“World Economic Forum – 2017 Annual Curators Meeting of the Global Shapers”

Professor Schwab,
Hub Curators,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

What does it mean to be a “curator”? Nowadays, a curator is a specialist responsible for a museum or an art collection. But travel back two thousand years and the word had a broader, more meaningful definition. To the ancient Romans, a “curator" was someone who “took care of” something or someone, especially in a spiritual sense. I cannot think of a better title to give each and every one of you here today. Because in the face of historic, global challenges we need all of you to be curators of this planet. To be curators of our collective future, helping us regain confidence in our institutions and in one another.

That is why it is my great pleasure to welcome you today for a second year to the Palais des Nations. In these historic halls, leaders have come together to forge the agreements that make our lives possible. And yet, in spite of the impact of the decisions taken here and in similar rooms around the world, your concerns, ideas and perspectives are rarely heard. Youth makes up nearly half of the world’s population. They are better educated and more globally-minded than preceding generations. It is high time for your voices to be heard and for your desire for change to be unleashed.

The Global Shapers is a natural place for this to take place. For one, it brings you together to be inspired and to inspire others. As young leaders, you are part of a generation of change-makers that drive progress in communities around the world. The Global Shapers’ hub structure anticipates the central role that urban spaces will play in tackling the challenges of tomorrow. At the dawn of this century, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that humanity had entered an “Urban Millennium”, one in which cities would be at the forefront of peace, development and globalization. Sixteen years later, his words ring true: our collective future is urban. Today, over half of humanity – some 3.5 billion people – live in cities, making them hubs of commerce, culture, science, and so much more. The gravitational pull of cities will only grow in the decades to come, with nearly 75 percent of the world’s population expected to live in them by 2050.

Rapid urbanization is empowering city administrators, placing them on the front lines of tackling problems common to us all. This new reality was apparent earlier this year when a global coalition of cities joined forces to defend the Paris Accords on climate change. City officials are more influential than ever. They are closer to the grassroots than many national government officials. This makes them better placed than most to take up innovative solutions, ideas and inputs from your hubs to adjust policies to new challenges and realities.

In today’s rapidly changing environment, traditional hierarchies are breaking down and yesterday’s solutions are no longer relevant. This creates an opening for your voices to be heard. Those willing to listen will benefit from your out-of-the-box thinking and passion. We, at the United Nations, recognize the urgent need to bring the voices of tomorrow’s leaders into today’s policy discussions. Our Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, demonstrated this commitment in June when he appointed a 26-year-old youth activist from Sri Lanka as his new Envoy on Youth. Her focus will be to engage and empower youth in support of the first collective plan for human development: the Sustainable Development Goals. Adopted by the Heads of State in 2015 with the engagement of civil society, business and academia, these 17 ambitious goals target everything from poverty to the rule of law. They matter for three reasons. One, they’re universal. The SDGs apply to all of us, everywhere, and touch every aspect of our lives. Two, they leave no one behind. The SDGs recognize that even the poorest among us is a potential leader, innovator and entrepreneur. We cannot afford to leave that individual behind. Three, they’re everyone’s responsibility. The SDGs are our best hope to make the world safer, fairer, and more sustainable, but they will fail if we cannot mobilize civil society and especially youth, to help States with their implementation.

Every time we meet, I feel more confident than ever about our future. You are tomorrow’s business leaders, community activists and innovators. Whatever title you come to assume in the years to come, I hope you also continue to consider yourself curators. Curators of your communities and of our planet.

I look forward to continue our interaction in the future.

Thank you for being here and above all, thank you for everything that you do for your communities and for our planet.