2 Opening Statement from theNorwegian Children and Youth Council

The children and youth of Norway want to speak clearly: the decisions you make now shape the society we will live in for decades, because “it is us who will live with the consequences if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not met”. We see the pressures and injustices of our time up close: a climate crisis that cannot wait, economic inequalities that limit opportunities, and mental health challenges affecting too many of us. Norway needs to recalibrate our objectives to be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and we need to set them on the agenda once more. We are asking for political action that matches the urgency we feel, more importantly we ask for the Government to put action behind the words.

Young people are ready to do their part. But too often, youth involvement is designed around timelines, formats, and definitions of influence that are shaped by, and for, adults. Real youth participation means something different: processes built with us, for us, and importantly, driven by us. When young people set the agenda, shape the methods, and define the questions, participation becomes meaningful rather than symbolic.

For participation to matter, it must also be predictable and protected. That is why institutionalised youth structures are essential. Roles like the UN Youth Delegates and other formal youth representation schemes must not depend on temporary political will, they should be longterm, wellresourced, and integrated parts of national decisionmaking. When youth participation relies on adhoc initiatives, our influence becomes optional. When it is institutionalised, it becomes democratic.

We also know that not all youth have equal access to being heard. Many experience economic, social, geographic, or cultural barriers that limit their ability to take part. If Norway wants to reduce inequalities and strengthen democracy, then participation must be accessible to all young people, not just the few who manage to navigate complex systems. The Norwegian Government additionally needs to do their part to make these processes accessible and visible. This requires political courage and willingness to change structures so that those who are usually left out are invited.

Youth ask for a fundamental shift to achieve the SDGs: make youthled participation a core principle of SDG implementation and involve us when priorities are set, not only when documents need feedback. Strengthen youthdriven processes. Protect and expand institutionalised youth representation and show clearly how young people’s input changes outcomes.

Jakob Øvensen Aanderaa

President of the Norwegian Children and Youth Council