In recent years, young people have become central to the global climate action agenda. Across the world, youth have mobilized to push for change at the local, national and international levels. And yet, despite the increasing inclusion of young people in these movements, there remain concerns about how meaningful this inclusion is.
At COP26, even the most high-profile youth activists voiced their dissatisfaction with the level of engagement they received during the summit, while many of those from the Global South were unable to attend at all. With time running out to achieve the targets set by the Paris Agreement, what channels are available for young people to make their voices heard?
In this roundtable discussion with the Common Futures Conversations community at Chatham House, we will hear from youth climate activists reflecting on their different approaches. Are the existing youth forums for influencing the international climate negotiations fit for purpose? Is mass mobilization a more impactful approach? Or does the emerging focus on pushing corporations to reform through advocacy and legal challenges offer the scope for faster change?
Looking ahead to COP27 in Egypt, participants will consider these questions and identify ways to better amplify the concerns of young people in this space.
