Australia faces growing climate risks, from extreme heat waves to biodiversity loss. Youth play a vital role in climate advocacy, but how can they better engage in national and regional NDCs? This session will explore strategies for strengthening youth participation.

We encourage you to share your insights by contributing to this discussion room and consultation survey form. 

Your input will help shape:

  • Comprehensive Report: A summary of the consultations, incorporating key insights from both the discussion page and the survey form. This report will highlight key findings, identify barriers, and present recommendations and success stories of youth engagement in NDCs globally.
  • Policy Recommendations: A set of actionable recommendations for governments, informed by inputs from the discussion and survey, to enhance children and youth participation in all stages of the NDC process.
  • Increased Youth Advocacy: Empowering young climate activists with knowledge and resources to advocate for these policy recommendations and raise awareness about the importance of youth inclusion in NDCs.

Therefore we kindly ask you as young changemakers and climate advocates , to give your inputs to the below questions: 

  1. Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges: What are the most pressing climate challenges for young people in your region, and which sectors should be prioritized to address their needs?
  2. Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs: What are the key challenges preventing young people from actively participating in the NDC process, and what barriers exist between youth and government collaboration
  3. Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful: How can NDCs be designed to genuinely reflect youth priorities, and what roles should young people play in shaping, implementing, and monitoring them?
  4. Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms: What policies, resources, and partnerships are needed to ensure meaningful youth participation in NDCs, and how can governments and stakeholders better support this?

     

Note: This discussion page is specifically for youth from Australia. If you belong to a different region, please return to the main group page and join your designated regional discussion room. 

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Comments (6)

Edgard Rodrigue Mvondo

Excited to Join This Movement!

Thrilled to be part of this dynamic community of changemakers! As a passionate advocate for climate action and sustainable development, I’m eager to collaborate, learn, and contribute to impactful solutions.

Looking forward to engaging with fellow youth leaders and driving meaningful change together! #YouthForClimate #ActionForImpact 🌍🔥

Edgard Rodrigue Mvondo

Excited to Join This Movement!

Thrilled to be part of this dynamic community of changemakers! As a passionate advocate for climate action and sustainable development, I’m eager to collaborate, learn, and contribute to impactful solutions.

Through RAJAPI-COP (Network of Young Africans Bringing Innovative Projects to the COPs on Climate, Biodiversity, and Desertification for Social Justice and Gender.), I am committed to amplifying youth-led climate initiatives, fostering innovation, and ensuring that young African voices shape global climate policies.

Looking forward to engaging with fellow youth leaders and driving meaningful change together! #RAJAPI-COP
#YouthForClimate #ActionForImpact 🌍🔥

Adnan Masry

Thank you, Chinoza, for such an inspiring and heartfelt introduction! Your commitment to sustainability and your work with Renoverde Reciclagem in Guinea-Bissau are truly commendable. It’s energizing to see passionate youth like you leading innovative solutions in waste management and pushing for a more sustainable future.

Your emphasis on youth as today’s changemakers deeply resonates. Indeed, our voices and actions today shape the world of tomorrow.

To deepen this conversation, I’d love to hear your thoughts—and the community’s—on a few key points:

How can we strengthen youth-led accountability for sustainable development? Are there successful models or local initiatives you’ve seen that we can learn from or scale?

What do you think still needs to be done to ensure better investment in essential public services like education, employment, and healthcare for youth across Africa?

And finally, how can young leaders like us address the inequalities within the global economic system, particularly in relation to climate justice?

Let’s keep the energy going—excited to learn from you and build actionable strategies together!

MODJINOU kwami

Je suis ravi de faire partie de cette communauté regroupant des agents engagés dans le secteur du changement climatique

Ce serait un grand plaisir d’apprendre de vous et de jumellé surtout nos compétences pour trouver des solutions innovante sur le changement climatique

Kazibwe Badru

Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges:
For young people in Uganda, some of the most pressing climate challenges are rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and poor access to sustainable farming methods. The agriculture sector should be prioritized, as it’s where many youth depend for livelihoods. Additionally, access to clean energy for households and communities is crucial. We need more affordable and sustainable solutions that empower youth to lead change in these sectors.

Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs:
The biggest challenge is the lack of accessible platforms for youth to participate meaningfully in the NDC process. Often, young people are either excluded from decision-making spaces or don’t have the resources and knowledge to actively engage. Governments need to create more inclusive processes and ensure youth voices are not tokenistic but embedded at every stage of the NDC cycle.

Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful:
To make NDCs more youth-inclusive, governments must provide clear mechanisms for youth to contribute, especially in policy design, implementation, and monitoring. Youth should have formal roles in committees and advisory bodies. A structured framework for youth engagement can ensure that our priorities—like clean energy, green jobs, and sustainable agriculture—are properly reflected in NDCs.

Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms:
Policies and partnerships that support youth-led initiatives and build capacity for meaningful climate action are essential. Governments should allocate funds for youth-driven projects and ensure youth are included in climate policy dialogues. Stronger links between youth-led organizations and international climate agencies would empower young changemakers to influence decisions at national and regional levels.