Children under fifteen in the tropics are set to make up more than 67% of the world population by 2050. It is evident that the tropics will be home to an increasing young population. Biodiversity loss, climate change, emerging and persistent disease, rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), urbanisation and globalisation are issues that have particularly pervasive effects on the youth population who currently reside in the tropics and those that will reside there in the decades to come.

Therefore, it is vital that the voices of youth are included in formal institutional politics where their opinions can enact real change. In recent times, more young people have stepped up and self-organised initiatives to protect their futures and the future of their nations.