The future is now

Only when justice is centered will we see a resilient future for our planet.

It’s finally here. After what seems like many years of delayed climate leadership, the 26th Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Glasgow, Scotland from 1-12 November 2021. With discussions still pending on Article 6 of the Paris rule book, the conference is expected to push for a consensus on the final text, as well as climate finance, loss & damage, and enhanced ambitions for countries’ updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as submitted to the secretariat.

The fifth COP since the signing of the Paris Agreement, and the first COP since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, these two weeks will foreshadow what the coming years will hold for high-level climate leadership. While there is no time for business-as-usual, there is still time to act. And we at Youth4Nature are here to do just that.

Our Message

Solutions to the intersectional crises of our time lay before us: with youth, with Indigenous and front-line communities, with nature positive actions, and with accountability frameworks. Only when justice is centred will we see a resilient future for our planet.

After 25 years of “climate negotiations” and no tangible effect, we are tired of world leaders romantising the ‘silver bullet’ miracle solution that will save us from the climate crises. Here is the truth: the climate crisis is here and we already have the solutions we need to respond. Solutions that go beyond the climate silo and address the intersecting crises that our communities and our planet are experiencing. Solutions that are already being implemented and led by grassroots and front-line communities around the world. Solutions that are as diverse and robust as our ecosystems and our societies. Solutions that will bring us to a just and resilient future for all.

At COP26, this is where we will be. Pointing to the solutions we already know, pushing for justice-centred approaches, calling for tangible and binding accountability frameworks, including nature as a tool in our toolbox, and taking up and creating space for youth.

This COP, perhaps more than any COP before, presents major challenges regarding representation and justice for Global South countries, for youth, and for Indigenous communities. Both in-person and online, our Youth4Nature team will be pushing for more space to centre youth and Indigenous voices at the decision-making tables and in on-the-ground action. We will hone the COP26 corridors and surrounding events to amplify the solutions already before us and the power that we - communities - have to show true leadership for people, for the planet, and for nature.

Meet our gLOBAL yOUTH Delegation

We are thrilled and humbled to be supporting a 24-person hybrid, global youth delegation, with 12 team members attending events in-person in Glasgow, and another 12 folks contributing and collaborating digitally from around the world. Meet and get to know our teams below!

In-person team

**AHMAD YAZAN MIRI**
*Global Ambassador, West Asia Team*
Syria
It will be fairless methodology if we separate social and economical aspects of climate change than the environmental aspects in the global climate negotiations, Yazan says; and this is why he is attending COP26, to raise the awareness about the importance of including all young people’s voices in the climate discussion , especially poor and marginalized communities who had been excluded from the discussion for decades.

**AIITA JOSHUA APAMAKU**
*Education Taskforce Lead*
Uganda
Never like before, discussions regarding Nature and Climate Finance will be taking on core spaces at COP26. Joshua draws his priorities into understanding and exploring the possible opportunities that are available for youth from the Global South particularly in Africa; to meaningfully engage in these spheres and consequently derive associated socio-economic benefits from their impact driven initiatives on the ground.

**ALA MUSTAFA**
*Global Ambassador, West Asia Team*
Yemen
Climate Action requires government, private sector, and civil society collaboration to force change at the speed and scale needed. At COP26, Ala is looking forward to networking with different stakeholders as well as ensuring that the Yemeni youth and grassroots communities' voices are represented and discussed in such an important event.

**EMILY BOHOBO N’DOMBAXE DOLA**
*Storytelling Director*
UK/Spain
Given the context of threats to human wellbeing, increasing climate disasters, accentuated socio-economic injustice, and decision-making inaccessibility, Emily expects COP26 to live up to the high expectations while fearing it might not. Nevertheless, Emily hopes to at least recharge energies by connecting with fellow youth in Glasgow, continuing to co-build a global, hopeful & just climate narrative that centres solidarity, communities and solutions.

**GABY BAESSE**
*Regional Director for Latin America & Caribbean*
Brazil
The climate crisis is grounded in an exploratory system, that poison everything it touches, the rivers, the forest, the cities, people and the own humanity. Gaby wants to connect with youth from Latin America and the Caribbean, indigenous, queer people and all those shaken those structures. It is time to decolonize our imaginaries and allow the (bio)diversity to flourish.

**KALUKI PAUL MUTUKU**
*Regional Director for Africa*
Kenya
Climate finance for adaptation in Africa, youth representation and meaningful negotiations are a top COP26 priority for Global South countries. Kaluki will be keen to see how these are incorporated in the negotiation and decision-making processes.

**MARINA MELANIDIS**
*Founder*
Canada
Nature, particularly “nature-based solutions”, will be high on the agenda at COP 26. It’s critical that these discussions go beyond greenwashing and instead align with justice. Marina is looking forward to taking back the nature narrative by advocating for centering youth, frontline communities, and climate justice in climate and nature decision-making.

