New york: The Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF), in collaboration with various international partners, organized an official side event at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This event took place on the sidelines of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026) and was titled 'Celebrating the Impact of Volunteering: Youth Leadership and Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Climate Action.'
According to Saudi Press Agency, the event attracted representatives from member states, UN organizations, academic institutions, the business sector, civil society organizations, volunteer networks, and youth leaders globally. The gathering aimed to foster dialogue and collaboration in promoting sustainable development through youth leadership and volunteerism.
The Secretary-General of the Saudi Green Building Forum, Eng. Faisal AlFadl, emphasized that high-level participation and the presence of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in New York underscored the nation's commitment to multilateral action. He highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to empower youth and promote volunteerism as essential components of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
During the event, the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, remarked that achieving the SDGs is a collective responsibility. He stressed the importance of international partnerships, investment in youth, and volunteer empowerment. Dr. Al-Wasel also called for an accelerated implementation of initiatives, the measurement of impact, stronger partnerships, and enabling youth to lead sustainable solutions.
The event featured speakers from various organizations, including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), United Nations Volunteers Programme, Volunteer Groups Alliance, and the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. Youth leaders and civil society representatives also participated, discussing the importance of investing in youth, enhancing education and skills development, expanding mentorship opportunities, fostering innovation, and creating an environment conducive to volunteerism.
Participants emphasized the necessity of developing national and global indicators to measure the impact of volunteer work. There was a focus on shifting from activity-based metrics to outcome-based evaluation to improve the effectiveness and transparency of SDG implementation.
Moreover, the event reviewed international models and practical initiatives in volunteerism, highlighting Saudi Arabia's experience in managing volunteer work during the Hajj season. This example demonstrated how volunteers play a crucial role in supporting health services, managing crowds, and responding to emergencies, thereby reinforcing resilience and best practices for large-scale gatherings.