Workshop Prepares Young Civil Servants for ‘Tomorrow’s Challenges’

On Friday 20 March 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and Ministry of Public Service reported on the 2nd Young Civil Servants Workshop of the European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) which took place on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 March.

The ministries detailed that the event, titled “Bringing Sustainable Development and the SDGs Further in Public Administrations: Empowering Young Civil Servants”, brought together 36 young civil servants from Austria, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Romania, Malta, Hungary, Ireland, Wales and Luxembourg. Participants explored ways to strengthen the integration of sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within public administrations.

Over the two days, attendees followed a varied programme including inspiring lectures, discussion panels, exchanges of best practice and group working sessions. These interactions highlighted several concrete initiatives:

• The approach to developing the Climate Social Plan in Luxembourg, led by young public officials;

• Challenges linked to a comprehensive assessment of sustainable development, presented by a participant from Finland;

• The example of the Well-Being of Future Generations Act, presented by a representative of the Welsh Government.

According to the ministries, these contributions illustrated the essential role young civil servants can play in advancing sustainability within governments, particularly by bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. In an increasingly complex international context, and with the 2030 horizon approaching, discussions also emphasised the urgency of focusing on the 2030 Agenda, the SDGs and a coherent approach to sustainable development across all public policies. The workshop fostered the creation of new synergies between administrations, the dissemination of practical solutions and the engagement of young public officials as key agents of change.

Luxembourg’s Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and Minister for Public Service, Serge Wilmes, said: “The decisions we make today on sustainability will have an impact on future generations. Training and supporting young civil servants and benefiting from a different perspective, prepares an administration capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges and carrying the ambition of the 2030 Agenda into public policy over the long term.”

The ministries noted that the success of this edition confirms the commitment of European administrations to strengthen the integration of sustainable development in their operations and to support new generations in their role within public institutions.

The Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the seventeen objectives adopted by the United Nations under the 2030 Agenda, covering issues such as poverty reduction, climate action, biodiversity protection, quality education and public governance. In Luxembourg, these goals are reflected nationally in the National Plan for Sustainable Development (PNDD), which sets out ten priority objectives to guide the actions of the State and its administrations.