Aritro Chatterjee, a 17-year-old student from Dubai College, made history as the sole representative from the UAE to speak at the 79th UN General Assembly in New York this September. He was one of 25 students globally selected to address critical issues like youth representation and environmental advocacy.
Global Impact
Aritro's speech focused on increasing youth participation in decision-making and using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to tackle environmental challenges. He was invited following his selection as a 2024 Rise Global Winner, a prestigious program by Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, which identifies exceptional young individuals worldwide.
Through his Rise project, Aritro created a podcast featuring young environmental leaders from diverse countries, amplifying voices from Nigeria, Lebanon, South Korea, and the UAE.
A Memorable Experience
Reflecting on his time at the UN, Aritro shared:
“Walking into the General Assembly was overwhelming but incredibly inspiring. Meeting scientists, activists, and policymakers reinforced the importance of my work and its global impact.”
He also credited the UAE’s focus on sustainability through initiatives like COP 28 and Expo 2020 as key influences in shaping his ambitions.
Future Aspirations
Specializing in applying mathematics to environmental research, Aritro aspires to become an environmental scientist, bridging the gap between technical experts and policymakers. “I want to address the divide between research and policymaking to drive meaningful global change,” he said.
Aritro’s journey highlights the potential of youth to contribute to global solutions and reinforces the UAE’s commitment to nurturing young leaders.
