Climate Change Convention: Young People
Question
Dan Carden
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the number of youth negotiators at the next COP conference.
Answer
Prior to the publication of the Department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy in April 2022, the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit engaged young people in the development of the strategy. The Department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy/sustainability-and-climate-change-a-strategy-for-the-education-and-childrens-services-systems.
Youth engagement remains a priority. The Department will be supported by two volunteer Youth Focal Points who will be between the ages of 18 and 25. They will engage with other young people directly, work with policy leads and attend events both in the UK and internationally, including attending Conference of the Parties (COPs).
Throughout its Presidency year, the UK Government engaged with young people. Ahead of COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, the UK COP Presidency supported the COP26 Indigenous Youth Programme and the Climate Youth Negotiators Programme. The programmes helped support young people with access and funding to attend COP27.
The Government will keep working with youth and other groups set up by Non-Governmental Organisations to ensure the United Arab Emirates COP Presidency promotes full participation.