Youth-led Climate Forum Thematic Session II

HOW CAN FUTURE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION HELP US REACH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TARGETS UNDER THE UAE FRAMEWORK FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE?

12 November, 2025 14:00 - 15:00

Room: MR 16 (Blue Zone)

Backbround

The acceleration of climate change significantly threatens global food security, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable, including youth, Indigenous peoples, and smallholder farmers. To address these urgent challenges, COP28 adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, marking the first international declaration with climate adaptation as the primary focus. This framework builds upon the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) established in the Paris Agreement and offers a comprehensive approach to measure, track, and advance adaptation progress globally.

Key thematic targets under the UAE Framework include:

• Target 9b (Food and Agriculture): Achieving climate-resilient food and agricultural production, securing sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, and promoting equitable access to sufficient, nutritious food.
• Target 9e (Ecosystem and Biodiversity): Reducing climate impacts on terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems, accelerating ecosystem-based adaptation and nature-based solutions through conservation, restoration, and sustainable management.

Despite progress, the operationalization of the Baku Adaptation Roadmap, launched at COP29 to implement these targets, faces challenges, particularly in integrating youth voices and Indigenous knowledge systems into high-level negotiations and national implementation strategies. Scientific consensus from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report emphasizes the central role of agroecological transitions and ecosystem restoration in reconciling mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Youth-led initiatives stand at the forefront of this transformative agenda, equipped to innovate, advocate, and scale locally relevant solutions that align with Nigeria’s inclusive and justice-based climate resilience principles. This session offers an indispensable platform for youth and knowledge holders to contribute to science-policy alignment, share experiences, and formulate actionable recommendations to steer the UAE Framework’s adaptation targets through integrative, youth-centric approaches.

Objectives

• Provide participants with an overview of ongoing agriculture, adaptation, and biodiversity processes under the UNFCCC and allied bodies.
• Identify critical gaps and challenges in adaptation implementation relevant to agriculture and ecosystems, focusing on youth inclusion in policymaking.
• Facilitate a knowledge exchange between youth leaders, scientists, policymakers, and negotiators addressing thematic adaptation priorities.
• Develop concrete, actionable recommendations for Parties and observers to refine and operationalize the post-Bélem adaptation roadmap.
• Strengthen collaborative networks among youth organizations, research institutions, and international agencies to enhance adaptation outcomes.

Expected Outcomes

• A detailed youth-authored session report highlighting adaptation priorities and recommendations for the agriculture and biodiversity sectors under the UAE Framework.
• Compilation of case studies demonstrating youth-led adaptation innovations that successfully intersect with ecosystem health and food security goals.
• Strengthened coalitions of youth advocates committed to continued engagement in shaping adaptation policies and frameworks internationally.
• Documentation of session insights and recommendations disseminated to UNFCCC bodies, negotiators, and allied stakeholders for integration into future negotiation cycles and national adaptation plans.

Preliminary Agenda

More information on ACE and Children & Youth events at COP 30 here: https://unfccc.int/ace/cop30