Organizers

 YOUNGO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, COP28 Presidency, and Act Sustainable

Recording

Background

Climate Change represents the biggest threat to sustainable development and is causing widespread, unprecedented impacts that disproportionately burden the poorest, marginalized and most vulnerable, including young people. Today, young people across the globe are increasingly aware of the impacts, risks, and challenges that climate change presents. However, young people are not only victims of the global climate crisis, but they are positive agents of change at the forefront of climate action, spearheading innovation and protecting their ways of life and knowledge within their communities across the globe. Yet, they experience challenges towards meaningful youth engagement in climate action, climate governance, policy-making, as recently reiterated during the 2023 SDG Mobilization Day, Climate & SDGs Synergies Conference at High Level political Forum 2023 and Climate Ambition Summit at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78). Access to transparent information and capacity building opportunities remains cumbersome for youth to access, posing barriers to support youth-led adaptation and mitigation projects and climate justice action, especially in the Arab States/MENA region. 

Rationale

Promoting meaningful youth engagement in agenda setting and policy development is mutually beneficial. It introduces fresh ideas and innovative solutions to tackle the climate crisis, enhances transparency and accountability, and fosters intergenerational solidarity. Moreover, it enhances the capacities and skills of both policymakers and the younger generations actively participating in the process. Today, there is a need to further increase youth participation in policy cycles, implementation on the ground to influence policies linked to climate change both at national, regional, and municipal institutional structures. Although countries across MENA have seen an increase in youth participation in climate consultations for decision making and policy formulation, there are more needs to be done to engage different youth groups and ensure that no youth is left behind. 

By contributing to priorities on meaningful youth engagement, as outlined in the Glasgow Climate Pact, UN Youth 2030 Strategy and Our Common Agenda, the event sought to highlight meaningful youth leadership for accelerated climate action on the ground. It did so by garnering multi sector stakeholders to co-create solutions to bridge youth capacity gaps, available good practices, highlight opportunities, showcase youth-led climate adaptation and mitigation measures to fully leverage the creativity of young people. The event also showcased successful youth-led entrepreneurial solutions and indigenous and grassroot climate justice actions contributing to the climate action agenda. 

Objectives

The overarching objective of this session was to empower youth by equipping them with necessary knowledge and resources to effectively engage with relevant stakeholders, including governments, CSOs, private sector, academia, communities, among others. 
 

• Started with the importance of meaningful youth participation in the climate space, especially the policy making field, reflected how over the years youth participation has driven strong impacts globally and how we could improve it in the MENA region by YOUNGO.
• Shared real efforts of youth in the policy making field, presented the Global Youth Statements and its usage during the climate conferences in different negotiations and bilateral meetings for lobbying.
• Reflected on challenges and opportunities linked to the implementation of youth-led solutions and interventions and provided peer-to-peer learning 
• Shared promising practices on concrete and tangible case studies on how youth can get more involved in climate-oriented solutions and policies that supports climate action in the MENA region, as well as across the globe
• Identified the potential for replication and scaling up opportunities for youth-led solutions globally, including opportunities to increase participation 

Agenda and Format