Global Youth Summit for Sustainability 2026, Organized by YCDP in Collaboration with CIFAL Istanbul, UNITAR, and Bahçeşehir University, Brings Together Young Leaders in Istanbul
21–24 May 2026, Istanbul, Türkiye – The Global Youth Summit for Sustainability 2026, organized by the Youth Center for Dialogue and Peace (YCDP) in collaboration with CIFAL Istanbul, UNITAR, and Bahçeşehir University, brought together young leaders, academics, practitioners, and representatives from international organizations for four days of dialogue, learning, and collaboration on sustainability and climate action. Among the participants were members of the CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform, who took part in the four-day programme, engaging in discussions and activities alongside participants from different countries and sectors.
Held at Hyatt Regency Ataköy and Bahçeşehir University, the summit provided an international platform for participants from diverse backgrounds and countries to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore innovative approaches to today’s most pressing global challenges. As Türkiye prepares to host COP31 in Antalya in 2026, the summit highlighted the importance of meaningful youth participation in shaping sustainable and climate-resilient societies.
The programme commenced on 21 May with an inauguration ceremony at Hyatt Regency Hotel, followed by discussions focusing on intergenerational collaboration for sustainable development and the role of young people in creating more inclusive and resilient communities.
On 22 May, an open sessions hosted at Bahçeşehir University brought together students, youth advocates, academics, and representatives from the United Nations system. Through keynote speeches and panel discussions, participants explored the connections between climate action, sustainable development, and youth leadership. The programme emphasized the importance of ensuring that young people are not merely consulted in decision-making processes but are actively involved in designing and implementing solutions that address the climate crisis.
The summit continued on 23 May at Hyatt Regency Hotel with interactive workshops and discussions focusing on humanitarian action, strategic sustainability, and green entrepreneurship. Participants had the opportunity to develop practical perspectives on sustainable business models, strengthen their leadership capacities, and engage in collaborative learning experiences.The day concluded with the presentation of the Youth Statement on Sustainability, followed by the closing ceremony, during which participants reflected on the achievements of the summit and celebrated the completion of the programme.
On 24 May, participants had the opportunity to take part in Walk for Change, an outdoor activity that encouraged further reflection, networking, and cultural exchange in the unique setting of Istanbul.
The Global Youth Summit for Sustainability 2026 emphasized the critical role of young people as agents of change and demonstrated the value of partnerships among youth organizations, academia, international institutions, and civil society in addressing complex global challenges. By creating spaces for dialogue, capacity-building, and collective action, the summit contributed to strengthening youth engagement in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The themes explored throughout the summit reflected the broader objectives of sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on lifelong learning, knowledge exchange, climate awareness, inclusive participation, intergenerational dialogue, and multi-stakeholder cooperation in advancing sustainability.
As the international community moves towards COP31, initiatives such as the Global Youth Summit for Sustainability continue to demonstrate that empowering young people with the knowledge, networks, and opportunities to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes is essential for building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.
22 May 2026, Istanbul, Türkiye – In the lead-up to COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya in 2026, Youth Center for Dialogue and Peace, CIFAL Istanbul, UNITAR and Bahçeşehir University convened a session titled “Youth Leadership in Climate Action: From Advocacy to Impact” at Bahçeşehir University. Held within the framework of the Global Youth Summit for Sustainability 2026, the event brought together students, young climate advocates, academics, and United Nations representatives to explore the critical role of youth in shaping sustainable and climate-resilient societies.
The session centred on three interconnected objectives: strengthening youth participation in climate action, advancing dialogue on global climate processes, and examining how young people can meaningfully contribute to policy design and implementation.
The event started with brief opening remarks from Yama Sukhanyar, Executive Director of the Youth Center for Dialogue and Peace, who emphasized the significance of the conference as a platform for strengthening youth engagement in addressing global challenges. In his remarks, Sukhanyar underlined the vital role of young people in fostering dialogue, promoting peace, and contributing to collective solutions for the pressing issues facing the international community.
