Youth Paper: The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 - Version: as of 21 January 2020 - Under consultation

A healthy and sustainable environment is the foundation of an equitable, functioning society and the basis for prosperity and security. There is no doubt about the ecological and climate crisis humanity is facing in this century. Youth and future generations are amongst the ones who will feel the most impact due to climate-induced natural disasters, food and water shortages, biodiversity loss, destruction of ecosystems, security threats, the climate refugee crisis, health crisis and sustained losses in economic productivity. These impacts will and are already affecting millions of children and youth globally, especially those living in developing countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in March 2019 (“Restoration Decade”) provides a strong avenue for averting this ecological crisis, and mainstreaming empowerment of those under-represented while doing so.