Move over, traditional policymakers – Gen Z is rewriting the rulebook on international cooperation! 🌐 Young leaders from APEC members are stepping into the spotlight, blending TikTok activism with diplomatic savvy to tackle climate change, digital inequality, and economic reforms.
From Hashtags to Handshakes 🤝
21-year-old Malaysian delegate Aisha Tan "never thought Instagram Stories about coral bleaching would lead to drafting ocean conservation policies." Like many peers, she’s using social media as both megaphone and research tool – think K-pop dance challenges meets UN Sustainable Development Goals. 💡
The Inclusivity Algorithm 📱
Youth forums now prioritize:
🌱 Climate tech startups bridging ASEAN and Silicon Valley
📈 AI tools translating Indigenous knowledge into policy frameworks
🎮 Gamified civic education apps spreading faster than viral memes
"We’re not just ‘future leaders’ – we’re coding solutions today," says Chilean participant Marco Silva, whose team developed a blockchain system for tracking cross-border renewable energy projects. ⚡
Your Move, World Leaders 🎯
As APEC gears up for November’s Leaders’ Meeting, youth delegates demand seats at the table – literally. Their manifesto? "Governance that looks like our TikTok For You pages: diverse, adaptive, and unafraid to hit ‘refresh.’" 🔄
