Background

The Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) Climate Week is an annual virtual flagship event that consists of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, capacity-building sessions, and learning opportunities in the realm of well-being for change makers, green jobs, and careers through Movers Programme.

This year, the YECAP Climate Week outlines the way forward from the insights from the 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD). By powering the voices and initiatives of young people, the event sets a course toward achieving the ambitious objectives of 2030. The Climate Week leads up to the 80^th Commission Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) held from 22 to 26 April 2024 and in conjunction with the ECOSOC Youth Forum. 

This webinar is a part of the YECAP Climate Action Week and delves into the critical role of youth engagement in shaping effective climate action, focusing on incorporating their voices, ideas, and needs in NDC frameworks in the Asia Pacific region. "On Equal Terms'' is a comprehensive checklist designed to guide policymakers and practitioners in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of youth in NDC processes. By providing actionable steps, it aims to meaningfully engage young people at each stage of the NDC process, from formulation to implementation.  

Objectives

• Increased awareness among policymakers and practitioners about the importance of youth inclusion in NDCs. 
• Adoption and implementation of the "On Equal Terms" checklist in policy frameworks and NDC processes. 
• Strengthened collaboration between government entities, youth organizations, and UN partners for more effective climate policy development.  
• Provide potential strategies to accelerate meaningful engagement of youth with governments in the Asia-Pacific Region.