Recording

This workshop aimed to build capacities of youth by exploring synergies between the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD) and empowering their role as agents of change in the synergistic implementation of climate action, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration. Representatives from YOUNGO, GYBN, the UNCCD Youth Caucus, and BirdLife International highlighted the value and challenges of youth-led initiatives while sharing real-world examples of synergistic action. An interactive exercise enabled youth participates to identify environmental challenges with cross-cutting impacts that could be addressed through combined synergistic action and policy on climate, biodiversity, and land restoration.

Credit: UNCCD Youth Caucus

Credit: YOUNGO

Credit: Global Youth Biodiversity Network

Credit: BirdLife International

Background

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 (Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought)—are often underutilized.

This session worked 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

• Build youth capacities 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, desertification, land degradation and drought, as well as how they can contribute to the collective implementation of the Rio Conventions.
• Empower youth as agents of change: Enhance the role of 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.
• Enhance collaboration and synergy: Share best practices 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