The event continued with an address by Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, who drew attention to the compounding pressures facing younger generations. Characterising the current moment as one of intertwined crises, he highlighted how climate change, biodiversity loss, inequality, rapid urbanisation, and technological transformation are reshaping daily life, cities, livelihoods, and future prospects in ways that are immediate rather than abstract. Dr. Ahonsi stressed that climate action must be understood not only as an environmental matter but as a question of development and justice, and that young people must be active co-designers of solutions rather than passive consultants.
He also pointed to the growing body of evidence of youth-led innovation worldwide, citing examples of young people developing climate applications, mapping flood risks, and deploying digital tools to hold decision-makers accountable. With COP31 on the horizon, Dr. Ahonsi underlined that the significance of the moment lies not only in international negotiations, but in whether real transformation can be accelerated at the national and local level, across energy systems, cities, food systems, and disaster resilience.
Welcoming the participants on behalf of Bahçeşehir University, Rector Prof. Esra Hatipoğlu took the stage and highlighted the university’s engagement with the United Nations system, as well as its commitment to international cooperation and sustainability. Noting that Bahçeşehir University serves as the host institution of CIFAL Istanbul, affiliated with UNITAR, Prof. Hatipoğlu emphasized the university’s ongoing efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through education, partnerships, and initiatives such as this conference.
After the keynote speeches, a panel discussion, moderated by Bülent Açıkgöz from UNRCO Türkiye, brought together practitioners working across climate transparency, youth engagement, and sustainability. Mr. Açıkgöz kicked-off the conversation by emphasising that climate action is not a standalone agenda but is deeply connected to all of the Sustainable Development Goals, and that intergenerational justice sits at the heart of climate governance given that today’s decisions will shape the rights, opportunities, and wellbeing of future generations.
Zeynep Bakır from UNDP Climate Hub addressed the scale and urgency of the global climate crisis and outlined how international frameworks such as the COP process and the Climate Promise initiative are supporting countries in developing more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term climate strategies. The discussion underscored the importance of translating global commitments into country-led, locally grounded climate action. Nilgün Çavuşoğlu from UNICEF Türkiye highlighted the importance of inclusivity and meaningful participation, particularly for young people from vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, affirming that intergenerational equity is a foundational principle of climate governance and that youth-led initiatives offer vital platforms for innovation, awareness-raising, and accountability. Kamil Koray Eryılmaz, Youth and Climate Envoy of Republic of Türkiye, focused on the bridging role of youth leadership across advocacy, academia, and policy implementation, calling for structured youth participation in the lead-up to COP31 where young people do not merely have a voice but actively shape climate policies and outcomes.
The event reaffirms the importance of climate action by placing youth agency and structured participation at the centre of global and national climate governance. Through its emphasis on inclusive and intergenerational policy processes, it also highlights the need for peaceful, just, and accountable institutions. Furthermore, the event reflects the broader value of partnerships by demonstrating how the United Nations system, academia, and youth actors can align around shared sustainability commitments in the critical run-up to COP31.
CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform was launched in December, 2021 at Bahçeşehir University South Campus with the participation of Mr. Nikhil Seth, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and President of UNITAR at that time. CIFAL Istanbul is the only CIFAL center among all other CIFAL centers in the world that has a special structure for young people with the CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform. This platform, which operates under the umbrella of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) at Bahçeşehir University, aims to raise young people’s awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encourage them to develop their ideas and support them in developing projects.
CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform provides a unique environment for young people to realize their innovative ideas and create solutions to global problems, while strengthening knowledge and experience sharing through bridges with national and international stakeholders. By unlocking the leadership potential of young people, the platform paves the way for inspiring projects to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals; and by harmonizing the dynamic academic environment of Bahçeşehir University with the global vision of the UN, it equips young people to shape the world of the future.
