According to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, the global progress towards achieving of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030 is on track for only 17% of targets. Collaborating across stakeholders, regions and society will be critical to addressing this SDG Action gap.
BNP Paribas is committed to channelling public and private capital towards positive economic, environmental and social impact, and is collaborating with the UN Joint SDG Fund, development finance leaders and investors to scale up sustainable development.
BNP Paribas has also partnered with UN Young Leader for SDGs and artist, AY Young, who is also an ambassador for the UN Joint SDG Fund. In this article, AY Young talks about his journey for impact.
AY, you have a unique experience of using music to promote sustainability and the UN SDGs through your Battery Tour. Since 2012, you have performed hundreds of solar-powered shows. What inspired this?
Back in 2012, as a musician, I wanted my music to reach to as many people as possible. But I didn’t just want to entertain; I wanted to make a difference.
So, I asked myself, “How can I put on a concert anywhere, even if there’s no electricity?” The answer came to me in the form of solar power and batteries. And that’s how the first solar-powered concert happened. It wasn’t until the 10th or 12th show that I started calling it the Battery Tour.
How did it evolve beyond just music concerts?
As I continued to run Battery Tour concerts, I travelled a lot, and I realised that access to energy wasn’t given for everyone. At the same time, I learned about technologies that allow people to use renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and even food for their energy needs. So, it became clear to me that I could use my Battery Tour to make a difference and therefore I turned it into Music for Impact platform.
You plan to produce 17 songs to give a unique voice to each of the SDGs and show how music can communicate sustainability messages to a broad audience. Why do you think the SDGs are valuable in inspiring global action and change?
More people are becoming aware of the effects of climate change and are eager to make a difference, but they just don’t know how to do it. Music can help to build an emotional connection to abstract SDGs. Melody and the lyrics all work together to simplify complex concepts and make them relatable.
For me, this album goes beyond being just a collection of songs, but rather a call to action. I want it to serve as a ‘master key’ that opens doors to any room where people are engaged in sustainability discussions, be it a CEO, an investor, an engineer or a student.
We’re all outlets, each with our own strengths, passions, and networks. Each goal is part of a larger system, and the SDG framework helps us effectively channel resources and move forward collectively.
❝ Having the SDGs as a framework really helps make those goals more relatable for people. And music, with its universal language, is an incredible tool for building emotional connections that can lead to action. ❞
As a UN Youth Leader for SDGs, what role can the younger generations play in relation to the SDGs?
Young people are a significant force to be reckoned with when it comes to making the world a more sustainable place. They’re not just the future workforce, but they’re also passionate and eager to make a difference.
I’ve seen how anxiety and uncertainty about the climate crisis demotivate them. I believe that music can be a powerful tool in enhancing the sense of urgency, as it can spark hope and a readiness to take action. And I’m certain that music as a universal language can be a catalyst for inspiring people to act for SDGs.
❝ What I’m trying to tell through my music is that everyone’s an outlet. We’re all in this together and as if plugged into each other, we can power change. ❞
Last year, your concert at Times Square in New York was powered by renewable energy. It was the first of its kind for this location and an example of collaboration of change-makers united by goal to drive actions for SDGs. What opportunities are there for cross-industry collaborations for sustainability goals?
With the world more interconnected, I believe the trend for new ways of collaboration is to evolve further. As conversations on a more sustainable economy gain traction, innovators look across regions and sectors for best practice and inspiration. This knowledge and cross-industry fertilisation are opening new opportunities and engaging more people. If we look at the music industry, it is also learning from other industries in response to the growing emphasis on sustainability.
What has been the most exciting for you in collaboration with BNP Paribas over the last two years?
The most thrilling aspect is the engagement with diverse audiences worldwide. From BNP Paribas’s Sustainable Future Forum in London, to PRI in-person in Tokyo, the first renewable energy powered concert on New York Times Square, BNP Paribas ESG Expert Forum in Paris, the COP28 in Dubai, and BNP Paribas’ stage at Rock in Rio in Lisbon, we’ve connected with leaders across businesses, financial institutions, policymakers, sustainability experts and young professionals.
Discover more about AY Young, and his Project 17 and Battery Tour