Background:

Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of its long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement (Article 4, paragraph 2) requires each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that it intends to achieve.

Parties are requested to submit the next round of NDCs (new NDCs or updated NDCs) by 2025. These NDCs will be crucial in determining whether the world gets back on a trajectory which limits global temperature rise to 1.5⁰C.  Recognizing the role of children and youth as agents of change in addressing and responding to climate change, this requirement creates a unique opportunity for Parties to meaningfully engage and include them as part of the process.

Objective:

The recent establishment of the role of the Presidency Youth Climate Champion (Decision 16/CP.28), is meant to further enhance and encourage the inclusive engagement of children and young people in climate processes. In this regard, the COP 29 Presidency Youth Climate Champion convened this meeting during SB60 whose objective was to provide a space for Parties and non-Party stakeholders, particularly youth, to discuss existing efforts and gaps, whilst also outlining their vision for facilitating a more child and youth inclusive NDC 3.0 process.

Specifically, the session was intended to address the following objectives:

• Defining meaningful children and youth engagement in the NDC 3.0 process
• Highlight existing good practices which Parties have put in place to meaningfully engage children and youth in the NDC review and implementation process.
• Identify the existing gaps and limitations which hinder meaningful participation of children and young people in the NDC process, including progress accountability and tracking, and avenues to address those gaps.
• Launch a collaborative campaign for raising awareness and inspiring action to enhance the engagement of children and youth in the NDC process

Targeted Audience:

This high-level COP 29 Presidency roundtable event, organised in collaboration with the NDC working group of YOUNGO, was intended for Parties and non-Party representatives.

Agenda: