Asia and the Pacific - Consultation on Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs

Hi Laras! Great to see you moderating this space and championing youth-led climate action across Asia-Pacific!

It’s always a pleasure working with you in the NDCs WG, your commitment to inclusivity and meaningful youth engagement truly shines in every space you're part of. 🌍✨️

I’d love to hear your thoughts on something we often discuss: How can we better mainstream youth feedback from consultations like this into national-level NDC revisions?

Do you think formal youth review mechanisms or advisory boards would help bridge that gap between consultations and actual implementation?

It's great to have you here moderating with me, Tapashi. Can't wait to hear the thoughts of our amazing youths! 😆

We're glad to have you here, Bandgar! Your impact is truly inspiring. Since you come from a background in sustainable agriculture and carbon markets, is there perhaps a lesson you could share for youth engagement in the same field? Looking forward to hearing from you! 🤩

Salsalina Larasati I would love to share a personal experience!.
In the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand’s Almora district, I worked with a group of young farmers whose land had been severely degraded due to years of chemical-intensive farming. Faced with declining yields and uncertain weather patterns, many were considering abandoning agriculture altogether.

At Wayfield Ag, we empowered them to return to traditional, climate-resilient crops like black soybean (Bhat ki Dal)—a native variety known for enriching soil, requiring less water, and thriving in extreme conditions. Through hands-on training in regenerative farming, natural soil amendments, and adaptive water management, these young farmers transformed their degraded land into productive fields once again. More importantly, we connected them directly to premium markets, ensuring better incomes and renewed confidence in farming as a sustainable livelihood.

This experience showed me that youth are not just the future of agriculture—they are its present leaders. Through the Youth4Climate Forum, I aim to bring their voices to the forefront of regional consultations on NDCs, ensuring policies actively support young farmers with the tools, resources, and market access they need to lead the transition toward climate-smart agriculture.

Bandgar Rishikesh I am totally amazed! The fact that black soybean (Bhat ki Dal) as a native variety was used for agriculture amazes me even more! This shows that youth-led initiatives and integrating cultural heritage, particularly from the natives, can benefit farmers for climate action. Even better, successfully entering premium markets with a sustainable approach to farming.

Thank you for inspiring the other youths and me, Bandgar! Do you perhaps have more to share about the importance of youth-led initiatives and the integration of cultural heritage in climate change mitigation and sustainability? I and the other friends from the Asia-Pacific region would love to hear more about this!

Bandgar Rishikesh Your initiative to empower the rural farmers is really amazing! Perhaps do would you like to share some challenges you faced while working on your initiative, and how you overcame them, and how the same can be replicated in other rural settlements with similar conditions?

Salsalina Larasati Absolutely! The revival of traditional crops like black soybean (Bhat ki Dal) is not just an agricultural practice—it is an act of preserving history, honoring our ancestors, and reclaiming sovereignty over our food systems. Seeing youth-led initiatives embrace indigenous knowledge while navigating modern challenges fills me with hope.

Across India, young farmers are redefining climate-smart agriculture by experimenting with Jojoba, Moringa, Ashwagandha, and Millets—crops that have sustained our communities for centuries. These plants are not just climate-resilient but also nutritionally superior and economically viable.

- Millets, once considered a poor man's food, are now at the center of a global superfood revolution. Youth farmers are tapping into drought-resistant, high-yielding millet varieties, opening doors to premium organic markets and export opportunities.

- Jojoba, with its high oil content, is offering young farmers a chance to break into the natural cosmetics industry, replacing environmentally harmful alternatives.

- Moringa, known as the "miracle tree," is being cultivated for health supplements, organic fodder, and even water purification, creating multiple revenue streams for farmers.

- Ashwagandha, a powerful adaptogen, is seeing a surge in global demand, with young entrepreneurs setting up direct-to-consumer brands to cater to wellness-conscious buyers.

