Many children and youth across the world are already experiencing the severe impacts of climate change. As a whole, today’s generation is facing the daunting reality of inheriting a planet reeling from climate-induced natural disasters and conflicts. Recognizing the long-term stake members of the younger generation have in the outcomes of present climate negotiations, a process has been established to track the progress of youth inclusion in UNFCCC processes. This is vital for ensuring their voices are heard and included in discussions that will shape their future. Moreover, such a process is important within the UNFCCC to ensure the principle of intergenerational equity, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement, is upheld giving young people a permanent place in discussions and decisions surrounding climate policy.

The first-ever Youth Stocktake of UNFCCC processes, which ran from June to November 2023, assessed key milestones for youth inclusion in climate policy processes. It identified the gaps and challenges for youth inclusion and concluded with recommendations for enhancing youth inclusion by Parties to the UNFCCC and strengthening YOUNGO initiatives, which aim to foster equitable youth inclusion in the international climate process and mobilize the world’s youth for climate action.

Some of the report’s key recommendations include:

• Capacity-building training for countries on how to effectively work with young people and include them in climate policy development.

• Create opportunities for learning and exchange between countries, including on best practices for youth inclusion and building partnerships to share support and resources to enable youth inclusion.

• Establish processes to track and measure youth inclusion and its impacts on the outcomes of climate policy.

• Improve two-way trust and communication between youth and governments.

• Explore innovative ways to engage youth, for example using social media.