Youth climate leaders at COP31 demand greater role in decision-making

Youth delegates and climate leaders from 15 countries have called for greater decision-making power and direct access to climate finance for young people, urging governments and international organisations to move beyond symbolic youth representation in climate policymaking.

The demand was raised at a high-level roundtable titled “Youth at the Decision-Making Table: Strengthening Youth Representation, Participation and Influence in Global Climate Policy”, organised by the Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) in the Blue Zone of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Friday.

The session was moderated by YOUCAN Founder and Executive Director Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas.

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Representing Bangladesh, Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, founder of Footsteps, said climate change was already an everyday emergency for vulnerable countries, stressing that young people involved in community-based resilience initiatives should be empowered as key implementers of climate action.

Maynul Islam, founder and CEO of Shining Life, also highlighted the importance of grassroots adaptation and youth-led resilience programmes, particularly in vulnerable coastal communities.

Delegates from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America also called for formal youth representation in climate decision-making bodies, direct grant-based financing for youth-led initiatives and the removal of barriers such as visa restrictions and unequal access to international forums.

The 15-country coalition urged governments and international institutions to establish permanent youth advisory bodies within national climate ministries, involve young people from the initial stages of policymaking and ensure transparent accountability for incorporating their recommendations into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

The delegates also called for an equitable transition away from fossil fuels, accessible climate finance for developing countries and stronger support for addressing climate-related loss and damage.

They stressed that young people should be recognised not merely as participants in climate conferences but as decision-makers and key implementers of national and global climate action.