Young people are "triggering" global climate action.

Ms. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has outlined a vision for empowering the younger generation.

The COP29 conference is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22. (Source: COP29)

Encouraging young people to engage in dialogue about climate

Throughout her career, Ms. Dahak has had the opportunity to interact with and listen to the perspectives of many young people from around the world on issues such as climate leadership, education, and diplomacy . In particular, her encounters with students in Japan have always made her reflect on how the UAE and Japan prioritize the voices of the younger generation. Both countries show special respect for older generations and a strong desire to empower young people, giving them a better future.

According to Ms. Dahak, for many young climate leaders, building resilience is not a distant goal but an urgent reality right now. The motivation, energy, and passion of young people are vital to "activating" global climate action and proposing new perspectives in the face of this complex challenge.

Voices seeking to advance progress converged at COP28, the Summit of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Dubai in 2023, including the business community, civil society, youth, and indigenous communities, creating an unprecedented forum for open dialogue.

Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), affirmed the need to ensure broad participation of young people in international climate diplomacy. (Source: Reuters)

As the world looks forward to the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22, Ms. Dahak believes that ensuring broad participation of young people in international climate diplomacy is crucial. The unique priorities, aspirations, and perspectives of the younger generation should be considered when world leaders come together to promote climate action.

The establishment of the Youth Climate Champion (YCC) program within the framework of COP28 is a testament to a shared vision aimed at diversifying participation in the world's largest climate change event. The YCC was created to strengthen the voices of youth-led organizations and youth-focused organizations in the field of global climate diplomacy. It also helps world leaders become more aware of the challenges facing young people today.

Ms. Dahak affirmed that, on the eve of COP29, the Youth Climate Change Council (YCC) needs to continue playing a bridging role between the conference leadership and young people. Above all, the YCC's action program needs to go beyond UN climate negotiations, ensuring youth participation in major events such as Asia- Pacific Climate Week and New York Climate Week (NYC)...

These platforms play a crucial role in ensuring that the perspectives of young people from communities heavily impacted by climate change, including Japan, are central to the global discussion. This contributes to building capacity and creating opportunities for young leaders to develop initiatives to address climate challenges.

Creating a platform where young climate leaders can network and share experiences is key to fostering innovation, especially in vulnerable communities.

A breath of fresh air, a new revolution.

To broaden the participation of young people from underrepresented groups, the COP28 President launched the International Youth Climate Delegates Programme (IYCDP), empowering youth from least developed countries and small island nations. This is the largest initiative to date aimed at expanding youth participation in international climate diplomacy.

In particular, in Asia, the IYCDP brought together young climate leaders from Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia to discuss areas such as strengthening the participation of small businesses in the green energy transition and reinforcing emergency responses to natural disasters. The IYCDP helps young climate leaders share perspectives and create momentum to promote global climate resilience.

Prior to becoming the UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Ms. Dahak worked at the Ministry of Education, exploring opportunities to promote global education for young people and enhance capacity for climate action. According to Ms. Dahak, true innovation stems from bringing together diverse platforms to exchange experiences and knowledge. Therefore, to realize this vision, it is necessary to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as strengthen comprehensive collaboration across multiple areas.

The younger generation is increasingly taking the lead in driving climate action. (Source: COP28)

In early 2024, Ms. Dahak met with former Japanese Minister of Agriculture Tetsushi Sakamoto to discuss how the two countries could strengthen bilateral cooperation in food security and marine conservation.

Despite the UAE and Japan having vastly different climates and environments, both prioritize building long-term resilience through innovation and technology. Knowledge exchanges in areas such as precision agriculture, smart greenhouses, and biotechnology have yielded impressive results.

As the world looks toward COP29, global initiatives such as the Agricultural Innovation for Climate (AIM for Climate) mission and the Mangrove Alliance for Climate will play a vital role in strengthening cooperation and empowering young people to continue exploring and innovating.

Ms. Dahak emphasized that the younger generation is increasingly leading the way in climate action. Above all, leaders need to continue to amplify the voices, impact, and empowerment of young people so that they can build a more resilient and optimistic future.

In summary, the presence of young people in climate diplomacy is not only an urgent need but also a key factor in achieving global sustainability goals. Youth engagement initiatives need to be further strengthened, creating space and opportunities for young people to voice their opinions on climate change.

With their enthusiasm, creativity, and technological skills, the younger generation is expected to play a crucial role in shaping humanity's green future. Achieving this requires close collaboration between governments, international organizations, and the community; and the development of mechanisms to support and encourage youth participation in global climate dialogue and action.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/gioi-tre-kich-hoat-hanh-dong-khi-hau-toan-cau-293755.html