2024 was a remarkable year for UN CC:Learn’s partnership with the Future Leaders Network to deliver two unique and dedicated training programmes for young negotiators around the world. The Climate training programme focusing on negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ran for its third year with UN CC:Learn as a partner. We welcomed the pilot Land Youth Negotiator Programme that focused on negotiations under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in collaboration with the UNCCD Secretariat.
Both the Climate and Land training programmes ran in parallel from June – November/December 2024 and offered a unique opportunity to explore the synergies between 2 of the 3 Rio Conventions and build the skills of young negotiators to navigate the complex and fast-evolving multilateral landscape, with a vision to enhance the critical role that the youth play in the decision-making process at a global level. The aim was to prepare young negotiators with mandates within their national delegation for the upcoming negotiations at the 29th UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku and the 16th UNCCD Conference of Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, combining an intensive and engaging programme with pre-learning courses, expert online workshops, community building sessions and knowledge repository in the UN CC:e-learn platform.
Youth Negotiators at COP29. Photo credit: Future Leaders Networks
This year’s Climate Youth Negotiator Programme (CYN) saw 257 young negotiators take part across the fundamental and Advanced training tracks, with 111 of them being integral members of their official negotiating teams at COP29. The first-ever Land Youth Negotiator Programme (LYNP) also engaged young negotiators from 35 countries in the Fundamental training track, and several took part in the COP16 negotiations.
With a growing number of well-equipped young negotiators, there is no doubt that the time to invest in our youth is to build intergenerational climate justice through dedicated training programmes like the CYNP and LYNP to secure our combined futures.
Photos can be found on the social channels here.
Climate Youth Negotiator Participants at COP29. Photo credit: Future Leaders Network.