Youth Climate Champion Report Charts Progress and Future Pathways

Khorshad Alom

The COP29 Presidency has released the Presidency Youth Climate Champion (PYCC) Summary Report for 2024, showcasing the significant contributions of Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova and her team in advancing youth-driven climate action on the global stage.

Written by youth, for youth, the report emphasizes the central role of young people and children in shaping inclusive, ambitious, and sustainable climate policies. It reflects on the achievements of the PYCC throughout 2024, underscoring how youth leadership has been integrated into the wider UNFCCC process and beyond.

According to the report, the COP29 PYCC team focused on five core priorities:

• Enhancing Youth Participation — Ensuring the meaningful inclusion of young people and children in climate decision-making, particularly within the UNFCCC framework.
• Advancing NDC 3.0 Engagement — Elevating youth and child perspectives in the development and implementation of the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), known as NDC 3.0.
• Bridging the Climate Finance Gap — Advocating for more accessible funding for youth-led and child-sensitive climate initiatives, addressing one of the biggest challenges for young changemakers.
• Integrating Youth Perspectives in Peace and Security — Highlighting the intersection of climate action with peace, climate security, and intergenerational equity.
• Promoting Climate Education — Positioning education as a cornerstone for building youth leadership and empowering the next generation of climate leaders.

The report acknowledges that the 2024 accomplishments build on the foundation laid by the COP28 Youth Climate Champion, while also setting the stage for collaboration with the incoming COP30 YCC. This continuity, it notes, ensures that youth priorities remain central across successive climate summits, reinforcing a multi-COP legacy of youth leadership.

“This report captures the vision, energy, and determination of young people who are leading climate action in every corner of the world,” said COP29 Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova, reflecting on the achievements. “Our work is not only about today—it is about safeguarding the future, ensuring justice, and building resilience for generations to come.”

The release of the PYCC Summary Report represents a milestone in institutionalizing youth participation within the COP process. It also signals the Presidency’s commitment to intergenerational equity, recognizing that young people are not only stakeholders but also essential partners in implementing solutions.

As preparations intensify ahead of COP30 in Brazil, the PYCC team expressed optimism about building on 2024’s achievements, strengthening collaboration across youth networks worldwide, and ensuring that climate negotiations deliver for the most vulnerable.