YOUTH-LED CLIMATE FORUM:

The global climate problem has a profound impact on young people all around the world, making it imperative that they actively participate in the process of formulating climate change policy. Paragraph 65 of the Glasgow Climate Pact invites future COP Presidencies to organise annual climate forums contributing to the implementation of the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment. Therefore, the Conference of the Parties (COP29) recognised the importance of this matter by providing support for the organisation of the Youth-led Climate Forum (YCF). These forums were intended to foster strong conversation between international youth and Parties. The COP29 Presidency, with the support of the secretariat, in collaboration with the UNFCCC children and youth constituency and other youth organizations were responsible for facilitating these forums. This ensured that the voices of young people are not only heard, but also vital to the process of policymaking.

The objective of the COP29 youth-led climate forum was to facilitate robust discussions between young activists and global policymakers. The forums strived to elevate the voices of youth in the climate policy space, incorporating their unique perspectives and innovative solutions into global strategies and decisions.

• Empowerment and Inclusion: To empower young people by providing a collaborative platform at COP29, where they could share views, innovative ideas, and engage in relevant climate policy dialogues with global leaders, ensuring their voices enrich and inform the process.
• Policy Influence: To facilitate integration of youth perspectives into the climate change decision-making process, collaboratively informing global strategies to address environmental challenges.
• Education and Awareness: To enhance understanding among youth about global climate issues, the international policy landscape, and the mechanisms of action for climate empowerment, fostering a well-informed youth constituency.
• Collaboration Enhancement: To strengthen collaborations between young activists, youth-led organizations, and the wider UNFCCC process, fostering partnerships that extend beyond the forum. The aim was to contribute to the implementation of the Glasgow work program on Action for Climate Empowerment by ensuring that youth-led initiatives and voices are integral to global climate action strategies.
• Global Representation: To ensure broad representation of youth across different geographies, particularly from vulnerable regions, enabling a diverse and inclusive dialogue that reflects the global impact of climate change on youth.

Youth-led Climate Forum Thematic Sessions

The Youth-led Climate Forum action plan comprised five thematic pre-event sessions leading up to a headline event. Each session featured expert speakers, ranging from at least three youth advocates, and three global negotiators or ministers, fostering diverse and inclusive dialogues. The sessions were structured as follows:

1. Ensuring Intergenerational Equity in Climate Finance: Youth-led dialogue on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCGQ)                                                                                           

• Negotiators: Finance Negotiators
• Objective: To discuss the implications of financial policies on climate goals, advocating for transparent, ambitious, fair and equitable finance mechanisms.

2. Youth-led Climate Forum Dialogue on Advocating for Health and Educational Equity - The Role of Youth and children in Climate Action

• Negotiators: ACE negotiators

• Objective: Focus on integrating youth and children's perspectives in health and educational equity as critical components of climate action strategies.

3. Youth-led Climate Forum Dialogue on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• Negotiators: UNFCCC Focal Points from various countries
• Objective: Promote the meaningful children and youth participation and involvement in the NDC development and implementation at national level.

4. Youth-led Climate Forum Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Water Resource Management

• Negotiators: Agriculture Negotiators
• Objective:  The significance of addressing the future of sustainable food production and the importance of youth engagement in this sector, in the context of climate resilience.  

5. Youth-led Climate Forum Dialogue on Climate Mobility and Loss and Damage:

• Negotiators: Gender and Loss and Damage Negotiators
• Objective: Explore the interconnections between climate-induced mobility, intellectual property rights, and gender equality, aiming to frame comprehensive loss and damage mechanisms.

The culminating headline event synthesized insights from these discussions, presented them to high-level dignitaries, integrating insights from the Global Youth Statement which reflects the views and demands of over 2,215+ youths globally.

Youth-led Climate Forum Headline Event

Further information on the Youth-led Climate Forums at COP 29 is available here.