COY20
Youth Climate Conference – Belém, Brazil
The central aim of COY20 is to promote the active participation of young people in the processes of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Their ideas and demands feed into the Global Youth Statement, a political document representing the collective position of youth worldwide and directly influencing international climate policy.
Thanks to the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, A. Delger, an outstanding participant of the Policy Empowerment Program of the National Youth Council for Environmental Affairs of Mongolia, was able to join this year’s conference. She represented the voice of Mongolian youth, shared experiences, and actively contributed to strengthening the role of young people in global climate diplomacy. Supporting emerging young leaders is one of the Foundation’s key priorities in the region.
A special moment of COY20 was the video message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He acknowledged the courage and leadership of young people and of countries most affected by climate impacts. He emphasized: “None of this is possible without you.” Youth delegates were encouraged to continue their engagement beyond the conference—both in negotiations and through public advocacy.
The conference offered a range of capacity-building sessions, particularly on UNFCCC negotiation processes, equipping young delegates with the tools to engage effectively in global climate governance. The spirit of collaboration was tangible—for example through the Gambia Environmental Alliance, which unites environmental organizations nationwide and has achieved notable successes such as reforestation campaigns, coastal cleanups, and biodiversity protection. Alliance member Haddijitaou Ceesay also addressed the Opening Plenary of COP30 on behalf of youth worldwide.
During the closing ceremony, Ana Toni, Executive Director of COP30, stressed that the next step must be real action. COP30 should become both a “COP of truth” and a “COP of implementation,” confronting scientific realities while delivering concrete solutions.
Key priorities highlighted during COY20 included:
- Strengthening multilateralism: Global cooperation must be upheld despite geopolitical tensions.
- Connecting policy to people: Climate strategies must lead to tangible improvements for affected communities.
- Scaling up solutions: Current NDCs still point to 2.5°C warming—far greater ambition is needed.
- Youth mobilization: Young activists should engage proactively with delegations and remind them daily of the urgency: “We are in a hurry.”
The most important milestone of the conference was the formal handover of the Global Youth Statement, which outlines five core demands:
- Deliver clear, ambitious NDCs aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C and ensure a just, fast, and fair phase-out of fossil fuels.
- Institutionalize intergenerational equity as a legal and ethical foundation of climate governance.
- Recognize that conflicts exacerbate climate impacts and call for a global ceasefire to protect civilians—particularly vulnerable communities.
- Provide accessible, equitable, and transparent climate finance—especially for Indigenous, local, and marginalized groups.
- Elevate adaptation to equal priority with mitigation, supported by robust financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building.
COY20 once again demonstrated that the voices of young people are gaining increasing recognition in international climate negotiations. Through their participation, commitment, and clear agenda, youth are helping drive the shift from promises to concrete implementation—an effort strongly supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.