COP29 highlighted persistent gaps in youth participation, climate finance access, and just transition policies, despite growing advocacy for stronger representation. While discussions acknowledged the importance of youth in climate action, systemic barriers such as restrictive funding eligibility, lack of direct financial access, and weak enforcement of just transition commitments continued to limit their impact. Climate finance pledges remained insufficient, with the $300 billion annual NCQG target falling short of the $1.3 trillion needed for effective adaptation and mitigation, while youth-led initiatives struggled to secure direct funding due to bureaucratic constraints. Fossil fuel phase-out commitments remained voluntary, allowing major emitters to continue approving new fossil fuel projects despite pledging reductions. Additionally, workforce transition policies lacked enforceability, leaving young professionals vulnerable in shifting labor markets. This document outlines strategic recommendations for COP30, including legally binding fossil fuel reduction targets, youth employment quotas in renewable energy, decentralized adaptation finance to support community-driven projects, and the integration of youth representatives in national climate delegations. To bridge the gap between commitments and implementation, it also proposes the COP Youth Review Mechanism, a structured accountability framework incorporating independent policy tracking, financial transparency, and youth-led monitoring within UNFCCC reporting systems. Strengthening these mechanisms is essential to ensuring that youth participation translates into real influence over climate governance, shifting from token representation to active leadership in shaping global climate policy.
The Full Policy Brief Available Here [PDF]