What’s even more inspiring is how these young farmers integrate traditional wisdom with modern innovations—leveraging regenerative farming, traceability, and digital marketplaces to connect with global buyers. They are not just growing food—they are growing an ecosystem of sustainable prosperity.

This is more than just farming; it’s a movement. It’s about owning our narratives, valuing our roots, and ensuring that the future of agriculture is not just profitable, but also just, resilient, and deeply connected to our heritage.

Would love to hear more from others—how are youth-led initiatives in your regions shaping agriculture and sustainability?

Parth Bhatt Thank you for your kind words! Empowering rural farmers has been a deeply rewarding journey, but not without its challenges.

One of the biggest hurdles we faced was bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern agricultural techniques. Many farmers were hesitant to adopt climate-smart practices due to a lack of awareness or fear of deviating from age-old methods. To address this, we worked closely with local community leaders and elders, integrating their wisdom into sustainable models that improved soil health, increased yields, and ensured long-term resilience.

Market access was another major challenge. Rural farmers often struggle to fetch fair prices due to middlemen and limited direct access to premium buyers. We tackled this by leveraging digital platforms and cooperative models, enabling farmers to connect directly with conscious consumers, premium markets, and even global buyers.

Additionally, climate unpredictability made farming risky. To combat this, we introduced agroforestry, regenerative practices, and drought-resistant traditional crops like millets, moringa, and ashwagandha, which not only restore soil fertility but also fetch higher profits in organic and wellness markets.

Scaling this model in other rural settlements requires:
- Community-driven approach – Engage local leaders and farmer groups to ensure trust and long-term adoption.
- Capacity building – Provide on-ground training and digital literacy to help farmers access better resources.
- Market linkage – Connect farmers to direct-to-consumer platforms, cooperatives, and sustainable brands.
- Climate resilience strategies – Promote native crops, water conservation methods, and diversified farming to withstand climate shocks.

Would love to hear how others have tackled similar challenges! What approaches have worked in your region? Let’s exchange ideas to build a stronger movement!

Bandgar Rishikesh Amazing! That concludes that sustainable prosperity can be achieved with sociocultural integration in agriculture. By that, valuing cultural heritage and reclaiming sovereignty over food. Do you perhaps aspire to address this success for future policing, especially in NDCs? Could you address a specific policy concept that represents your idea?

Your voice matters. Sooner or later, we can see your aspiration and success story being the standard in agricultural policies. Here's to the formalization of sustainable prosperity! 🌱

Salsalina Larasati Thank you for this insightful reflection! Absolutely, sustainable prosperity in agriculture is deeply rooted in sociocultural integration, valuing traditional knowledge, community-led solutions, and food sovereignty.

India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) emphasize sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and low-carbon pathways—all of which align with our work at Wayfield Ag. Through our climate-smart advisory platform, we’ve empowered 1,00,000+ farmers, benefited 8,52,000+ acres with sustainable practices, and built strong networks with 270+ FPOs, retailers, and exporters.

A key policy concept I advocate for is the integration of localized climate adaptation strategies within India’s agricultural policy framework, ensuring that NDC goals translate into on-ground action.
This includes:
1. Strengthening agroecology and nature-based solutions in state-level climate action plans.
2. Expanding access to carbon markets for smallholder farmers through climate-smart interventions.
3. Embedding nutritional literacy and traditional food systems into education curricula.

I firmly believe that the next step is co-creating policies with Indigenous communities, youth, and marginalized groups, ensuring a just transition to resilient food systems. The future of agriculture isn’t just about yields—it’s about sovereignty, equity, and sustainability.

Bandgar Rishikesh Wonderful! Thank you for sharing the concept of the policy. In that case, we hope this aspiration will be included in this year’s round of NDC. Not only in India but for other Asia-Pacific regions to uphold sovereignty, equity, and sustainability. Thank you for maximizing this opportunity to amplify your voice, Bandgar! Your voice is truly appreciated! 🤩🙌

Glad to know Talha 🎉

Talha, thank you for emphasizing gender and inclusion. Building on this, I’d love to advocate for mandated gender budgeting and climate justice seats for youth at subnational levels. Too often, district-level climate boards don’t reflect the people most affected.

