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Sustainable Business Futures: Youth-Led Rights Action for Corporate Change

11:00 ICT  |  19 March 2025

Overview

Youth-led movements are contributing to reshaping corporate accountability across Asia, driving shifts in social justice, climate action, and human rights practices. From grassroots campaigns to digital advocacy, these efforts are sparking business model transformations and influencing sustainable practices. In Indonesia advocacy for plastic reduction has pressured companies to adopt more sustainable practices. In South Korea, climate litigation has raised the bar for corporate accountability on emissions. Meanwhile, advocacy in the Philippines is spotlighting environmental impacts and pushing companies toward greater transparency.

 

Young changemakers are driving impact from multiple entry points—through policy spaces, within corporations, and via activism. Engaging in multi-stakeholder dialogues, they advise on sustainability strategies, champion human rights standards in boardrooms, and mobilize communities through grassroots action. Bridging corporate and civil society perspectives, these advocates advance sustainable business practices while holding companies accountable for their impacts on people and the planet. Notably, youth voices have often been the tipping point for corporate action on environmental challenges—whether by exposing transboundary pollution, driving commitments to biodiversity protection, or pushing industries to address human rights impacts linked to resource-intensive operations.

 

Far from being peripheral voices, youth-led efforts are redefining business performance metrics, using digital platforms to elevate accountability and shape consumer expectations. Their influence presents businesses with a strategic opportunity—those that engage meaningfully can strengthen human rights due diligence (HRDD), mitigate climate and environmental risks, and align with the values of a socially conscious generation.

 

Why does it matter for business? Youth across Asia are driving transformative shifts in business practices and policies, ensuring no industry is left untouched. Their leadership is not only shaping corporate accountability today but also setting the foundation for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Format

This session will explore the power of youth influence in driving corporate change and transforming industries, highlighting how their advocacy shapes business strategies and responses to environmental challenges. It will showcase real-world examples where youth-led action has been the tipping point for corporate accountability, offering businesses practical roadmaps to engage youth in stakeholder strategies as agents of change to drive sustainable practices and industry transformation.

LEARN:

  • Youth in Corporate Accountability: How are youth-led movements driving business and human rights (BHR) advocacy in Asia?

  • Engagement of Youth in Due Diligence: How can businesses integrate youth perspectives into their due diligence processes to enhance accountability?

  • Partnership Models: What are successful examples of collaboration between businesses and youth organizations for human rights and climate impacts?

 

ENGAGE:

  • Empowering Youth Voices: How can companies create platforms for meaningful youth engagement in sustainability strategies?

  • Youth-Led Monitoring and Reporting: What role can youth play in identifying and addressing human rights and environmental risks in supply chains?

  • Collaboration for Impact: How can businesses, investors, and civil society work with youth to drive systemic change in corporate practices?

CONNECT:

  • Youth-Business Partnerships: What mechanisms can support long-term collaboration between youth organizations, industry leaders, and investors?

  • Scaling Solutions: How can successful youth-led initiatives be scaled across industries to maximize impact?

SESSION SPEAKERS

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