These insights are provided by Aurona Sarker, Carbon & Climate Analyst, and Swapnil Vaidya, ESG Associate.
On day 9, young civil society catapulted to the forefront of climate diplomacy, signalling a significant turning point at COP28.
The Dubai Youth Climate Dialogue, the second-largest youth-led climate forum in COP history took place. Youth leaders discussed important issues including globally coordinated stocktakes, nationally determined contributions and local implementation strategies with high-ranking government representatives. Their insightful discussions focused on the necessity of cooperative efforts to combat climate change and covered governance, climate action plans, and the global climate agenda.
The groundbreaking Youth Stocktake Report was unveiled by YOUNGO, the UNFCCC's official constituency for children and youth. This report offers a thorough analysis of best practices and makes recommendations for improving youth participation in future decision-making processes. The key recommendations include addressing data availability challenges, regulating youth initiatives, strengthening communication between youth and other stakeholders, and deploying funding for youth activities.
We echo the sentiment that was stated at the Dubai Youth Climate Dialogue: while motivational speeches are important, real change results from bold actions. Youth involvement in climate issues ought to go beyond attending events and participating in dialogues. It needs to be systematic and backed by strong legal frameworks that enable the younger generation to make significant contributions to the fight against climate change.
