Youth hold the potential to be transformative agents of change in addressing global challenges such as climate action, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration. Young people are also uniquely positioned to identify and act on synergies between these areas, given their adaptability, fresh perspectives, and inherent ability to think across traditional silos. They often bring innovative, intersectional solutions that span multiple disciplines, allowing them to connect the dots between climate action, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration. Their engagement can accelerate the development of holistic, cross-cutting approaches needed to address the interlinked environmental crises of our time. However, their capacities to effectively contribute to these areas within the frameworks of the three Rio Conventions—UNFCCC (climate), CBD (biodiversity), and UNCCD (land restoration)—are often underutilized.
This session aimed to enhance youth capacities by exploring how the objectives of these conventions are interrelated and how youth can drive synergistic implementation across climate, biodiversity, and land sectors. In collaboration with the youth constituencies, including YOUNGO, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), and the UNCCD Youth Caucus, this session focused on equipping youth with the skills, tools, and networks to become key players in advancing the interconnected goals of the Rio Conventions.
Objectives
The goals of this session were:
Building the capacities of youth on the Rio Conventions and synergistic action: Equip participants with an understanding of the Rio Conventions and the synergies that exist between climate action, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration, as well as how they can contribute to the collective implementation of the Rio Conventions.
Empowering youth as agents of change: Empower youth as agents of change by strengthening their role in policy and action, leveraging their unique ability to identify synergies across climate, biodiversity, and land restoration, and fostering innovative, integrated solutions for implementing the Rio Conventions.
Mobilizing youth capacities: Provide youth with practical strategies to apply their built capacities in advancing collaborative, cross-sectoral solutions that address global environmental challenges.
Enhancing collaboration and synergy: Share best practicies of how youth-led initiatives can mobilize collective action across the Rio Conventions to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Agenda
Time/Duration
Segment
Speaker & Affiliation
10 mins
Context Setting: Overview of the Rio Conventions and why youth are uniquely placed in driving synergistic solutions
Cathy Yitong Li,
Senior Climate & Energy Policy Manager, Birdlife Foundation
Juliet Grace Luwedde - Global Coordinator of the Youth Constituency of UNCCD (UNCCDYouth Caucus)
5 mins
Closing remarks
Roberta Ianna - Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Italy
Key Outcomes from Group Activity
Credit: UN Climate Change
Identified Challenges: Increasing wildfires harm ecosystems and human health, further accelerating climate change
Proposed Solutions: Strengthen land rights, policies, and monitoring; use nature-based and infrastructure solutions, protection mechanisms for communities
Credit: UN Climate Change
Identified Challenges: Rising sea levels cause displacement, property loss, and resource scarcity
Proposed Solutions: Phase out fossil fuels, co-create solutions with communities, use nature-based infrastructure, and provide mental health support
Credit: UN Climate Change
Identified Challenges: Links between droughts, land use changes,biodiversity loss, migration, food insecurity and conflict
Proposed Solutions: Restore ecosystems, reforest, shift away from intensive animal agriculture, promote sustainable consumption, and empower local entrepreneurship
Credit: UN Climate Change
Identified Challenges: Desertification threatens land, livelihoods, and biodiversity, due to overuse, land management and urbanization
Proposed Solutions: Reforest, incentivize sustainable land use, foster regional cooperation, and adopt renewable energy
Credit: UN Climate Change
Identified Challenges: Urban food systems strain biodiversity, are carbon-intensive and intensify heat
Proposed Solutions: Create community gardens, food banks, and sharing apps; subsidize local farmers
Speakers / Facilitators
Credit: UN Climate Change / displayed individuals.
