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1. Main concepts

2. Youth interest in global issues

Main concepts

Development cooperation

Development cooperation in Spain is based on global solidarity and the understanding that global challenges such as poverty, inequality, conflict and climate change require collective international action. Youth perspectives are increasingly recognised within this field. The Youth Strategy 2030 (Estrategia de Juventud 2030) (Axis 6) and its first Action Plan 2022-2024 (Estrategia de Juventud Plan de Acción 2022-2024) identify global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and global inequalities as priority concerns for Spanish youth, reinforcing the importance of sustainability, global citizenship and international solidarity.

Spanish development cooperation is guided by principles such as universality, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and the interdependence between local and global dynamics. These principles are embedded in the Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity Law (Ley 1/2023, de 20 de febrero, de Cooperación para el Desarrollo Sostenible y la Solidaridad Global), which frames cooperation as a public policy directed towards social justice and the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

These concepts guide the priorities of the  Spanish Cooperation Master Plan for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity 2024-2027(VI Plan Director de la Cooperación Española 2024-2027), which addresses climate justice, gender equality, peacebuilding and inclusive development — areas that strongly resonate with youth interests and offer avenues for youth participation.

Youth volunteering as an entry point to global citizenship and development cooperation is further described in Chapter 9.6.

Sustainable development and SDGs

Spain interprets sustainable development as an integrated vision of environmental protection, social wellbeing and economic progress, rooted in the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The country understands sustainability as requiring action across multiple dimensions, including responsible consumption, environmental stewardship, climate awareness, equality, inclusion and respect for planetary boundaries. These conceptual elements were already present in the earlier Spanish Sustainable Development Strategy 2007, although this framework is now largely superseded by Spain’s current 2030 Agenda architecture.

The understanding of sustainability used today emphasises the interdependence of global systems and the need for transformative changes in societal behaviour, production and consumption. This interpretation also underpins Spain’s Voluntary National Review 2024 (Examen Nacional Voluntario 2024), which highlights the role of young people in advancing climate action, social cohesion and global solidarity. 

In the education system, the concept of global citizenship and sustainability is embedded through the 2022 curriculum reforms (see Chapter 9.4), which introduce competences related to ecological responsibility, critical thinking and awareness of global interdependence. These curricular elements help young people understand the links between local action, global challenges and a sustainable future.

Youth interest in global issues

Spanish young people continue to show a strong interest in global themes such as climate change, human rights, peace and security, and socio‑economic inequalities. 

According to the Youth in Spain Report 2024 (Informe Juventud en España 2024) young people consider the economic situation, education, employment, housing, and mental health to be their top priorities, complemented by sustained concern for environmental and climate‑related challenges.

The report also shows that young people maintain a high sense of global identification, complementing stronger local attachments. These attitudes reflect their interest in global sustainability, international solidarity, and participation in transnational processes. 

Climate change in particular continues to be viewed as one of the most pressing issues for their future, influencing their expectations of public policy and their willingness to engage in collective action.ange (7.8) are also very important.