As we launch the second edition of Our Future Agenda Quarterly, we find ourselves at a crossroads of urgency and hope. In the few months since our inaugural issue, young people around the world have stepped further into the spotlight of global change – rallying communities, challenging leaders, and forging solutions.

This issue arrives on the heels of major milestones, from the UN Ocean Conference in Nice to the Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, and ongoing preparations for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum. The message echoing from these stages is clear: the future is not something that just happens to us – it’s something we are collectively shaping, here and now. And young people are leading the charge with passion and purpose.

Over the next pages, you’ll discover five powerful narratives of youth action and intergenerational collaboration

First, “The Ocean is in Hot Water” plunges us into the fight for our blue planet, where young activists joined world leaders and scientists at the largest ocean summit ever to turn the tide on an ocean emergency. From climate-fueled coral bleaching to bold new treaties, this story shows how unity – from Pacific Island youth to heads of state – can ignite hope for our seas. 

Next, “AI for Good” takes us to the frontiers of technology in Geneva, where teens and technocrats will come together to ensure AI becomes a force for good. In a world wary of rogue algorithms, we spotlight how youth innovators and the UN’s new global AI governance efforts are working hand-in-hand to harness tech for humanity’s benefit.

With five years left on the 2030 Agenda, our third chapter, “HLPF 2025”, examines how far we’ve come on the Sustainable Development Goals – and emphasizes intergenerational action in shaping those progress reviews. Young voices are helping write their countries’ Voluntary National Reviews ahead of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum, injecting reality and accountability into the world’s SDG report card.  

Change is brewing in everyday moments, too, beyond the conferences and forums. “In the Loop”, our rapid roundup, translates SDGs into everyday realities, capturing how change happens from the ground up. From a viral climate campaign on social media to a surprise political cameo on a concert stage, these stories show intergenerational solidarity in action. The victories and culture moments of this past quarter remind us that progress isn’t confined to boardrooms; it’s alive on beaches, in classrooms, within movements, and even in memes and music. 

Finally, “Future Remix” celebrates the creative revolution shaping global cooperation. Here we showcase how youth are reimagining the world through art, storytelling, and innovation – from an animated series debuting at the UN that demystifies global finance, to hip-hop and digital art that unite communities. These cultural expressions prove that imagination is a powerful tool in building understanding and hope across generations.

Together, these five chapters set an optimistic, determined tone for our shared journey. As you read through stories of young changemakers defending our oceans, coding a better future, holding their governments to account, and inspiring action through creativity, we invite you to see yourself in this narrative.

Our aim is to inform and ignite – to show that for every global challenge, there is a rising generation ready to meet it with ingenuity and courage.

— Our Future Agenda