Let’s push for a policy clause that ensures every local government’s climate team includes:

> 1 youth under 25
> 1 woman or gender-diverse youth
> 1 member from a vulnerable or Indigenous background

NDC implementation needs this structure if we truly want justice and equity.

Welcome, Parth! It’s great to have someone so deeply engaged in youth entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Your work with the ECB Sustainable Youth Foundation sounds impactful—what are some key initiatives you're currently working on? Also, given your experience with YOUNGO, how do you see youth-led climate action evolving, especially in the Global South? Looking forward to learning from your insights!

Great to see you here, Parth! Always inspired by your leadership across the SDGs and our work together in YOUNGO.

Since we’re both active in regional and global youth spaces, I’d love to hear your take on this,
How do you see youth entrepreneurship and innovation being better integrated into NDCs in Asia-Pacific?

Perhaps it’s time we push for youth-led climate incubators to be included in national implementation plans?

Welcome, Shristy! It’s amazing to have you here, and your work in tech and climate policy sounds truly inspiring. Building a space where young women can use technology for real impact is such a game-changer!
In your experience, what are the biggest climate challenges young people in your region are facing, and which sectors do you think need the most attention to support them? Would love to hear your thoughts on how technology could be a part of the solution!

Glad to hear about your work Shristy! Since you’ve worked on women engagement as the founder of Girl Up Coders, do you feel that the gender equity aspect is aptly included in the NDCs? If not, how in your opinion can youth work to made the NDCs more gender sensitive?

Shristy, your work is fantastic! Building tech capacity among young women is a game-changer. One idea I’d love to propose for our NDC frameworks is to formally support youth-led tech labs for climate innovation, especially led by women.

These labs can track real-time emissions, map local vulnerabilities, and even build public education tools for climate literacy. Imagine if every region had at least one “Girls4ClimateTech Lab” powered by the state!

Would love to collaborate on this vision! 🌱✨️

Greetings Daniel!
Thank you for your comment. However, this is the Asia-Pacific discussion room. Please feel free to drop your comment in the Africa discussion room.

Hi, Noor! It's a pleasure to have you here. Given your experience, could you perhaps share best practices on the health-climate nexus? We'd love to hear your experience on this further!

Great to know about your work Noor! Since you’ve been working on the health-climate nexus, do you feel that there’s a connection between mental health and climate change? If yes, what actions can we take to integrate this aspect in the health-climate nexus in a more synergetic way?

Noor, your work on the health-climate nexus is so important! I’d love to build on it by suggesting that future NDCs include youth mental health indicators, especially for vulnerable girls, young farmers, and frontline climate volunteers.

From our work across rural Asia, we’ve seen how this not only builds resilience but helps retain youth engagement in climate work long-term.

Curious to know if your advocacy also ties into national education or health policy reforms?

Hi, Reynier! Thank you for sharing your input.

Hi, Rahed! Thank you for sharing your insights. Based on your experience with youth-led initiatives, what are the most significant climate challenges for young people in your region, and which sectors should be prioritized to effectively address their needs?

Tapashi Boruah thank you for your thoughtful question! Based on my experience with youth-led initiatives in my region, some of the most significant climate challenges young people face include:

1. Lack of Climate Education & Awareness – Many young people lack access to proper climate education, limiting their ability to take action.

2. Employment & Livelihood Challenges – Climate change is affecting agriculture and fisheries, which are major sources of income. Youth need alternative livelihood opportunities.

3. Displacement & Migration – Rising sea levels and extreme weather events force many families to migrate, disrupting education and stability.

