Getting ready for COP27

To exemplify this further, Mitzi raised how a decision-maker who only works in policy spaces may lack knowledge on how to support economically marginalized girls living in evacuation centres in flooded rural Philippines; these girls have specific human rights needs such as proper sanitary care during evacuation. Decision-makers' advocacy points for adaptation and loss and damage could become strengthened with contributions from these communities, in particular girls and young women. 

Another reason why it is so important to have young people from the region at COP is because children and youth are bold, fearless, and have the mandate to be provocative. In East Asia and the Pacific, formal spaces for activism are often lacking, ad-hoc, or in some cases even unsafe. COP provides a physical space for this, whilst strengthening the regional movement, acting as a mechanism for a diverse collective of youth to connect, collaborate and convene. Abe adds how building regional youth networks is essential to successful change-making. As someone who has attended multiple UN climate meetings, Abe concurred that current cohorts of young delegates from East Asia and the Pacific are minimal, and expressed a need for this to grow further. Melati was just 15 years old when she attended her first COP (COP21, Paris), and reminisced fondly on the plethora of knowledge and connections she suddenly gained. She identified them as important influencers to her strategies as an environmental advocate.

Assuming that the young people overcome these logistical challenges, how can they meaningfully participate once at COP?

Melati expressed how today’s young generation feels inadequately prepared to respond to the climate crisis, and called for a radical shift in environmental education. Mitzi highlighted the greater need for tools for young people from East Asia and the Pacific to take action. Garid reflected how children and adolescents like himself require extensive training to understand their rights and what they are representing. In general, children and young people recognise that their rights are being violated, but they don't know the mechanisms available for voicing their ideas and for holding duty bearers accountable for inaction.

“Today’s young generation feels inadequately prepared to respond to the climate crisis”

 

- Melati Wijsen, Indonesia

There are also different, harsher barriers for young women and girls compared to their male counterparts. Melati and Mitzi commented on how  social norms in Indonesia and the Philippines challenge girls and young women’s ability to speak up on issues and demonstrate leadership. Garid reflected that in Mongolia, boys typically are more confident in their abilities, despite some girls carrying greater passion and work ethic. He also highlighted how boards of directors and governing bodies are generally male-dominated – which is true. UN Women estimates that only 18% of countries in Asia and the Pacific have a woman minister for the environment ¹. Abe built upon this by suggesting that the decisions that are made may not always be so applicable or friendly to young women and girls…yet young women and girls are often at the forefront of grassroots programmes in the region, and thus have the most in-depth understanding of the problem and its solutions. This is a major gap at decision-making tables.

Another challenge surrounds the lack of disaster preparedness in the region. Recently, Abe supported flood relief efforts in Malaysia, after extreme floods devastated local communities. She recounted how it was terrifying for children who couldn’t understand the situation – they powerlessly observed water rapidly swamping their homes, and were suddenly stranded on their roofs for days without food, water, electricity or internet. Unlike communities from wealthier countries which experience disaster , those in Malaysia are unable to swiftly evacuate or recover. ‘If someone dies right next to them, they have to live with it’, explains Abe. As discussed earlier, young people have boldness and braveness with their advocacy, and can bring lived experiences to negotiations surrounding adaptation, loss and damage, climate technology, and distribution of finance, to name a few.

Young people have boldness and braveness with their advocacy and can bring lived experiences to negotiations

All the young leaders interviewed expressed feelings of nervousness towards COP27, and fears that their advocacy efforts would bear no fruit. Melati divulged that she has these same worries every year, and that the time for inspirational speeches is over – she wants to see young people thoroughly integrated in the decision-making processes and strategy sessions. Garid reminisced on COP26, when we were all told that 2021 was the last year we have to take action before irreversible damage: a terrifying prospect for young people living in areas so vulnerable to climate change impacts. ‘We’re already past the deadline and it’s no time to stall. COP27 is a make-or-break moment: either we create history, or we disappoint humanity,’ he says. He pondered if the world’s leading climate decision-makers at COP will even listen to what he and other young leaders are saying.

Assisted by pressure from civil society, negotiating loss and damage finance has recently been added to the COP27 agenda. Yet, both Abe and Mitzi expressed fears that loss and damage will continue to be side-lined in international climate negotiations, and consequently the devastating losses and damages of youth from East Asia and the Pacific will also be ignored.

UNICEF’s position for COP27 centres around three Ps: protecting all children, prioritizing resources for all children, and preparing all children. I asked the young leaders what they would do to protect, prioritise and prepare…