**OLUWASEUN ADEKUGBE**
*Managing Director*
Nigeria/UK
Concerns for climate change keep rising and affecting marginalised communities at a very high rate. What agenda will COP have for the protection and restoration of ecosystems, rights and justice for indigenous communities and how do we ensure that all voices are heard and unified in decision making- in terms of inclusivity of all stakeholders? I am looking forward to all of these and importantly, how youth actions in Nature Climate nexus will be valued in this space.

RAYAN KASSEM
Regional Director for West Asia
Lebanon

COP26 will be pivotal in reshaping our food systems to transform towards nature-positive food systems and to center nature-based solutions at the heart of systems solutions.

Rayan is also keen on representing the voice of West Asian youth, centering social justice as a key factor in fostering Arab climate action.

**RAYSA FRANÇA**
*Regional Director for Europe & Central Asia*
Finland/Brazil
We live in an economic and political system that is built to emit, to extinct and to silence marginalized voices. Nature-based solutions cannot be the trick we use to continue living in this rotted system. Raysa is keen in representing the voice of a Europe & Central Asia youth that believes in the power of justice to build new ways of living that are based on collaboration with nature, multispecies kinship, community leadership and social inclusion.

**SARAH HANSON**
*Regional Director for North America*
Canada

**VINAMRA MATHUR**
*Regional Director for Asia & Pacific*
Japan
In addition to supporting the wellbeing and learning of the Y4N delegation, Vinamra is excited to learn more about the role of nature in climate change mitigation. He is especially curious about the relationship between the private sector and nature, and the barriers preventing industry from meaningfully engaging with nature as a solution.

Digital team

**BULIMO PETER**
*Global Ambassador*
Kenya
Bulimo expects world leaders at COP26 to take a pragmatic rather than (an overly) ambitious approach to solving the climate crisis. All along, we have witnessed a pattern of maximum pledges and minimum action to reflect the same. The UN estimates the updated NDCs only take 7.5% off predicted 2030 emissions, while 55% is needed to meet the 1.5% Paris goal. Even so, there still exists doubt whether the 7.5% pledge will be delivered in its entirety. These are extremely dangerous sports with potential for setting up the planet for a climate disaster.

**EMMA THORNTON**
*Private Sector Taskforce Lead*
USA
Emma is looking forward to following discussions on the energy transition and understanding how world leaders intend to advocate for natural solutions. She’s also interested in understanding the role that the private sector, especially multinational corporations, intends to take.

**ESTEBAN ARENAS-PINO**
*Global Ambassador*
Colombia
After almost 2 years since the last COP, I hope to see world leaders embrace more bold and creative solutions that center people and Nature in the process. The pandemic taught us what happens when we place short term benefits over the wellbeing of people and the planet. The death toll, the vaccine and health inequities, and the impact on the planet. It also taught us how science based policy and community led decisions can do to affront a crisis. My question for all attendees will be: "what have we learned from this health crisis to fight the climate crisis?"

**IBRAHIM INUSA**
*Global Ambassador*
Nigeria
Ibrahim is looking forward to the coming negotiations and consensus among parties and believe that Nature must be part of outcome of COP26, Putting people at the heart with very high ambition from the so called most developed countries and big emitters seeing them funding youth Climate action and financing for adaptations to the so called developing countries to build back better.

**JULIA BETHE**
*Policy Taskforce Co-Lead*
France
The decision-makers will be very much in demand for this COP as they should be. Julia hopes that the pressure from civil society, youth, indigenous people and local communities, and any other so-called minorities, will be heard, understood and considered when they ask for it and that accountability will be at the core of the coming weeks, without tokenism and finally leading to the right actions for both nature and climate.

**LEONARD IYAMUREME**
*Global Ambassador*
Rwanda
There were 25 COPs that happened and now COP26 is here. Leonard has hope that COP26 is going to be different from the others. He hopes that leaders will priotise implementation rather than discussions and agreements. We see climate crisis, loss, and damage increasing globally. Agreements are there, but we are seeing very low implementations from parties. This COP26 may have changes to bring, that's all I hope. Leonard's question to global leaders is "How many COPs will we have for things to be done, from agreements to actions?"

**ODHIAMBO OTIENO**
*Global Ambassador*
Kenya
Odhiambo is looking forward to lots of learning at COP 26. This opportunity grants him exposure that he's been yearning for. He want to understand how high end negotiations take place, the place of young people in these negotiations and the impact it has to the World

**ORIENY JAPHETH ODHIAMBO**
*Global Ambassador*
Kenya
Climate finance has proved to be an issue especially for the countries from the Global south, Orieny is looking forward to fruitful negotiations that will enable youths across the globe, especially in marginalised and vulnerable communities to engage in on the ground restoration activities that are centered around Nature-based solutions. He is also keen on how COP26 will address Climate justice, including what the new NDCs mean for communities, especially those negatively affected with the government projects.

**RACHEL BOERE**
*Communications Director*
Canada
At COP26, Rachel is looking forward to connecting with and learning from other youth climate leaders from across the globe. Rachel believes that solutions to our climate crisis are on the ground and with communities. She is prepared to be curious, to be collaborative, to be creative, and to hold space for care and rest in this often challenging and unsafe space.