4. Health Issues – Waterborne diseases and malnutrition due to climate-related disasters impact youth health.

To address these challenges, priority should be given to the following sectors:

Education & Skill Development – Climate-resilient education, technical training, and awareness campaigns.

Sustainable Livelihoods – Investment in green jobs and climate-smart agriculture.

Disaster Resilience & Infrastructure – More cyclone shelters, safe housing, and improved healthcare access.

Youth Engagement in Policy – Creating platforms for youth to influence climate policies and decision-making.

I believe empowering young people with the right resources and opportunities can significantly improve climate resilience in our region. Looking forward to your thoughts!

Tapashi Boruah As part of our discussion on youth-led climate action and priority sectors, I am sharing the revised NDC submission document. This document outlines Bangladesh’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, focusing on mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Key highlights from the NDC that are relevant to our discussion include:

Sectoral Priorities: Energy, agriculture, forestry, and disaster resilience.

Youth Engagement Opportunities: Climate education, skill development, and green job creation.

Adaptation Strategies: Community-based initiatives and infrastructure improvements to combat climate risks.

I believe this document will provide useful insights into national climate goals and potential areas where youth can actively contribute. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

NDC_submission_20210826revised.pdf2.33 MB

Md Abdullah Al Rahad , thank you for sharing these insightful points. Capacity building, investment in green jobs and sustainable agriculture, and focusing on adaptation are indeed crucial in tackling climate-related challenges. Bringing youth voices to the decision-making table is equally important to ensure that their voices are heard in decisions that affect them.

We’d like to hear your thoughts on the barriers that stand between young people and government collaboration. Also, what roles do you think young people should play in shaping, implementing, and keeping an eye on policies?

Tapashi Boruah thank you for your thoughtful response! I completely agree that empowering youth through capacity building, green jobs, and policy engagement is crucial for climate resilience.
•Barriers Between Youth and Government Collaboration:
Despite the growing awareness of climate issues, several barriers prevent effective collaboration between youth and the government:
1. Limited Access to Policy Platforms – Youth voices are often excluded from decision-making processes, with limited opportunities to engage with policymakers.
2. Lack of Institutional Support – There are few structured programs to integrate youth perspectives into climate governance.
3. Resource & Funding Constraints – Youth-led initiatives struggle with financial support, making it difficult to implement projects at scale.
4. Bureaucratic Challenges – Lengthy approval processes and political barriers make it hard for young people to influence policies.
5. Knowledge & Awareness Gaps – Many young people lack the technical knowledge needed to engage in high-level climate negotiations.
•Roles of Young People in Policy Engagement:To bridge this gap, youth should actively participate in:
1. Policy Advocacy & Campaigns – Engaging in dialogues, petitions, and awareness campaigns to push for climate-friendly policies.
2. Community-Based Monitoring – Tracking the effectiveness of climate projects and ensuring accountability at the grassroots level.
3. Innovation & Research – Conducting research on climate solutions and presenting youth-driven recommendations to policymakers.
4. Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships – Collaborating with government, NGOs, and private sectors to implement sustainable climate initiatives.
5. Capacity Building & Training – Developing leadership programs that equip young people with policy knowledge and negotiation skills.

I believe meaningful youth participation in policy design, implementation, and monitoring will lead to more effective and inclusive climate action. Looking forward to your thoughts!

Md Abdullah Al Rahad I appreciate your clear analysis of the barriers young people face in policy engagement and the important roles they can play.

Can you share a bit about your work with youth-led initiatives? We'd love to hear.

Tapashi Boruah Thank you for your interest! My work with SHBO (Service for Human Being Organization) and recent engagements in climate discussions have deepened my understanding of climate justice, policy advocacy, and youth participation.

My Work with SHBO & Climate Justice:SHBO is dedicated to climate justice and humanitarian response, ensuring that vulnerable communities affected by climate change receive the support and representation they deserve.

