yef 22

2022 NDC Partnership Youth Engagement Forum

Inclusive Climate Finance

The second NDC Partnership Youth Engagement Forum brought together key stakeholders to engage on the critical issue of climate finance and youth engagement. Access to finance is critical to the successful implementation of national climate action and the achievement of the Paris Agreement's goals. Youth voices are a critical part of the inclusivity needed to ensure finance is directed to enduring, appropriate, and transformational climate action. Global youth, NDC Partnership members, and other interested partners joined this event to share success stories and lessons learned around inclusive climate financing.  

Invited speakers, representing youth groups and organizations working around the world, discussed key aspects of the climate finance ecosystem, shared what opportunities and specific challenges exist for youth, and offered feedback on how youth can help shape this important agenda globally and within their own countries. Following the main session, teach-in opportunities provided participants with unique opportunities to learn from and engage with leading experts on climate finance, equipping them to further engage in national NDC implementation. 

Africa, Middle East & Europe 
Thursday July 21 / View session recording here.

Plenary Session Speakers:  

  • Ms. Kate Hughes, Director, International Climate Change, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, United Kingdom 
  • Ms. Serena Bashal, UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC) 
  • Mr. George Carew-Jones, UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC) 
  • Ms. Amal Ridene, Young Climate Change Negotiator, Tunisia 
  • Ms. JulietGrace Luwedde, Coordinator, Children and Youth Forum on Environment and Climate Change, Uganda 
  • Mr. Richard Martey, Climate Lead, Green Africa Youth Organization 
  • Ms. Monique Motty, Deputy Executive Director, Climate and Energy Transition, Congo World Foundation 
  • Ms. Diksha Bijlani, Local Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, Climate Investment Funds

  • Ms. Rufaro Matsika, Southern African Regional Coordinator, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change, Zimbabwe

    Teach-In Sessions:

Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, (BMZ) Youth Advisory Council: This session introduced the Youth Advisory Council of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as an example of institutionalized participation of young persons. This Advisory Council acts as the voice of youth in German development cooperation. Three of its members shared their experience with participating in decision-making processes and with formulating official development policies. Participants were invited to discuss and identify both factors and opportunities for meaningful youth participation with a special focus on the Global South. 
UNICEF: The climate crisis is a child rights crisis, with over one billion children living at extremely high risk from climate impacts; as such, UNICEF is committed to ensuring that climate change policies and strategies are sensitive to children and youth. This teach-in session focused on UNICEF’s ongoing work to analyze NDCs for child- and youth-sensitivity, exploring how this analysis can serve as a resource to support youth advocates in engaging on climate policy. 
UNITAR: Climate Classroom - How can we shift towards greener and more sustainable societies? Having the right knowledge and skills is key to making it happen. This class will provided an overview of a multiplicity of free UN learning resources, available to anyone interested, that introduce climate finance, green economy, as well as other climate-related topics. This session was delivered by the One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn). 
YOUNGO: The session provided insight and empowered young people on the Climate Finance related work programmes of the UNFCCC, such as Article 6, Article 2.1c and others. In addition, it shed light on the challenges and opportunities for youth to engage in UNFCCC work programmes. 

Asia & Pacific
Tuesday July 26 / View session recording here.

Plenary Session Speakers:  

  • Mr. Pablo Vieira, Global Director, NDC Partnership
  • Ms. Phi Minh Nguyet, Senior Research Analyst, Market Intelligence, Climate Bonds Initiative 
  • Mr. Brurce Mecca, Senior Analyst, Climateworks Centre
  • Ms. Ijiltsetseg Dorjsuren, Administrative Officer, Climate Change Research and Cooperation Centre, Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia
  • Mr. Anish Shrestha, Executive Director YFEED Foundation, Partnership Coordinator SAARC Youth Platform
  • Mr. Deo Gabinete, Regional Manager for Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe, NDC Partnership 
     

Teach-In Sessions:

GIZ: Regional Partners from GIZ hosted a session to share key activities supporting renewable energy and climate efforts in the region. Participants learned about GIZ's Energy Support Program and the Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE) programme. 
YOUNGO: The session provided insight and empowered young people on the Climate Finance related work programmes of the UNFCCC, such as Article 6, Article 2.1c and others. In addition, it shed light on the challenges and opportunities for youth to engage in UNFCCC work programmes. 
Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP): UNDP Asia-Pacific and the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia-Pacific, RCC Bangkok, in collaboration with UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, UNICEF South Asia, the British Council, YOUNGO, Movers Programme and the 2030 Youth established a regional platform for youth empowerment in climate action - The Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP). YECAP is a safe and inclusive space for Youth to meaningfully engage in climate action. UNDP and RCC Bangkok will convene a teach-in session to share updates available on YECAP, a platform for meaningful youth involvement and democratic participation. Young leaders from YECAP team will also share their climate action journeys and opportunities for youth as drivers of change to continue their climate action engagement in Asia and the Pacific available at YECAP. 

Americas & the Caribbean
Thursday July 28 / View session recording here.

Plenary Session Speakers:

  • Ms. UnaMay Gordon, Principal Director, Climate Change, Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Jamaica
  • Ms. Maya Delaney, MBA Candidate MIT Sloan School of Management, Associate Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance 
  • Ms. Maria Grazia Campos, Founder, Activista Reportando and Youth Representative, Peru National Commission on Climate Change 
  • Mr. Maximo Mazzocco, UNDP G17 Youth Global Ambassador, Founder Eco House Global 
  • Ms. Joyce Mendez, UNICEF Climate Change Consultant  

Teach-In Sessions:

UNICEF: The climate crisis is a child rights crisis, with over one billion children living at extremely high risk from climate impacts; as such, UNICEF is committed to ensuring that climate change policies and strategies are sensitive to children and youth. This teach-in session focused on UNICEF’s ongoing work to analyze NDCs for child- and youth-sensitivity, exploring how this analysis can serve as a resource to support youth advocates in engaging on climate policy. 
UNITAR: Climate Classroom - How can we shift towards greener and more sustainable societies? Having the right knowledge and skills is key to making it happen. This class provided an overview of a multiplicity of free UN learning resources, available to anyone interested, that introduce climate finance, green economy, as well as other climate-related topics. This session was delivered by the One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn). 
YOUNGO: The session provided insight and empowered young people on the Climate Finance related work programmes of the UNFCCC, such as Article 6, Article 2.1c and others. In addition, it shed light on the challenges and opportunities for youth to engage in UNFCCC work programmes. 
 

For the full list of upcoming NDC Partnership events, please visit our events page here.