Healthy cities: Youth at the Intersection of Sustainable Cities & Well-being

Join CSU for a side event at the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum!!

Organized by Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization and SDSN Youth in partnership with Children and Youth Constituency for Sustainable Communities - MGCY, and YOUNGO
16th April 1:30–3 p.m. EST, NY Time/EST

Background- The world is urbanizing at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, nearly 70% of the global population is expected to live in cities. As urban centres expand, it is crucial that they are designed with the well-being of young people in mind—the largest generation in history and the key drivers of our future cities. The built environment plays a vital role in shaping health, opportunities, and quality of life. Yet, many cities still face challenges such as air pollution, inadequate public spaces, lack of mental health support, and inequitable access to essential services. If urban growth is not managed sustainably, it can lead to worsening health outcomes, social inequalities, and environmental degradation. This is why the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (CSU) and the Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF), part of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth (SDSN Youth) and Children and Youth Constituency for Sustainable Communities - MGCY have been working to empower young people to be catalysts of change in their cities to drive sustainable urbanization forward.

Panel Discussion: “Youth at the Intersection of Sustainable Cities & Well-being” Moderated by Pankti Dalal - Senior Fellow, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization 

Panelists:
Andreas Palfinger – Architecture Student, Pratt Institute, CSU 
•    Aysin Bahar Sahin – Architecture Student, Pratt Institute, CSU 
•    Ester de Sena Carneiro – Environmental Engineer, Climate & Youth Advisor at Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra, YOUNGO 
•    Mara Moss – Environmental Advocate, Public Health Student, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CSU
•    Maitri Pujara – Urban Planner at Gensler, 2024 Local Pathways Fellow, SDSN Youth 
•    Shreenithi Lakshmi Narasimhan – Sustainable Energy Engineer, 2025 Local Pathways Fellow, SDSN Youth 
•    Sushmita Shekar – Urban Designer, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), MGCY


Interactive Q&A & Discussion 
Closing Remarks