By Agnese Coletta
As the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, has now ended, youth activism has once again shown its crucial role, as a driving force, in shaping the global climate policy discussions. From protests to direct participation in negotiations, the younger generations have engaged with dedication and perseverance in the summit, bringing attention to the urgent need for a drastic change in addressing the climate crisis.
This Year’s Focus - Climate Finance
With this year's summit's main focus being climate finance, a final breakthrough agreement was reached: the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG). Its targets are to “triple finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually to USD 300 billion annually, as well as ensuring collaboration to mobilize USD 1.3 trillion annually for developing countries by 2035.”
It is important to understand that summits like COP29 are incredibly complex. Each nation and involved party brings its own priorities and concerns to the table. Reaching an agreement requires balancing these diverse interests, making consensus a challenging but crucial result. The sole fact that an agreement on such a critical and complex issue was reached is a remarkable accomplishment, which should be recognised, alongside any critiques of its limitations. The agreement emerged after two weeks of intensive negotiations, as well as several years of preparatory work, in a process that requires all nations to unanimously settle on the exact contents of the agreement.
Young activists played an important role in pressuring negotiations and conditions to secure these outcomes. Outside the summit’s venue, activists and protestors drew attention to the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the Global South. Inside the venue, youth representatives ensured that the voices of different communities were heard and taken into account, advocating for mechanisms and agreements that could prioritise equity and accountability in climate finance amongst the participating countries.
Activists and Protests
Youth-led groups, such as Fridays for Future or Global Youth Climate Network, organised multiple protests throughout COP29. Young people from around the world gathered in Baku, advocating and drawing attention towards climate justice, and the inadequacy of previous climate finance commitments and to advocate for more future-oriented goals. One notable event included a protest led by Fridays for Future, where climate activists marched through the venue holding banners that criticised developed countries for failing to deliver on past promises, such as the unmet $100 billion annual funding goal. At this event, a protestor told AP News “The role we play is to increase the pressure…we know we’re not going to get the results that the world needs in this round of negotiations, but at least to bring us many steps closer is our hope, is our aim.”, showing the perseverance and the strength of the youth in advocating for matters crucial to their future.
Other notable protests are the so-called “muted protests”, which took place within the conference halls. Groups of activists gathered in the venue, but, instead of the usual loud chants characterising these demonstrations, they were humming and snapping fingers. This was a creative and unique solution that many protestors resorted to since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the treaty framework governing COP29, has been increasingly strict about how protests are organised, regulations which Azerbaijan’s limits on demonstrations have implemented.
These protests were not just limited to the conference venue. Throughout Baku, youth groups organised marches, art installations, and social media campaigns to engage the wider public. This was part of a "global day of action", a day in which multiple protests took place simultaneously in cities worldwide, amplifying calls for a drastic shift in climate policy and finance.
Youth Advocates
Youth advocates played a significant role at COP29, ensuring that the younger generation’s voices were heard. The Conference of Youth (COY19), preceding COP29, was important for young climate leaders to prepare and coordinate their advocacy efforts for the main climate conference. The Global Youth Statement, a document consolidating youth demands drafted at COY19, was presented at the main conference and helped the young climate leaders and advocates to clearly state the different issues that they wanted to be addressed.
Multiple organisations supported the youth at COP29, either by speaking up for them or actively including them at the conference. For instance, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) supported 24 young agents of change who engaged directly with government officials, climate experts, and civil society organisations. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), also contributed to connecting youth leaders and organisations leading climate action by “building partnerships and amplifying the voices of young people advocating for impactful, science-based solutions to climate challenges”. UNICEF similarly advocated for the youth, stating that children need to be prioritised in climate action and financing, emphasising the disproportionate impact of climate change on young people. COP29 had dedicated spaces created within the Youth-led Climate Forum, which ensured meaningful participation of children as young as ten years old in advocating for climate change and our future.
The Youth’s Impact And Future Goals
As COP29 concluded in Azerbaijan, the involvement of youth advocates and activists highlighted the essential role of young people, especially regarding matters such as climate change and climate policies, since it is indeed the youth’s future that is at stake. By integrating different advocacy methods—ranging from protests and policy engagement to partnerships with organisations such as UNICEF and the IOM—youth groups ensured that equity and accountability remained central to the negotiations and that their voices were heard.
Going forward, youth advocacy will surely be seen and heard increasingly, as young people show a growing interest in crucial matters such as climate change and justice. Initiatives like the Youth-Led Climate Forum serve as vital platforms to ensure that future climate conferences remain inclusive and action-oriented. These initiatives will allow young, ambitious people to actively participate in decision-making, especially in matters that will impact their future.
Sources: UNFCCC; Priestley Centre for Climate Futures; AP News; The Straits Times; The Independent; YOUNGO; fundsforNGOs; WMO; UNICEF.
Written by Agnese Colleta
Edited by Nina Gush & Sarah Valkenburg
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