Introduction
Young people increasingly take the lead in influencing, advocating for, and demanding responsible climate behavior. And stronger political will from governments and the private sector. They are recognized as crucial agents of change. And global policy frameworks play an acknowledged important role in climate change and sustainability initiatives. The COP28 Global Youth Statement consolidates the collective climate policy proposals of young people, coordinated by YOUNGO. The official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Through consultations, the COP28 Global Youth Statement brings together over 700,000 inputs and voices of young people from 150 countries. Young people are taking action through means such as school strikes and raising awareness in their communities.
Fig World’s Youth for Climate Justice: Advocating for a Sustainable Future
Youth at COP 29:
At COP29, youth engagement focused on amplifying their voices, advocating for impactful solutions to climate challenges, and ensuring that climate policies reflect their priorities, particularly around climate finance, adaptation, and intergenerational justice.
Key aspects of youth engagement at COP29:
Amplifying Youth Voices:
Organizations like the Commonwealth Youth Programme organized intergenerational dialogues and side events to feature youth leaders and discuss youth-focused issues.
Capacity Building:
COP29 Youth Delegates Programs aimed to build the capacity of youth to understand and participate in climate mitigation and adaptation policy development processes.
Youth-Led Climate Forums:
The COP29 Presidency, supported by the secretariat and in collaboration with YOUNGO, hosted a series of thematic-focused dialogue sessions, allowing children and youth to share and discuss policy priorities with decision-makers.
UNICEF Call for Action:
UNICEF called for recognizing the impact of climate change on children, increasing climate financing, involving children and young people in climate decision-making, and ensuring policies and plans reflect children’s needs.
Climate Migration Focus:
IOM brought youth delegates on climate migration to contribute to global discussions and negotiations.
Youth Engagement is Critical:
Active youth participation at COP 29 helps ensure that climate policies reflect youth priorities, particularly around climate finance, adaptation, and intergenerational justice.
Youth-led Panel Discussion:
A 60-minute youth-led panel discussion fostered intergenerational dialogue on key climate challenges, uniting high-level experts and youth leaders to exchange ideas and shape forward-thinking solutions for future climate policy and action.
Importance of Climate Finance:
Youth advocates have called for an increase in climate finance to USD 5 trillion annually, emphasizing that such funding must be grant-based rather than loan-based.
Climate Change Impacts on Mental Health:
The COP29 recognized that youth mental health is already seriously affected by insufficient action on climate change, from increasing extreme weather, heat, forced migration, and disruption to school, work, and health care.
Specific Initiatives and Events:
COP29 Youth Delegates Program: Aimed to build the capacity of youth to understand and participate in climate policy development.
UNU-IAS Youth Empowerment Programme: Featured diverse youth perspectives, including two high school students.
UNCTAD Collaboration: UNCTAD brought together experts and youth leaders who discussed ways to strengthen the green economy to drive youth employment and sustainability for climate action.
Overview of climate justice and its significance in addressing climate change.
Climate justice addresses the disproportionate effects of climate change on marginalized and vulnerable populations, striving for an equitable distribution of climate change impacts and mitigation efforts. It acknowledges that industrialized nations bear greater responsibility for carbon emissions, while the poorest communities often suffer the most climate. Climate justice integrates human rights and development, advocating for the rights of the most vulnerable and the fair distribution of climate change burdens and benefits.
Climate justice can be understood through:
l Procedural justice Fair, transparent, and inclusive decision-making processes.
l Distributive justice Fair allocation of climate change costs and outcomes.
Climate justice is essential. Because it addresses the inequalities exacerbated by climate change. Such as the impacts on marginalized communities, gender disparities, and intergenerational injustice-. Climate justice also calls for accountability. From those who have caused harm and profited from activities that lead to climate change. Climate justice ensures that responses to climate change do not worsen. Existing inequalities related to race, gender, sexuality, and disability. Countries most responsible for climate change take the lead in addressing it.
The growing role of youth in advocating for climate justice on global platforms
Young people are playing an increasing role in advocating for climate justice on global platforms. By participating in events, campaigns, and networks that amplify their voices and demands for our. They are increasingly given a seat at the table in domestic and international climate policy. Therefore require appropriate capacity development to ensure their interventions are cogent and relevant.
