. One of our national programs, Agents of Change, offers young people from all over the country the opportunity to take part in high-level meetings at the United Nations that directly affect the world that we as young people will inherit.

Our Agents of Change program participants have worked collaboratively to produce this set of policy priorities for the 15th Session of the Commission, with sections on all four themes. Click through to read the policy priorities for each theme.

1. Energy
2. Air pollution/atmosphere
3. Climate Change
4. Industrial Development