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As the world reaches the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York, served as a critical checkpoint for accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s HLPF focused on SDGs 3 (Health), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work), 14 (Life Below Water), and 17 (Partnerships), under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda.” With time running out, the forum emphasized inclusive partnerships and youth engagement to overcome mounting global challenges.
YPARD participated actively at HLPF 2025, reinforcing the message that youth must be seen not just as beneficiaries, but as essential decision-makers. Represented by Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator Xiaoshang Deng, YPARD contributed to key side events and dialogues, bringing youth-led perspectives on agroecology, food systems, and rural development to the global stage. Xiao's presence exemplified the organization’s mission to connect young researchers, farmers, and entrepreneurs with high-level policy processes that shape sustainable development.
YPARD's work — rooted in agroecology, equity, and youth co-leadership — offers scalable solutions to accelerate SDG implementation. At the HLPF, YPARD’s position aligned with the reviewed goals: for SDG 3, it called for integrated agriculture-health policies, especially addressing mental health and climate anxiety; for SDG 5, it advocated for Indigenous and rural young women’s leadership and land rights; for SDG 8, it emphasized support for youth employment in sustainable agri-food systems; for SDG 14, it urged greater youth participation in ocean governance and investment in sustainable aquaculture; and for SDG 17, it stressed the need for youth to hold structural, funded roles in partnerships and governance—not just symbolic seats at the table.
You can read the full position paper here.
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