Examples of youth involvement:
Global Youth Statement YOUNGO. The official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCC. Coordinates the COP28 Global Youth Statement, consolidating climate policy proposals from young people worldwide, and gathering over 700,000 inputs from 150 countries.
Youth Climate and Health Network. The Youth Climate and Health Network (YCHN) supports young people who care about the health of people. And the planet to connect with each other. It aims to create a platform that facilitates solidarity, care, and collective action from a health and climate justice perspective. .
Restless Development Restless Development supports young people to be leaders in transitioning to a just and sustainable world. Strengthening youth civil society and their intergenerational response.
Youth Climate Justice Fund The Youth Climate Justice Fund supports climate justice young leaders with trust-based funding, resources, and a youth-to-youth capacity development.
Global Youth Climate Training Program The Global Youth Climate Training Programme (GYCT) equips people aged 16-35 with the knowledge and confidence necessary to engage in an international climate policy. .
World’s Youth for Climate Justice World’s Youth for Climate Justice is a global campaign taking climate change and human rights to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to get an advisory opinion (AO).
Digital communities Digital communities unite young climate activists, encouraging collaboration and impactful actions against climate change.
Global Girls Creating Change Project Empowers girls globally in climate action through an intersectional climate justice approach.
Introduction to the United Nations (UN) as a key forum for climate action
The United Nations (UN) is a central forum for international cooperation on climate action. It brings countries together to address climate change and its impacts on . The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the primary international treaty for addressing climate change. The UNFCCC Secretariat supports the global response to climate change. The UN also facilitates the development of sustainable mechanisms. This unlocks financing to help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. Through the Paris Agreement, countries have committed to limiting global temperature rise and work together to reduce emissions and build climate resilience. The UN recognizes that climate change is a global challenge that requires international cooperation to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy.
Purpose of the blog: Exploring how youth activism is influencing UN climate policies.
This blog post aims to explore the influence of youth activism on climate policies within the United Nations (UN). Youth involvement brings values, constructive technical inputs, and policy recommendations to the negotiations. Young people are not only pushing for change. They are also becoming a driving force in advocating for a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.
Youth activism impacts UN climate policies through:
Intergovernmental Climate Change Policies Youth actively contribute to shaping intergovernmental climate change policies through a vibrant network of activists.
Global Youth Statement YOUNGO consolidates the climate policy proposals of young people, gathering numerous inputs from various countries.
Meaningful Youth Participation Prioritizing young people in climate policies and recognizing their efforts and impact.
Amplify Voices
The UN helps ensure that the voices of young people are heard and acted upon.
Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. The Secretary-General has launched a Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change to bring youth climate movements and voices closer to UN leadership. And provide advice and inputs in the implementation of the UN Climate Strategy.
Transforming Climate Conversations: The attendance of young negotiators is bolstering the butterfly effect, transforming some of these top-level climate conversations.
Youth Climate Champion
The youth climate champion role is now part of COP28 and future COPs. The connection between young people and climate leaders is stronger than ever before.
Promoting Intergenerational Equity and Climate Justice. The World’s Youth for Climate Justice is confident that an ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change. ICJ can not only outline the existing obligations of States regarding human rights and climate change. But also provide a progressive interpretation of those obligations, thereby promoting intergenerational equity and climate justice on a global scale.
Youth4Climate Manifesto Addresses climate justice as a multisectoral issue with specific recommendations by global youth to show solutions for a climate-conscious society.
Pressure on Policymakers Youth climate activists pressure policymakers to act on climate change.
Influence on Public
Climate Change Discourse Norms advanced by youth climate activists. These discourses have permeated the public climate change discourse around the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conferences.
Long-Term Perspective The inclusion of youth in policy-making brings a much-needed long-term perspective that is often overlooked.
Watchdogs Youth act as essential watchdogs. Youth scrutinizing government activities, ensuring they meet their environmental commitments, and pushing for enhanced transparency and inclusivity.
Grassroots-level youth are in a unique position to drive tangible changes at the grassroots level.
2. Understanding Climate Justice and Youth’s Role
Climate justice is a form of environmental justice addressing the unequal effects of climate change on vulnerable populations. It seeks fair distribution of climate change impacts and mitigation efforts. Climate justice integrates human rights and international development, addressing inequalities and historical responsibilities. It emphasizes procedural justice through inclusive decision-making and distributive justice in the allocation of climate change costs and outcomes. Climate justice also considers the roles and responsibilities of global warming and associated action.
