The COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, served as a significant platform for youth engagement, with the Commonwealth Secretariat playing a pivotal role in amplifying young voices. Throughout the two-week conference, the Secretariat provided a dedicated space for youth representatives from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries to engage, exchange ideas, and share their achievements in addressing climate challenges.
Youth-Centric Discussions
The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) organized several side events at COP29, creating opportunities for intergenerational dialogues that brought youth leaders together with global policymakers. These discussions spotlighted youth-focused issues, emphasizing their critical role in shaping climate action and sustainable development initiatives.
A notable event co-hosted with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) explored strategies for strengthening the green economy as a means to enhance youth employment and drive sustainability. The dialogue gathered experts and youth leaders to deliberate on how the transition to a green economy could create tangible opportunities for young people.
Green Economy: Challenges and Opportunities
During the collaborative session with UNCTAD, the focus remained on practical steps toward a just and inclusive green transition. Nan Li Collins, Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD, highlighted the unique barriers faced by young entrepreneurs in the green economy, such as limited access to financing, advanced technology, and integration into green value chains.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, underscored the pressing need to address global inequality alongside climate change. She emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to advancing youth entrepreneurship within the green economy.
“Together with UNCTAD, we have launched the youth entrepreneurship guide, and we are working to update it with new chapters on the green economy,” Scotland stated. “This will serve as a tool to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people across our member states.”
The panel further discussed how environmental degradation in key sectors, such as agriculture, directly impacts youth employment and entrepreneurship prospects. Addressing these challenges, as the panelists stressed, is vital to ensuring young people can actively contribute to and benefit from a sustainable transition.
Training the Next Generation of Climate Negotiators
The Commonwealth’s focus on youth engagement was particularly evident in its efforts to train young climate negotiators. Several graduates of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Negotiations Training Program, a collaborative effort with the Government of Australia, participated in negotiations at COP29. These young representatives shared insights about their experiences navigating the complex discussions at the summit.
Jervon Sands from The Bahamas, a graduate of the September training programme, described the negotiations as both challenging and rewarding. Reflecting on the preparation, he noted, “The training was crucial. We simulated mock negotiations that mirrored the real process at COP29, which made us well-prepared for the intense discussions here.”
Inspiring Leadership
Nafesha Richardson, a youth leader from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, delivered a heartfelt tribute to the Commonwealth Secretariat during one of the events. Richardson, Chairperson of her country’s Climate Change Committee and a former coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth and Gender Equality Network (CYGEN), expressed her gratitude for the organization’s investment in young leaders.
“At 22, no other organization believed in me,” she shared. Addressing the Secretary-General, she added, “Seeing you, Madam Secretary, a Caribbean woman and a lawyer like me, lead with such conviction inspired me to believe I belonged at the table.”
Richardson’s remarks reflected the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to empowering its youth. The Commonwealth Youth Programme has dedicated the past five decades to improving opportunities for the 1.5 billion young people in its member states, equipping them to tackle global challenges and make meaningful contributions to sustainable development.
A Future Built on Collaboration
The youth-focused initiatives at COP29 underscored the importance of collaboration between generations and institutions in tackling climate change. By creating spaces for young voices to be heard and investing in their capacity to lead, the Commonwealth continues to demonstrate its dedication to fostering a sustainable future driven by youth innovation and leadership.
As the global community grapples with climate change, the efforts seen at COP29 reaffirm the value of empowering young people to lead in shaping the solutions of tomorrow.
