- Rose Ngugi, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy and Chairperson of Southern Voice
Young people have been a driving force behind climate action for years — protesting, proposing solutions, and mobilizing across borders. Their participation in the global climate policy space became more formalized in 2011 when YOUNGO was recognized as the official youth constituency under the UNFCCC. Since then, youth voices have grown louder and more organized, contributing to processes such as the Global Youth Statement, Climate Weeks, and Subsidiary Body (SB) meetings. The establishment of a Youth Climate Champion at COP28 marked another milestone, signaling increased recognition of youth input.
Despite this progress, significant challenges remain. Youth participation is often underfunded, inconsistent, and reliant on voluntary labor. Structural inequalities affect who gets to participate and how — with some young people well supported and others left struggling to access decision-making spaces. Engagement varies not only by region, but also within countries, depending on socioeconomic status and institutional support.
The international frameworks — from Principle 21 of the Rio Declaration to the Paris Agreement’s recognition of intergenerational equity — endorse youth involvement. But are these commitments translating into real influence and continuity in youth engagement? At the same time, the rise of populist and climate-skeptic governments has led to a shifting political climate that puts new pressure on youth activists and organizations.
This roundtable will explore whether youth participation in climate policy is truly sustainable, effective, and meaningful. It aims to go beyond symbolic inclusion to examine the systems, skills, and support that young people need to shape policy long-term — and how the structures in place can evolve with them.
Guiding Questions include:
• Do young people feel they have meaningful and functional channels to influence policy decisions at national and international levels?
• Are existing structures — such as YOUNGO and COP platforms — supporting long-term, inclusive youth engagement or limiting it to short-term participation?
• How can youth organizations maintain both independence and sustainability when faced with financial constraints and external funding?
• What skills, networks, and support systems do youth need to transform activism into sustained policy influence?
This roundtable discussion aims at strengthening the role of youth in climate governance by identifying the practical and structural changes needed to make their engagement effective, inclusive, and resilient. It will bring together youth leaders, policy practitioners, and civil society actors to exchange experiences, reflect on barriers, and co-develop strategies for long-term youth involvement in climate policymaking.
Registration for this event is closed.