-We actively work on awareness campaigns, disaster preparedness, and advocacy for sustainable policies.

Recently, I conducted a field visit to Urirchar, Noakhali, where I documented issues like maternal health crises, climate-induced displacement, and agricultural challenges to advocate for targeted interventions.

SHBO also trains youth in climate resilience, green jobs, and disaster response, empowering them to lead change in their communities.

Youth4NDCs Workshop & Policy Engagement:

Beyond grassroots action, I also focus on policy-level discussions. I recently participated in a 5-day workshop with Youth4NDCs, where we:

Explored how Bangladesh can effectively implement its NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Discussed expectations for COP30, analyzing what key climate negotiations could look like.

Focused on enhancing youth engagement in climate policymaking, ensuring young voices are included in decision-making processes.

Combining on-the-ground action with policy advocacy, I believe youth-led initiatives can drive meaningful climate solutions. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Md Abdullah Al Rahad , your work with SHBO and Youth4NDCs is truly inspiring. It’s amazing to see you making an impact both on the ground and in policy discussions. Keep it up!

Great to know about your work Rahad! How well do you think that climate adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) are included in the NDCs in your country and region?

Parth Bhatt Thank you for your question! Climate adaptation and DRR are crucial components of Bangladesh’s NDCs, given the country’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters like floods, cyclones, and rising sea levels.
Inclusion of Climate Adaptation & DRR in Bangladesh’s NDC,
1. Climate Adaptation Strategies:
Bangladesh’s Updated NDC (2021) emphasizes adaptation alongside mitigation, recognizing that reducing emissions alone is not enough for a climate-vulnerable country.
Key adaptation priorities include climate-resilient agriculture, coastal embankment protection, saline-resistant crop development, and flood management.The NDC highlights the need for community-based adaptation programs that directly involve local populations in developing sustainable solutions.
2. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR):
Early warning systems and disaster preparedness training are included as essential DRR measures.

•The NDC integrates nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and watershed management to protect coastal areas from extreme weather events.
There is a focus on infrastructure resilience, ensuring that roads, houses, and cyclone shelters can withstand climate impacts.
Gaps & Areas for Improvement:
Financing & Implementation Challenges: While the NDC outlines ambitious adaptation plans, adequate funding and effective local-level implementation remain challenges.
Youth & Community Engagement: More structured mechanisms are needed to involve young people in DRR planning and execution.
Stronger Integration with Development Policies: DRR should be more deeply embedded into national economic and development strategies for long-term resilience.
•The Way Forward
Bangladesh has made significant progress in mainstreaming climate adaptation and DRR in its NDC, but stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration—including youth engagement, public-private partnerships, and international support—is essential to achieve its full potential.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Md Abdullah Al Rahad

Rahad, your insights are incredibly comprehensive. Thank you for highlighting both grassroots resilience and policy gaps. One key element I’d like to add is the creation of “Youth NDC Hubs” embedded in universities and rural colleges.

These hubs can serve as:
1. Community NDC literacy centers.
2. Local innovation incubators.
3. Monitoring stations for NDC implementation & impact.

We’re piloting a similar approach with digital support in underserved regions. Would love to exchange ideas with anyone working on youth institutions and formalized feedback systems! 🌍✨️

Dr. Anirudh Janagam your idea of creating Youth NDC Hubs in universities and local colleges is amazing. Would love to hear from you.

Thanks for sharing about your work! Could you please let us know what country you’re from?

Also, we would love to know more about the climate justice camp organized by your organization!

Hey Indrapramit Roy! Thank you for your greetings.
Could you please elaborate a bit more about your experience and the kind of projects you’ve been involved in? It would be really helpful and inspiring for all of us to learn from your journey!

Hello, Indrapramit Roy! Thank you for dropping by here. We would love to hear your concern on the current NDCs and how can we make improvements with the voices of youth. This will shed a light on us, especially on this year's NDC update! Thank you!