Over the course of my career, I have had the extraordinary opportunity of interacting with young people from all corners of the world, engaging with their perspectives on everything from climate leadership to education and diplomacy.
In particular, my encounters with Japanese students have always prompted me to reflect on how both the United Arab Emirates and Japan have innovation at their core. Our countries are also distinguished by a deep-rooted respect for our elders, accompanied by a continuous desire to uplift our youth and provide them with a better future.
This shared North Star has threaded across the interactions I have had with young people from the UAE to Japan and across Asia — all brought together by a strong sense of urgency and purpose combined with resilience and optimism. For many young climate leaders, building resilience is not a distant goal but a present one. Their motivation, energy and passion are vital to igniting global climate action and integrating new perspectives into tackling this complex challenge.