Call for applications
Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue (APYCD)
Call for Applications: Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue (APYCD)
How to apply?
Applicants must complete an online application form and submit all requested information before July 26th 2026 for Pacific Island nation applicants and 30th July 2026 for Australia and New Zealand applicants.
Click here if you are a Pacific Island Nation applicant
Click here if you are a resident of Australia or New Zealand
The application form includes your basic information, the opportunity to tell us who you are, your relevant experience, and why you want to participate in the Dialogue. There are 2 video questions, which you will need to record a simple video of you answering (reasonable adjustments for persons with disabilities available). These can be prerecorded and uploaded into the application form.
We invite applications for the Pre-COP31 Australia and Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue (Pre-COP31 APYCD), a regional platform bringing together young people from across Australia, the Pacific Island, New Zealand and beyond to exchange perspectives, strengthen collaboration, build leadership capacities and collectively define children and young people priorities and recommendations ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31).
About the Dialogue
This October, over 60 young people aged 14–29 from across the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond will gather in Nadi, Fiji for a three-day dialogue on climate change. The Pre-COP31 APYCD aims to create a meaningful space for adolescents and youth to engage in climate change issues affecting their communities, share experiences and solutions, and contribute to regional and global climate action and discussions.
The event is happening just before the Pacific Pre-COP31 meeting, which means the discussions and decisions here will feed directly into the conversations that world leaders will be having about the climate crisis. This dialogue is designed by and for young people, with participants’ ideas, experiences, and priorities shaping what governments and negotiators take into those formal meetings, all the way through to COP31.
The Pre-COP31 APYCD is organized by UNICEF, the Governments of Fiji and the Government of Australia in partnership with the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) and the Pacific Youth Council (PYC). Additional partners include the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Pacific Community (SPC), and Pacific Disability Forum (PDF).
What will you do?
Selected participants will join a three-day regional dialogue in Nadi, Fiji, from 1–3 October 2026. The Dialogue will provide an opportunity to exchange experiences, develop recommendations, strengthen skills, and engage with peers and key stakeholders ahead of Pre-COP31 and COP31.
As a participant in the Pre-COP31 APYCD you will:
- Share your perspectives, experiences and recommendations on climate action, helping shape key youth messages to influence Pre-COP31 and COP31 discussions.
- Collaborate with and learn from a diverse group of young people from across Australia, the Pacific and beyond.
- Build connections with youth leaders, networks and partners to strengthen collaboration and sustain engagement beyond the Dialogue.
- Strengthen your knowledge and skills in climate policy, advocacy, leadership and negotiation through interactive discussions and learning opportunities.
- Expand your networks and gain practical experience to support ongoing engagement in climate action.
- Engage with decision-makers, negotiators and other influential stakeholders to elevate youth priorities in regional and international climate processes
- Collaborate with regional and international organizations, UN agencies, civil society and other stakeholders to advance climate action with and for children and young people
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive Dialogue that reflects the rich cultural, geographic, and social diversity of Australia and the Pacific. We strongly encourage applications from adolescents, young women, Indigenous youth and First Nations, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ youth, and young people from remote and underserved communities.
Who can apply?
You need to be:
- Between 14–29 years of age at the time of the event (1-3 October 2026).
- A resident of any of the following: Australia; Cook Islands; Fiji; Federated States of Micronesia; Kiribati; Republic of the Marshall Islands; Nauru; Niue; New Zealand; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa, Solomon Islands; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu.
- Available to participate in person in Nadi, Fiji, from 1–3 October 2026. Due to flight schedules and limited connectivity from some locations, some participants may be required to travel earlier or departure later, resulting in additional days.
- Able to communicate and understand English (or any form of sign language, interpretation will be included) to actively participate in discussions and group work during the Dialogue.
Selection criteria
We are looking for young people who are actively engaged in climate action and passionate about driving change. Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Commitment and passion for climate and environment action: you have a clear interest in climate change and environmental issues, shown through your actions, learning, or lived experience.
- Active involvement in climate-related work or initiatives: you have experience participating in or contributing to climate-related activities at any level — school, community, province, national, regional, or international.
- Commitment to the climate movement or collective voice: you are part of, or actively connected to, a youth group, organization, network, school initiative, or community platform, and are able to share perspectives that reflect wider children and youth experiences, not only your own.
- Leadership and ability to take initiative: you take action, contribute ideas, and help things happen in your space or community, even in small or emerging ways.
- Ability to engage and work with others: you can express your views clearly, listen to others, and work with different people and perspectives in collaborative spaces.
What will be provided?
Travel, accommodation, meals, and other costs associated with participation (including for chaperones for under 18s) in the Pre-COP31 APYCD 2026 in Fiji will be covered by UNICEF directly. No member will be required to pay costs upfront or seek reimbursement.
Note that travel insurance (including medical coverage) will not be provided by the organizers. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their own travel insurance. This is strongly recommended for the duration of travel and participation in the Dialogue.
Travel insurance typically covers unforeseen events such as medical emergencies, accidents, travel disruptions, or loss of belongings while travelling internationally. Participants are encouraged to obtain appropriate coverage prior to travel and may wish to explore basic options (e.g. World Nomads) or other providers to understand associated costs and coverage options.
The organizers and UNICEF will not accept responsibility for any costs, losses, or incidents that may arise in relation to participants’ travel insurance coverage or lack thereof.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the details of the event, please contact: Isaac McGirr [email protected] or Zoraya El Raiss Cordero [email protected]
Safeguarding: The UNICEF Pacific focal point for Safeguarding is Michelle Muller. If you have any worries, concerns or need to report a concern, you can contact Michelle at [email protected].
Code of Conduct: Participants will be required to agree and sign the Code of Conduct for this event. The code of conduct applies to all participants during their participation at the event and in any online communications and social media use. A mandatory safeguarding briefing and orientation on the Code of Conduct will be provided to all participants prior to the event.
We look forward to receiving your application and working together to strengthen youth leadership for climate action across Australia and the Pacific.