The platform collaborates with student clubs at the university to ensure the active participation of young people through activities such as social responsibility projects, field trips, seminars and workshops. At the same time, platform members have the opportunity to collaborate with UN agencies and participate in international internship and training programs. Operating as the first and only youth platform among all CIFAL platforms, CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform reinforces CIFAL Istanbul’s pioneering role on a global scale by enabling young people to take concrete steps for a sustainable world.
CIFAL Istanbul, a leading institution dedicated to promoting sustainable development and international cooperation, proudly participated in the third Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) held from March 1-3, 2024, under the auspices of H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye.
With a record-breaking attendance of 4700 participants, including representatives from 147 countries and 19 heads of state, the ADF served as a crucial platform for advancing diplomacy in times of turmoil. Themed “Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil,” the forum covered a wide array of topics ranging from conflict resolution to climate change, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges.
For CIFAL Istanbul, this was the second time of participation at the ADF. Director and representatives from CIFAL Istanbul joined the panels occuring by heads of state, leaders of international organizations, academics, and other stakeholders in engaging discussions on critical issues such as ongoing conflicts, irregular migration, and the rise of xenophobia and Islamophobia.
The forum provided an enriching experience for CIFAL Istanbul, with a particular emphasis on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As an institution dedicated to advancing sustainable development, CIFAL Istanbul reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, addressing climate change, and reducing inequalities, in line with the SDGs agenda.
CIFAL Istanbul looks forward to further collaboration with partners and stakeholders to drive positive change and contribute to building a more resilient and equitable world.
Otto & Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center will train regional peacebuilders through a one-year Rotary Peace Fellowship held at Bahçeşehir University.
The event for the signing ceremony of the Otto & Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center was held on 8th February 2024 at Bahçeşehir University Future Campus. The center provides a certificate program for peace and development for professionals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to have sustainable peace.
The certificate program aims to focus on various aspects of peacekeeping, peace-making, and peacebuilding processes by equipping community leaders with advanced knowledge and skills that focus on pivotal issues pertinent to the MENA region. These include land and identity disputes, climate change, food insecurity, refugee integration, and community development.
CIFAL Istanbul, as the local training center of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will provide further academic studies, field visits, seminars, and workshops for the program fellows, deepening the program’s perspective. Program participants will employ the theoretical knowledge that they gained into the practice for a nine-month social change project within the region and conclude their fellowship with a capstone seminar to present the results.
Sustainable Peace in the Middle East and North Africa region.
BAU President Prof. Esra Hatipoğlu points out the critical position of BAU by saying “Bahçeşehir University brings deep local expertise in the Middle East and North Africa, embodying a commitment to multiculturalism and understanding” and she added that “Our collaboration with Rotary, a renowned leader in peacebuilding, merges academic rigor with hands-on knowledge, allowing us to address conflict transformation with a practical, grounded perspective and transitioning peace from a hopeful aspiration to an achievable goal.”
The fellowship at Bahçeşehir University in Otto & Fran Walter Peace Center is open for applications who are dedicated peace and development leaders from the MENA region to upbring qualified, educated leaders to establish peace in the region.
STEP Ambassadors Development Journey has begun with the cooperation of Yapı Kredi Banking Academy, Bahçeşehir University & CIFAL Istanbul! We aim to create STEP Ambassadors who value the world and nature and embrace the importance of sustainable life.
Within the scope of the STEP Ambassadors Development Journey Program, it is planned to provide sustainability literacy trainings for Yapı Kredi Bank employees in cooperation with Yapı Kredi Bank, CIFAL Istanbul, UNITAR and Bahçeşehir University, in order to increase the efforts to reflect the sustainability vision of the institution and to increase the knowledge of the employees on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within the scope of this program, a curriculum of 16 sessions, three sessions a week, will be studied with the trainers to be determined by CIFAL Istanbul via the Webex platform of Yapı Kredi.