Fig: “Building a sustainable future
Through Climate Justice, Energy Justice, and Environmental Justice — the pillars of a Just Transition
Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities, highlighting issues such as race, gender, sexuality, and disability, and may exacerbate existing inequalities. The concept of “triple injustice” arises when those least responsible for climate change. Suffer the most and are further harmed by climate change responses. Climate justice recognizes the unequal historical responsibility of industrialized nations for carbon emissions. Advocating for those who have contributed the least to receive support from those who have benefited the most.
Why Youth Leadership Matters in Climate Action
Young people are catalysts for change, driving climate action through innovative strategies and raising awareness globally. They participate in climate strikes, demonstrations, and campaigns, influencing decision-makers and inspiring communities. Youth involvement in events like COP27 has led to significant wins. For Example, the establishment of a loss and damage fund.
Youth leadership brings a long-term perspective to policy-making, advocating for intergenerational equity and climate justice. Programs like the Youth Climate Justice Fund support youth-led climate justice groups. It empowers them to challenge the status quo and build equitable solutions. Initiatives such as the Youth Climate Leadership Program and Our Fair Planet. Youth Actions for Climate Justice equips young people with the skills and knowledge to drive change in their communities, fostering a culture of growth and sustainability.
3. Key Platforms for Youth Engagement at the UN
UN Climate Summits (COP Conferences) COP conferences are key venues for youth participation in climate change governance. Youth involvement is recognized as vital, given the growing global youth population and their vulnerability to climate impacts. COP28, in particular, saw unprecedented youth representation, both in official delegations and as activists.
Youth Participation in Negotiations and Advocacy Youth engage in UNFCCC negotiations, some as observers and others as active participants. They develop long-term engagements with UN climate diplomacy and challenge dominant climate discourses through direct action rooted in climate justice principles. Youth participation brings moral, intergenerational, and equity-based values, along with constructive technical and policy inputs, to negotiations.
Youth Advisory Groups on Climate Change
The UN Secretary-General has established a Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. It is composed of young climate leaders who act as climate justice advisors. These advisors push for ambitious climate goals, drawing on their expertise and grassroots work, and report findings directly to the Secretary-General.
How Young Leaders are Directly Advising the UN Secretary-General. Young leaders advise the UN Secretary-General by providing diverse perspectives on climate solutions and reporting findings directly to him. They collaborate with youth climate movements and leaders globally to incorporate different viewpoints.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Initiatives
The UNFCCC provides a platform for youth to make their voices heard. And actively contribute to shaping intergovernmental climate change policies. The UNFCCC grants constituency status to youth NGOs, enabling them to receive official information, participate in meetings, request speaking slots, and receive logistical support at UNFCCC conferences.
YOUNGO (Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC) and Its Role in Shaping Policies. YOUNGO is a vibrant network of youth activists that contributes to shaping intergovernmental climate change policies. At UNFCCC conferences, YOUNGO makes official statements, provides technical and policy inputs to negotiation groups, engages with decision-makers, and raises awareness through advocacy activities. YOUNGO elects two focal points, one from developing countries and one from developed countries, to liaise between young people and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Youth Engagement While the provided content does not directly mention youth engagement with specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it recognizes the importance of youth participation in addressing climate change, which is linked to SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Linking Climate Justice with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities) While the provided content does not directly link climate justice with SDG 13 and SDG 10, it emphasizes the importance of addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and promoting equity, which aligns with the goals of SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities).
4. Success Stories: Youth-Led Climate Justice Movements at the UN
Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future Inspired by Greta Thunberg, Fridays for Future is a global student movement advocating for immediate climate action through campaigning and advocacy. Thunberg initiated the movement by protesting in front of the Swedish parliament to highlight the climate emergency.
How a School Strike Evolved into a Global Movement Influencing UN Climate Policies The school strike evolved into a global movement, attracting over a million young people in more than 100 countries to demand action from politicians on climate change. The movement has elevated the global conversation on climate change, urging leaders to reduce carbon emissions and limit global temperature increases.
Fig: Raising voices for change — the power of youth leading the charge for climate action and justice
Vanessa Nakate and the Rise of African Youth Activists
Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate justice activist, founded the Youth for Future Africa and the Rise Up Movement. Nakate urges world leaders to recognize climate change as a crisis, linking it to poverty, hunger, disease, conflict, and violence against women and girls.
