Youth leaders discuss global expectations for COP16

In a recent webinar titled "COP16: Global Youth Expectations and Opportunities," youth organization leaders emphasized the importance of inclusive participation in decision-making processes related to environmental issues.

According to Report, they expressed their expectations for the upcoming UN Conference of the Parties on Desertification (COP16), focusing on the need for education, reporting, and cooperation to empower youth in sustainable development.

The event was organized by the Center for Sustainable Development and Climate at Prince Sultan University and Vision for Sustainable Africa (VSA), UNDP - Saudi Arabia, with support from Report Agency and other organizations. Professor Mohammad Nurunnabi, head of VSA and the Center for Sustainable Development, moderated the session, which featured youth leaders from various countries, including Linda Haddad (UNDP), Lydia Esther Aviles (AELSTONE, Belgium), Tommy Thomas (VSA, Sierra Leone), and Delmou Iris Ramirez (NoHarm, USA).

Linda Haddad noted that approximately 100 million hectares of soil are lost each year, significantly impacting climate and biodiversity. To achieve the Rio Convention goals of limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius, conserving 30% of land and sea by 2030, and achieving land degradation neutrality, funding for nature-based solutions must nearly triple from the current $200 billion to around $542 billion per year by 2030, reaching $737 billion by 2050.

"An estimated 1 billion young people under the age of 25 live in regions directly dependent on land and natural resources for work and livelihoods," Haddad added.

Professor Nurunnabi emphasized that the world's 1.2 billion young people aged 15-24 play a crucial role in combating climate change and must actively participate in decision-making to build a sustainable future.

Youth representatives acknowledged that immediate results in solving environmental problems are not possible, as nature requires time to recover. However, this can be disappointing. Among the challenges faced by youth communities, a lack of education in sustainable land management and limited opportunities for involvement in decision-making processes were mentioned.

Youth leaders also stressed the importance of using technology for sustainable practices and empowerment through education. They called for equal participation of youth of all genders in developing solutions that reflect the needs of future generations.

The event was organized in collaboration with the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UNESCO, Oxford Impact Group, and FBN.