As the world rushes into an era of "Global Boiling," besieged by environmental, social, and economic challenges, will humanity wait for a "hero" with superpowers to save the day, or are we ready to assume the role of shaping the world's destiny with our own hands? This question was ignited powerfully and engagingly at a youth speech contest reflecting the vision of the new generation in the ASEAN region, demonstrating clearly that a sustainable future is not just a dream, but something that must be built together.
The SX TALK STAGE, part of SUSTAINABILITY EXPO (SX2025), ASEAN's largest sustainability exposition, became a key platform for the SX Youth Speech Contest. Held under the challenging and urgent theme, "Adaptation and Collaboration for a Sustainable Future," the final round selected the top 20 finalists (10 Thai speakers and 10 English speakers) from over 400 applicants (or over 250 from across Southeast Asia) to showcase their creative thinking and pathways for global survival.
A Warning from "Global Boiling" and the Urgency to Adapt
The youth participating in the contest recognized the crisis the world is facing, especially the record-breaking global heating that has led us into the "Global Boiling" era, as declared by the UN Secretary-General. The students pointed out that the world is approaching the "Point of no return" if we continue with "business as usual." Problems such as global floods, rising heat, droughts, ecosystem loss, and social issues like economic inequality reflect the urgent need for all parties to act.
A prominent sentiment from the contestants echoed the concept of Charles Darwin: those who survive are those who best adapt to change. Here, adaptation is not merely for survival, but to create a world that can grow and regenerate simultaneously.
A Three-Sector Strategy: From Policy to Daily Action
The contestants presented adaptation strategies that require genuine collaboration across multiple dimensions, referencing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
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The People Sector: All youth emphasized that great change comes from small actions taken by everyone simultaneously. One contestant proposed the "Awaken, Self, Act" (ปลุก ตน ทำ) concept: "Awaken" (ปลุก) consciousness, "Self" (ตน) refers to the youth who desire to solve environmental problems, and "Act" (ทำ) means taking real action. Examples include using mobile phones efficiently, refusing plastic bags, carrying personal water bottles, sorting waste, choosing public transport, and adopting the "4 Ways Food Can Change the World" (4 แนวทาง กินเปลี่ยนโลก) by reducing meat consumption, eating seasonal foods, and eating mindfully to reduce food waste.
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The Government Sector: Must accelerate strong policies and legislation, such as controlling pollution from vehicles (PM 2.5), effectively regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and integrating sustainability knowledge into the basic education curriculum to build a foundation of understanding for youth.
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The Business Sector: Must think beyond profit, prioritizing the environment, switching to renewable energy, and adapting to the Circular Economy concept.
Being a Hero Without Superpowers
Many contestants stressed that we do not need superpowers or groundbreaking innovations to be a "hero." The hero resides within every one of us. A contestant from Pathum Thani compared this power to the "power of an ant" (พลังของมด), which, though small, can lift items ten times its own weight. Meanwhile, a contestant from Bangkok urged everyone to live like the "prepared ant" rather than the grasshopper who uses resources wastefully.
Sustainability cannot be achieved alone; we must go together. Collaboration is the key, as no single person or country can survive this crisis alone.
The Results: The Youth Who Inspire
SX Youth Speech Contest 2025 Finals (Thai Language):
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Winner: Ms. Wanmai Jutamas Pithakkanjanakul from Kanchanaburi
1st Runner-up: Ms. Kornkanok Boonsanit from Ubon Ratchathani
2nd Runner-up: Ms. Nannapat Boonrit from Bangkok
SX Youth Speech Contest 2025 Finals (English Language):
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Winner: Mr. Ali Umri from Indonesia
1st Runner-up: Miss Suthasinee Hongviset from Thailand
2nd Runner-up: Miss Ong Yue Lin from Malaysia
The judges emphasized that what every youth spoke on stage carries meaning and must be accompanied by a "commitment" to share these ideas and take real action in society to drive the world toward sustainability. This contest was, therefore, not merely a speech competition, but an act of planting "seeds of friendship" and sustainable hope for the ASEAN region.