Highlighting the fight for climate justice in the Global South
Nakate’s activism focuses on drawing attention to climate change impacts on African communities and advocating for renewable energy projects in Ugandan schools. She started the Green Schools Project, transitioning schools in Uganda to solar energy and installing eco-friendly stoves, impacting thousands of children.
Pacific Youth Demanding Climate Action
Pacific youth are using the law as an avenue for climate action. And are focused on educating and activating youth activism in the Pacific Islands. Pacific youth advocate for the rights of future generations, who have the most to lose due to the climate crisis. Pacific youth work closely with their governments.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) youth advocating for climate resilience at the UN The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change is seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Human Rights and Climate Change. SIDS youth are included in their country’s delegation to the UNFCC Conference of the Parties, advocating and speaking to their government representatives about climate issues.
5. Challenges Youth Activists Face in the UN System
Limited access to decision-making spaces despite increasing representation. Although there is increasing youth representation, young people still have limited access to decision-making spaces1. Many young people view institutions as unresponsive, not transparent, not flexible enough, hierarchical, and very slow.
Greenwashing and symbolic inclusion without meaningful policy changes There can be instances of greenwashing where the inclusion of youth is merely symbolic without resulting in real policy changes.
Pushback from corporations and political leaders resisting strong climate policies Youth activists may face harassment from state and non-state actors for working with the UN on specific issues. Conflicting situations can arise with governments when the UN is seen as protecting someone who is speaking against the government or government policies.
Lack of funding and resources for youth-led climate initiatives Youth-led climate initiatives may face a lack of funding and resources.
6. The Future of Youth Leadership in Climate Justice at the UN
Strengthening youth representation in UN decision-making bodies The UN is being urged to promote the active, meaningful, and inclusive participation of youth in decision-making. UNOPS is empowering young minds to become ambassadors for sustainable living. The Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change provides the UN Secretary-General with practical advice and diverse youth perspectives.
Enhancing global collaboration through digital activism and grassroots movements Young people are taking constructive steps toward climate justice by demanding action to address climate change and are using both traditional and innovative methods to build momentum and advocate for change. The Youth Climate Justice Fund supports climate justice young leaders with funding, resources, and youth-to-youth capacity development.
Policy recommendations for governments and international bodies to support youth-driven climate action Governments and international bodies should recognize the importance of youth-led climate justice initiatives in achieving climate and environmental justice, as they hold a unique and critical moral authority that drives ambitious, fair, and sustainable transitions worldwide. Ensure youth-led groups are given funding opportunities and youth-to-youth capacity development. They should address existing inequities such as poverty, social inequality, colonialism, and systemic racism, which exacerbate how marginalized people experience and adapt to climate impacts.
7. Conclusion & Call to Action
Youth play a pivotal role in advancing climate justice at the UN by demanding action and advocating for policies that protect the planet and future generations. Young people increase public support for climate action and galvanize policymakers to take bold action.
Continued youth engagement, stronger policies, and institutional support are essential to ensure that policy decisions consider the right to a peaceful and sustainable future. Youth possess a greater understanding of new technologies and social trends, making them well-equipped to contribute to climate action efforts.
Get involved in climate advocacy and hold leaders accountable! Amplify your voice to increase public support for climate action, ensuring that climate action policies are inclusive and reflect the needs of marginalized communities. Join youth-led movements, engage with policymakers, and advocate for climate justice to pave the way for a brighter future for all.
Books Recommended
Here are some book recommendations related to climate justice and youth activism:
1. Tomorrow Is Too Late: An International Youth Manifesto For Climate Justice
This book collects testimonies from young climate strikers worldwide, highlighting their experiences and advocacy for climate justice1.
2. The Youth Climate Uprising: From the School Strike Movement to an Ecophilosophy of Democracy
This book explores the global climate strike movement and its connection to broader philosophical discussions on democracy and sustainability4.
3. A Bigger Picture: My Fight to Bring a New African Voice to the Climate Crisis
Written by Vanessa Nakate, this book offers insights into climate activism from an African perspective.
4. How to Change Everything: The Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other
Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff from Naomi Klein’s work, this book provides guidance for young people on climate action5.
5. Youth Unstoppable
Offers a behind-the-scenes look at the international youth climate justice movement.
