9.1 General context
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Address:
Youth Research Platform / Ghent University
Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy
Henri Dunantlaan 2
BE-9000 Gent
Tel: +32 9 264 30 01
E-Mail: lieve.bradt@ugent.be; jessy.siongers@vub.be
Website:
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Sustainable development
Article 2 of the Flemish Decree of 18 July 2008 to promote sustainable development defines sustainable development as “a development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, paying attention to the integration of and synergy between the social, environmental and economic dimensions, and whose realisation requires a process of change in which the use of resources, the destination of investments, the targeting of technological development and institutional changes are adapted to both future and present needs”
This definition is the guiding principle for everything which has to do with sustainable development in Flanders.
This decree is based on the Belgian Constitution (Art. 7bis), which encourages the federal State, the communities and the regions to pursue sustainable development in the exercise of their powers.
Following on from the Flemish Decree of 18 July 2008 to promote sustainable development, a Flemish Sustainable Development Strategy was developed for the fourth time in 2021, setting out concrete actions and indicators to achieve the long-term 'Vision 2050' (aimed at “creating prosperity and well-being in a smart, innovative and sustainable way in a social, open, resilient and international Flanders, where everyone counts”). In this fourth Flemish Sustainable Development Strategy, Flanders puts forward seven transition priorities:
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Circular economy
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Living, learning and working in 2050
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Industry 4.0
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Living together in 2050
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Mobility
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Energy and climate
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Environment for the future
In the Flemish Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan 2025-2029, one of the four priorities is “Space to be young”. By choosing this priority, the Government of Flanders emphasises the need for places where children and young people can, want to and are allowed to be present, with an emphasis on a healthy living environment that is resilient to climate change. Targeted actions focus on climate engagement (e.g. through education and information) and the creation of healthy public spaces.
Youth representatives and the Flemish Youth Council
One of the aims of the Flemish Youth Council is to represent young people and youth work at national and international forums. By doing so, the Flemish Youth Council sends UN youth representatives to various (inter)national forums. The Flemish Youth Council has one UN youth representative for sustainable development. This representative can participate in important sustainability summits such as the High Level Political Forum or the Conference of the Parties (COP). Together with the UN youth representative of the French Youth Council, this youth representative can contribute to the discussions around sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda2030: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Youth interest in global issues
Sustainable development and green patterns of consumption and production
The process for drawing up the Flemish Youth and Children’s Rights Policy Plan 2025-2029 completed several participatory stages. The importance of participation was always central to this. Based on an extensive environmental analysis and two consultation moments with civil society partners, eight priorities were put forward. Four of these were selected by the Flemish Government, including ‘Space to be young’, partly on the basis of insights gained from interviews with professionals and relevant actors who work with and for children and young people (indirect participation). In the further elaboration of the objectives and actions within the four priorities, indirect participation (working groups) was supplemented by direct participation with underrepresented or “under-heard” groups.
The environmental analysis points out that young people are concerned about the climate and are willing to take action on this issue. Figures from the JOP monitor 5 indicate that only 18% of participants (aged 14-25) in the survey are not concerned about the climate. 54% of young participants believe that what we do as individuals can make a positive difference in combating climate change. However, concern about the climate and belief in the role of individual efforts are socio-economically determined.Those who find it easier to make ends meet, have no migration background and/or have parents with a higher education degree believe more strongly in the need and possibility of (individual) change.
One action in the Flemish Youth and Children's Rights Policy Plan 2025-2029 focuses on actively listening to and responding to the voices of children and young people in Flemish environmental and climate policy. The direct participation of children and young people in various policy plans is in line with this. In this way, the Flemish government is responding to, among other things, concluding observation 5 of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to Belgium (2019), which calls for children to participate in a meaningful way in policies aimed at achieving the 17 goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Entrepreneurship, employment, education or volunteering opportunities with regions outside Europe
The results of the survey of Youth Pact 2020 mention that one third of young people want to work or study abroad, particularly if it adds value to their job or their training, if it is for a good cause or if they can travel together with someone familiar.
Young people who are not going abroad are afraid to miss their family and friends. Learning another language is no threshold.