Report on the “Green Consumption and Sustainable Development” Forum

Forum Overview and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A thematic forum titled “Green Consumption and Sustainable Development,” part of the 2025 World Youth Development Forum, was convened on July 16. The event brought together over 150 participants, including experts, scholars, and young entrepreneurs from more than 40 nations. The forum’s central objective is to advance the Global Development Initiative by fostering actionable practices in green consumption, directly contributing to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Key Objectives and Thematic Focus

The forum’s discussions were structured to address critical components of the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on youth-led action.

• Advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The core theme centered on promoting sustainable consumption patterns among youth, who are critical agents of change.
• Fostering SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): By facilitating interactive exchanges among a diverse international group, the forum serves as a platform for building global partnerships to achieve sustainability targets.
• Supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action): Green consumption practices are presented as a fundamental strategy for mitigating climate change and its impacts.

Core Discussion Areas and Linkages to SDGs

The agenda focused on forward-looking topics that intersect technology, economics, and sustainable living, highlighting pathways to achieve specific SDGs.

1. Innovation for Sustainable Development: A key session explored new opportunities in “AI + green consumption.” This aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by examining how technology can create and scale sustainable solutions.
2. Youth Consumption and Sustainable Economic Growth: Participants analyzed new scenarios, trends, and business formats in youth consumption. This discussion contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by identifying new green markets and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.

Conclusion: A Commitment to Action

The forum leverages youth exchanges as a primary mechanism to translate dialogue into practice. By uniting global stakeholders, the event reinforces a collective commitment to implementing the Global Development Initiative and advancing a broad spectrum of Sustainable Development Goals through concrete actions in green consumption and sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses a forum focused on “Green Consumption and Sustainable Development,” which directly and indirectly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary connections are:

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is the most direct link, as the forum’s main theme is “Green Consumption.” The goal is to promote resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and green jobs. The article’s focus on “green consumption practices” aligns perfectly with this SDG.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights that the forum brings together “experts, scholars and young entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries.” This emphasis on international collaboration, youth exchanges, and practicing the “Global Development Initiative” points directly to the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The discussion on “new opportunities in ‘AI + green consumption'” connects to this SDG’s focus on fostering innovation and upgrading technological capabilities to support sustainable development.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Green consumption is a critical component of climate action. By promoting sustainable consumption patterns, the initiative discussed in the article contributes to mitigating climate change, which is the core of SDG 13.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The involvement of “young entrepreneurs” active in the “green sector” suggests a focus on creating sustainable economic opportunities and green jobs, which is a key aspect of SDG 8.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and themes described in the article, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 12.8 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.” The forum itself, designed to “share experiences and engage in interactive exchanges,” is an activity aimed at raising awareness and sharing information about green consumption and sustainable development among youth and experts.
2. Target 17.16 (under SDG 17): “Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The event described, with its diverse participants from over 40 countries, embodies a multi-stakeholder partnership designed to share knowledge and experiences on sustainability.
3. Target 17.17 (under SDG 17): “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The forum brings together “experts, scholars and young entrepreneurs,” representing a mix of public, private, and civil society actors collaborating on a common goal.
4. Target 9.b (under SDG 9): “Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries…” The focus on “AI + green consumption” and “new scenarios, trends and formats” directly relates to fostering innovation and leveraging technology for sustainable purposes.
5. Target 13.3 (under SDG 13): “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation…” The forum serves as a platform for education and awareness-raising on green consumption, which is a key strategy for climate change mitigation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it provides information that can be used as implied or proxy indicators to measure progress related to the forum’s objectives:

• For Target 12.8: An implied indicator is the scale and reach of the awareness-raising activity. The article states there are “Over 150 experts, scholars and young entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries.” The number of participants and the diversity of countries represented can serve as a measure of the extent of information dissemination on sustainable lifestyles.
• For Target 17.16: An implied indicator is the existence and functioning of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The forum itself is an indicator of such a partnership in action. The number of collaborative projects or initiatives that emerge from the “interactive exchanges” could be a further measure of progress.
• For Target 9.b: An implied indicator could be the number of new ideas, business models, or technological applications discussed or developed related to “‘AI + green consumption'”. The article’s mention of “new opportunities” and “new scenarios” suggests that fostering such innovations is a key goal.
• For Target 13.3: An implied indicator is the level of engagement of youth in climate-related actions. The article highlights “youth exchanges” and the engagement of “young entrepreneurs” in “green consumption practices,” which can be seen as a measure of youth capacity and involvement in climate action.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Analysis

Source: news.cgtn.com