Youth4Nature is heading to cop 25

The 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25), under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is set to occur in Madrid, Spain from December 2nd to December 13th. Under a Chilean Presidency, COP25 is likely to feature a spotlight on nature, especially after the momentum that nature saw at the UNSG Summit in New York. And as the youth movement for climate and nature only grows, the leadership of young people will no doubt be emphasized in many panels, side-events, and negotiation tables.

However, ambition on both climate and nature are still nowhere near the level of urgency that the science demands. COP25 is a critical opportunity for nations and organizations to step it up, in advance of the much anticipated COP26 where Parties must update their climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. It is critical that youth voices are included and amplified at COP25, to put pressure on policy-makers and to hold decision-makers accountable for our futures.

Youth4Nature is excited to announce that we will be contributing to this effort by hosting a global youth delegation to attend COP25.

Our mission is to ensure that youth are able to co-design their own future with nature; there is no 1.5°C without youth, there is no 1.5°C without nature.

Our message is simple: in the search for solutions to the climate crisis, political leaders cannot forget young people, they cannot forget frontline and marginalized communities, and they cannot forget nature.

Our goals:

Diplomacy:

1. Advocate for youth inclusion in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) policy-making;

2. Ensure NDCs have safeguards to protect biodiversity and local communities, including indigenous and frontline communities; and,

3. Strengthen and mainstream the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) in NDCs and other national climate plans.

Youth Engagement:

1. Build the capacity of youth to be climate and nature leaders through education on climate change and the environment.

2. Act as a silo-breakdown and collaborative bridge within the broader network of climate and biodiversity youth organisations.

NBS Implementation:

1. Advocate for meaningful youth inclusion and participation, including employment, in NBS planning and implementation on-the-ground;

2. Guarantee that all NBS are grounded in biodiversity/ecological science and indigenous/traditional knowledge; and,

3. Ensure climate justice and environmental justice are enshrined in NBS planning and implementation.

The delegation:

DANILO IGNACIO DE URZEDO, BRAZIL | Storyteller, latin america and the caribbean region

Danilo Urzedo is a forester passionate about community-based natural resources management. He is a PhD candidate and tutor in Environmental Geography at The University of Sydney. He has worked within seed networks and restoration projects in the Brazilian Amazon and Savanna to promote local opportunities for indigenous, traditional and rural communities. His research and teaching focus on political ecology, forest landscape restoration and community forestry.

Hailey May, Canada | communications lead

Hailey May is the Program Coordinator for Climate Guides and Communications Lead for Youth4Nature. She holds a B.Sc. in Conservation from the University of British Columbia, and is passionate about local and global environmental policy. She brings a background in research and resource policy spanning through the academic, non-governmental, and provincial governance scales. She will be focusing on Agriculture, Nature-Based Solutions and Communications at COP25, while pushing to enhance NDCs in these areas.

Find Hailey on Twitter: @Haileymay___.

Marina Melanidis, canada | founder, Partnerships director

Marina is a climate actor and youth mobilizer. She co-founded and co-directs Climate Guides, a youth-led non-profit that supports youth engagement in climate action. She holds a BSc in Natural Resources Conservation and has experience in government, academia, and with the UN. She is passionate about nature-based solutions for climate change, and is currently pursuing an MSc at the University of British Columbia with a research focus on how dimensions of governance and participation influence nature-based solutions projects on the ground. She will be focusing on science-policy interfaces, NDC enhancement and ambition, meaningful youth engagement, and NBS mainstreaming at COP25.

Find Marina on Twitter: @MarinaMelanidis.

Caroline Merner, Canada | project lead

Caroline is a passionate climate action engager. Caroline is the Co-Director and Co-Founder of Climate Guides, and Youth4Nature Project Lead. She has worked to engage youth in conservation and climate change with Ocean Wise, Parks Canada, Dalhousie Student Union, Canadian Committee for IUCN and Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Caroline bikes everywhere, usually by the ocean. She will be focusing on Ecosystems, Oceans, Transparency, and Communications at COP25.

Find Caroline on Twitter: @CarolineMerner.

Paul Mutuku, Kenya | Africa Regional coordinator

Paul is an environmental enthusiast based in Kenya, passionate about environmental communications and meaningful youth inclusion in conservation. He previously served as a communications and programs lead for 350.org Kenya and AYICC-Kenya, an environmental educator at A Rocha Kenya, and as the Founder/writer at Green Treasures Farms. He will be focusing on Nature-Based Solutions, Agriculture, Adaptation & Mitigation, Renewable Energy, Climate/ Environmental Justice, Sustainable Development, Human Rights, Loss & Damage, and Technology & Finance at COP25 (he will be busy!).

Find Paul on Twitter: @KalukiPaul.

Emily B. N’Dombaxe Dola, UK | logistics & Campaign lead

Emily is the Logistics and Campaign Lead for Youth4Nature, currently acting as the Logistics Lead. A Bachelor of Arts in International Development graduate from the University of Sussex, she has a variety of experience in civil society organisations, campaigning and multi-sector projects. Pursuing a Master’s in Social Anthropology, she is particularly interested in knowledge production, political economy and political ecology. In her free time, she enjoys blogging and creative writing. She will be focusing on Adaptation, Agriculture, Loss & Damage, and Climate Justice at COP25!

Vania Olmos Lau, Mexico | Latin America and Caribbean Regional coordinator

Vania is a conservation biologist and an agroecologist. She is currently working in GIZ as a technical advisor and has participated with other international environmental organizations (CITES, IPBES, GLF, IUCN, IKI). She has on-the-ground experience with rural communities and conservation organizations in Mexico, Uganda, Paraguay, the Netherlands and France. She strongly believes in the power of youth to create change; thus, she leads and collaborates with multiple networks of young people at a global, regional and local scale.

ELUJULO OPEYEMI, NIGERIA | storyteller, africa region

Elujulo is a Nigerian climate and conservation actor. He is the Founder of Youth for the Environment Nigeria, a youth-led initiative that connects youth with nature, and promotes youth participation in environmental sustainability. He also sits on the board of World Ecological Concepts as a Director, and represents Young Volunteers for the Environment, Nigeria as Program Officer. He holds a B.Sc Degree in Zoology, and M.Sc Environmental Control and Management in view from Obafemi Awolowo University. Elujulo is particularly interested in nature conservation, and hopes for a world where humans and nature coexist in harmony. He will be focusing on Ecosystem Restoration, Adaptation, Agriculture, Climate Justice, NBS mainstreaming and NDC Enhancement at COP25.

Find Elujulo on Twitter: @Env_Reform.

SEbastien Willemart, Belgium | youth representative

Backed by experiences with the UN and EU, Sébastien has strengthened WWF advocacy strategies, contributed to the UN World Water Development Report, and drafted recommendations to the European Parliament and the Commission. His dedication to environmental protection led him to participate in the World Water Forum, COP 21, COP 23, and COP 24. He will be focusing on Oceans, Finance for NBS and Climate, and NDC enhancement at COP25.

Find Sébastien on Twitter: @SebWillemart and on LinkedIn.

Read up on our activities in Madrid here:

We encourage you to follow along on social media as we post updates on our delegation, the events we plan to host, and the other incredible youth groups we aim to connect and collaborate with to advocate for both nature and climate.