In September, the Youth Sustainability Alliance (YSA) officially kicked off the Youth Sustainability Summit series at NYU Abu Dhabi, with events continuing in November and January. With the organization of the event now fully complete, the series is in full swing, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Mubadala. The summit aims to kickstart a series of youth conferences, bringing together 15 schools and 150 student leaders in total, engaging them in panels, workshops, and policy drafting sessions aligned with the COP28 framework. This summit not only activated a new generation of sustainability advocates but also launched post-event initiatives to turn their ideas into meaningful action.
This initial summit brought together participants from across the globe, with attendees from the United States, Korea, Egypt, Mexico, and more. The gathering was a clear reflection of YSA’s mission to unite a diverse network of passionate advocates for environmental change.
A major highlight was the participation of Marcus Ayoub, YSA’s co-founder and Executive Director, and Adam Kablawi, another YSA executive. Both Marcus and Adam led discussions and shared their unique experiences with sustainability. Adam, known for his expertise in math-related subjects, spoke about how he integrated his skills into modeling climate change for research, showcasing how quantitative analysis can play a critical role in understanding and combating environmental issues. Marcus presented his research on rice production and greenhouse gas emissions, connecting it to YSA’s impactful projects, including their efforts that redistributed over 23,000 meals. Their insights provided attendees with practical examples of how individual skills and research can be leveraged for meaningful environmental contributions.
The event also featured Ryan Hong, YSA's Co-Founder and Executive Director of YSA’s Korean branch, who traveled to Abu Dhabi to participate. Ryan’s talk focused on moving beyond awareness to the execution of sustainability projects, offering practical strategies that inspired attendees to turn their ideas into action. His emphasis on bridging the gap between knowledge and practice resonated with everyone in the room.
Sumin Bae, YSA’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, shared personal reflections on how growing up in different cultural settings shaped their approach to sustainability. This inspired an engaging discussion on using diverse cultural backgrounds to fuel collaborative sustainability efforts. Sumin emphasized how these diverse experiences have helped shape not only their understanding of environmental issues but also their approach to leading YSA with an inclusive and global mindset. Their reflections encouraged attendees to think about how their unique perspectives could drive creative solutions in sustainability.
The interactive session that followed was full of energy, with members sharing ideas on how they could harness their skills and experiences to drive impactful projects. The discussions captured the essence of what YSA stands for—collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to sustainability.
Hosting the event at NYU Abu Dhabi added a unique dimension, providing a backdrop that embodies global collaboration and forward-thinking dialogue. This summit reinforced the idea that sustainability is a collective effort that transcends borders and is strengthened by the dedication of individuals from all walks of life.
As YSA gears up for the next events in this series, the momentum from this initial summit is sure to build. With the support of Mubadala and the unwavering dedication of YSA members, the upcoming gatherings in November and January promise to inspire even more action and progress. Stay connected as we continue to grow this movement, bringing together voices from around the world to champion sustainability!
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