With impacts of climate change being heightened across the world, the need to take immediate climate action and its urgency is noted now more than ever before. From governments to civil society, and vulnerable communities to private sector, all stakeholders have recognized the need for integrating climate resilience as a key priority across their decision-making processes. To ensure that climate action leads to long term resilience of all, and contributes to the development processes that enhance sustainable development efforts, it is important that public participation and awareness; access to information and data sharing; education and training; as well as inclusive processes, collaboration and cooperation are prioritized in climate processes at all levels. ‍

“I want to be a sustainable designer and try to help reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the planet,” says Ruwanthi Gajadeera, the Lead Designer of ARALU – a sustainable fashion line that utilises factory waste to make upcycled garments – in discussion with EthicalX. Her work has already received international recognition and awards – she made history as the first South Asian to win the coveted Taiwan Fashion Designer Award in October 2021. 

Youth are a key stakeholder group that will be fundamentally impacted by the results of today’s decisions and the success or failure of actions to address climate change, conserve the environment, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.Youth are almost 16% of the world's total population, with the highest number of youth in South and Central Asia. This large youth population presents a powerful resource and can help to accelerate climate action across different sectors and areas in countries like Sri Lanka. The engagement of young people on the local, national, international, and individual level will be decisive when it comes to shaping the future and finding innovative and transformative solutions to climate change and the other global challenges outlined above.