The Presidency of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference has announced that the role of the Youth Climate Minister (YCC) will continue in future COPs. Parties agreed in the COP28 negotiated text to institutionalize the role of the YCC in the UNFCCC process.
The UN Climate Change Conference, referred to as COP28, has appointed the first official Minister of Youth Affairs, Shamma Al Mazrui, who is now the UAE Minister of Community Development. "COP28 was groundbreaking for youth inclusion, with unprecedented initiatives that put children and young people at the centre of the climate action process," said Al Mazrui, who at 22 was the youngest minister in the world. "We have achieved transformative changes that will be a lasting legacy for future COPs." The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) now mandates all future COP presidencies to enable meaningful youth participation and representation in future COPs.
Approximately one billion children worldwide are now at extremely high risk from the effects of climate change. COP28 introduced programming and a number of important initiatives aimed at including youth in the climate process.
COP28 also saw the official launch of the Youth Review Report from YOUNGO, the UNFCCC's official children and youth advisory body. COP28 also mandated 110 young people from around the world to take climate action in their communities and participate in the COP as part of the COP28 Youth Delegate Programme. These delegates received comprehensive capacity building and full funding to participate in COP28. This enabled them to contribute to the negotiation process and create a groundbreaking model of COP engagement for youth from small island developing states, least developed countries, indigenous and conflict-affected communities, and youth with disabilities.
The UAE is committed to supporting the formalization of the role of the YCC throughout the year to ensure strong support for youth inclusion at future COPs. The current YCC teams and the COP28 Presidency are seeking sustained external funding for this role.
COP28 UAE was held at Expo City Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023. The conference was attended by more than 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth and non-state actors.
In line with the mandate of the Paris Climate Agreement, the UAE's COP28 provides the first ever global stocktake - a comprehensive assessment of progress towards climate goals.
The UAE is leading a process where all parties agree on a clear roadmap to accelerate progress through a pragmatic global energy transition and a "leave no one behind" approach to inclusive climate action.
