Events across COP26 on Friday 5 November focused on harnessing the expertise of young people and putting their views directly to the negotiators and officials working to agree global action on climate change.
The day was co-chaired by YOUNGO, the Official Children’s and Youth constituency of the UNFCCC which among other things presented the COY16 Global Youth Position statement, representing the views of over 40,000 young climate leaders from across the world.
The UK announced its draft Sustainability and Climate Change strategy to equip and empower young people with the skills they need to drive the future of climate action. Education Ministers from around the world also pledged to do the same, with nations such as, South Korea, Albania and Sierra Leone pledging to put climate change at the heart of their curriculums. Education Ministers and young people from over 23 countries also put forward national climate education pledges, ranging from decarbonising the school sector to developing school resources.
Other annoucements included the following:
- The UK announced a new £85,000 research grant to support the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre to produce better information on the education needs of refugee children and enable a more effective international response.
- Civil society, business leaders and ministers joined together in a special session to discuss how all parts of society must be brought on board with the action needed on climate change.
- Negotiations took place on Action for Climate Empowerment, a UNFCCC agenda item aimed at setting the direction on climate education and public empowerment, and facilitating coordination between countries and non-state actors
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