A young environmental leader’s account of COP29 highlights the role of young people in climate justice.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, with unequal and disproportionate impacts, particularly on vulnerable communities in developing countries.
COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan in December, was an opportunity for reflection and action, with a special focus on youth participation. As a representative of OPE-Ecoclubes Portugal and the Portuguese Association for Environmental Education (ASPEA), I took part in discussions on financing the fight against climate change and involving young people in the climate decision-making cycle, from planning to evaluating the policies implemented.
This article reflects on what I learned, the challenges I observed and the role of young people in advocating for fair climate finance.
Climate finance: empty promises?
COP29, dubbed the ‘Climate Finance COP’, was an opportunity for signatory countries to make ambitious and concrete commitments to support developing countries. However, the agreed commitment of $300 billion per year by 2035 proved insufficient in the face of real needs.
As part of the YEE (Youth Europe Environment) delegation, I argued for mobilising at least $1.3 billion by 2035, a figure that better reflects the reality of the challenges facing developing countries. This funding is more than a technical objective: it is a question of historical and moral justice, since developed countries, whose historical emissions have contributed greatly to the climate crisis, have a responsibility to support those who are suffering most today.
The challenge now is not only the volume of funding, but also its accessibility and effectiveness. We must continue to demand that commitments are accompanied by clear transparency and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that funds actually reach the communities that need them most. But what is the role of young people in this fight?
Young people at COP29: symbolic presence or real impact?
Young people must be involved in all areas of political decision-making, not just in a symbolic way. Among the most significant moments were the advocacy for the creation of a COP dedicated to children and the debates in the Youth and Children’s Pavilion, where intergenerational equity and active participation in climate negotiations were discussed. The dialogue with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, reinforced the importance of empowering future generations
Another important moment was the dinner with the Dutch Minister for Climate and Green Growth, Sophie Hermans, where they discussed climate finance strategies, youth participation and green skills development.
These examples show the importance of young people at this kind of conference. But the question is: what added value do young people bring to climate justice at COP29? And what contributions could be made and used to address climate justice?
Young people play an essential role in climate justice, actively mobilising to denounce inequalities and propose concrete solutions. Many initiatives stood out, such as the development of agendas that combine innovation, justice and pragmatism. Others showcased projects that demonstrate young people’s strong commitment to implementing practical solutions, with a long-term vision based on advocacy and collaboration.
For example, the National Youth Climate Agenda (version in Portuguese; version in English) highlighted initiatives related to a just energy transition, protecting the oceans and enhancing local economies as areas where young people have already demonstrated their leadership.
Involving young people in climate debates ensures that policies are designed with future generations in mind. But real youth engagement requires the creation of adequate capacity and resources, which implies training in green skills. This training should include knowledge of environmental policy, climate finance, climate justice and responsible leadership.
The lack of visibility of the PALOP countries
Despite the growing role of young people in this struggle, it became clear during COP29 that young people in CPLP countries face significant challenges in mobilising structured debates and presenting their agendas in an organised and visible way.
While Brazil and Portugal have pavilions that allow them to showcase projects and hold debates on topics such as conservation, mitigation and ocean literacy, most of the other member countries lack similar mechanisms.
These inequalities reflect economic and structural limitations that hinder the full inclusion of young people in climate negotiations and in the defence of relevant proposals. Without dedicated spaces and adequate resources, the voices of these young people remain marginalised, compromising the representativeness and impact of their contributions on the global stage.
To overcome these challenges, it is essential that the CPLP invests in support platforms, creates spaces for synergy and funding, ensuring that young people from all member countries can participate in a fair and structured way in summits and other international forums.
Final considerations
I believe that COP29 should not be remembered as just another climate summit, but as the moment when the world failed to meet the urgent needs of the climate crisis. Although progress was made, the financial commitments and targets set still lack ambition and, above all, mechanisms to ensure that promises are kept.
Young people have clearly demonstrated their commitment to leading action on climate justice. However, the lack of adequate mechanisms to integrate and structure their participation limits the impact they can achieve.
The CPLP has a crucial role to play in this context, and it is necessary to ensure that all its members have the conditions to promote young people’s participation in international spaces and to support the projects that emerge from their communities.
There is an urgent need for the CPLP to invest, through the Ministries of Environment and the available environmental funds, in the training of young people, especially in climate literacy.
Complementary activities.
1. There are several initiatives to promote young voices at the COP, such as the EESC Youth Delegate to COP. Explore the opportunities that exist in your country by contacting an environmental NGO or a youth organisation.
Watch the video ‘What happened at #COP29?’ to learn about the decisions made in Azerbaijan. Do you agree with them?