**RAHEEM SMITH**
*Global Ambassador*
Grenada
A moment like COP26 is the final chance the governments of the world have to make key political decisions to save the planet. After that chances are slim. The issues are clear. The road is straight ahead. This COP is a life comfortably or suffer inextricably situation

**STUART MCKELVIE**
*Media Director*
Canada
The "business as usual" approach to the climate & ecological crises has never been good enough. We have the solutions, all we need now is for governments & corporations to actually take action. We shouldn't have to associate compassion & responsibility with "bold action" but that's where we find ourselves in the lead up to COP26. Stuart is curious to see who of our elected leaders will action their commitments once the media spotlight is no longer on them. He is adamant that failing to commit to real change will be called out by the incredible, amazing youth around the world who can no longer just "wait & see."

**TOMIWA OLUWAJUWON**
*Global Ambassador*
Nigeria

Join in our Side Events

See our tentative agenda and events we shall be hosting, speaking at, and supporting over the coming weeks:

Be sure to follow us on social media for daily updates from our team in Glasgow, about our events, and to see what is catching our attention.

More about our work at COp26

Featured

Dec 21, 2021

PolleNectar: Vol. #YourStoryOurFuture ISSUE 2 & 3

Dec 21, 2021

New Release! Are you looking for stories about solutions, collaboration, and leadership for climate and for nature? Look no further! 'PolleNectar', our brand new #Y4NStorytelling Magazine, is officially out! The first volume, #YourStoryOurFuture, aligns with Y4N's ongoing Storytelling Campaign of the same name. We hope you enjoy this first release! Let us know what you think in the comments and on social media!

Dec 21, 2021

Dec 15, 2021

One Month Later: Reflections from COP26

Dec 15, 2021

It has been one month since COP26. It is sometimes hard to grasp how quickly COP rushes up, and then past, us. Since we returned to our homes, we have been taking time to share, download, debrief, and reflect together as a team and individually. And now we want to share with you!

Dec 15, 2021

The Glasgow Climate Pact

Dec 15, 2021

The Glasgow Climate Pact is many things. It simultaneously includes some topics - from youth to coal - for the first time ever, while also neglecting much of the ambitious implementation guidance that the most affected people and areas were calling for. Dig into the details of youth and nature in the Pact with the Y4N Policy Taskforce!

Dec 15, 2021

The Private Sector at COP26

Dec 15, 2021

The private sector and businesses had a strong presence at COP26, especially compared to other UNFCCC COPs. Many representatives from the sector had privileged access to pavilions and negotiations and abundant resources to engage the full two weeks. How are youth engaging with these actors? Learn more about our event at the EU Pavilion, Youth and decision-makers discuss nature, energy, water and sustainability in the global economy.

Dec 15, 2021

Nov 22, 2021

From forgotten frontline communities to the world

Nov 22, 2021

While international law has not given human rights protection to people being forced to migrate because of climate, it should be a priority for young people in the climate movement to make sure that every single community is included in the discussion, and that we are using the power of multiculturalism to create more useful and accessible solutions that can help those people not just to adapt to the climate change consequences, but also to co-lead on the solutions with other young people around the world.

Nov 22, 2021

Nov 9, 2021

Special Call for Stories: Governance, Policy & Knowledge

Nov 9, 2021

What do international events mean after the spotlight has turned away? What are the results and impacts that we see in communities and on-the-ground? What is it like to be actively involved in the legalese, the details, the process of policy-writing and policy implementation? And who are the local, traditional, and community knowledge holders that need to be involved? And how does this knowledge contribute to solutions for climate, for nature and for justice?

These are just some of the questions we have about Governance, Policy & Knowledge for climate and for nature. What do you think? Submit your story by December 10th for your chance to win a prize!

Nov 9, 2021

Nov 1, 2021

Canada, it’s time to center equity at COP26

Nov 1, 2021

How can Canada advance climate justice? Canada can center equity for frontline communities, Indigenous Peoples and youth. Here are three main ways to make progress at COP26.

Nov 1, 2021

Oct 31, 2021

October 2021 Newsletter

Oct 31, 2021

COP26, COP26, and more COP26! October’s newsletter is all about our team, our messages, and our events a the first international, high-level climate negotiation in two years.

Oct 31, 2021

Oct 27, 2021

Y4N - West Asia Pre-COP26 position statements

Oct 27, 2021

The West Asia team at Y4N has pre-expressed its concerns and statements regarding the UNFCCC COP26 summit next week in Glasgow. Read to find out our positioning regarding the Arab group and the UNFCCC process.

Oct 27, 2021

Oct 11, 2021

CBD, COP15… What it’s all about & how to get engaged

Oct 11, 2021

Monday, 11 October 2021 welcomed the official opening of the first part of the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), commonly referred to as COP15 or Kunming COP, under the People’s Republic of China presidency. It can be complicated to follow and understand the topics at events like these, especially from an outside perspective! This blog aims to help increase understanding of international environmental policy and related negotiations, particularly on the topic of biodiversity, which is less known than climate change and sometimes confused with it.

Oct 11, 2021

This work was made possible through the support of Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, a sponsored
project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.