12 August 2012: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the Korea-UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Youth Forum, convening in Yeosu, Republic of Korea, on 12 August 2012. The Forum, organized by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, took place on the final day of the Yeosu Expo on the Living Ocean and Coast, and also coincided with International Youth Day.

The Forum awarded seven student prizes for essays on promoting sustainable development of the oceans.

Ban said that, while human actions are often dominant and can bring catastrophe, youth can ensure that human power instead changes the world for the better. He highlighted the role of youth in supporting the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). In addition to solidarity among nations, Ban highlighted that sustainability requires solidarity among generations and he reiterated his commitment to appointing a Special Envoy for Youth. [UNESCO Press Release] [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [Yeosu Expo Website]