Climate Action
Listen Up! Youth Demands at COP30
November 22, 2025
Delegates are currently gathering in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, the 30th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These annual meetings are intended to allow countries, non-governmental organizations, and other parties to review progress on climate change mitigation and negotiating agreements on how to address climate change.
It is estimated that Brazil hosts 15-20% of the world’s biodiversity, making it the most biodiverse country in the world. Called the “gateway to the Amazon,” hosting COP30 in Belém underscores the urgency of forest and biodiversity protection, but it also serves as a focal point for climate activists movements. Youth have a deep stake in these talks, as their generation will bear the most severe impacts of delayed climate action.
Around the world, people under 30 make up a majority of the population in many developing nations. These countries are often the most vulnerable to climate change impacts like extreme weather, drought, and resource scarcity. Young people are leading grassroots action, demanding accountability from governments and corporations, and developing innovative solutions that are critical for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
We marched by the thousands not because we wanted to change government and businesses, not because we wanted empowerment and we wanted community. We marched because every single step represented a possibility that we could get a better future.
Xiye Bastida, Mexican climate activist
The global youth climate movement, energized by figures like Greta Thunberg and movements like Fridays for Future, has transformed from street protests into a powerful political presence.
Our own Climate Education Coalition, has seen youth activists from all over the world band together and work tirelessly to get climate education into every school curriculum. Their campaigning is working. There are now 152 nations, 60 using similar EDO model language, who have embraced some form of climate education in their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submissions for COP30.
As climate change continues to accelerate and human activities further contribute to rising temperatures, including youth voices in annual climate conferences is essential for securing long-term, equitable climate commitments.
COP30 and Youth Voices
Youth participation at COPs has grown significantly since the first meeting in 1995. While initially limited to side events and protests, young people now form dedicated delegations like the European Youth Forum. These youth groups also have a formalized constituency within the UNFCCC known as YOUNGO (Youth Non-Governmental Organizations).
COP30 is expected to feature an unprecedented level of youth involvement. Brazilian civil society, which has strong youth engagement, is working to ensure young activists are integrated into the processes.
The COP30 Presidency has also signaled a commitment to intergenerational dialogue. The conference is set to include dedicated youth programs intended to bring their perspectives directly into policy discussions. This shifts from viewing youth as observers to recognizing them as essential contributors to policy.
Key Agendas and Demands
With this year’s COP anticipated to have record youth participation, how will these youths contribute to negotiations surrounding climate change adaptation and mitigation?
Youth groups at COP30 are uniting around several critical demands. A recent youth protest at COP30 focused on securing robust financing for the Loss and Damage Fund, which helps climate-vulnerable nations recover from disasters, and ensuring that climate policies do not burden the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Youth movements are also supporting Indigenous leaders at COP30, recognizing that the protection of the Amazon, a key focus of COP30, requires traditional knowledge and the defense of Indigenous land rights.
Increasingly the protection of forests is becoming a hot button issue for both youth and Indigenous communities. If you want to learn more about why forests matter, please watch our brand new series UNDERREPORTED EARTH – “TREE TALES”– IG TRAIL.
In this series, Tracy McVeigh from The Guardian speaks with three top investigative journalists about their groundbreaking reporting: Elisangela Mendonça uncovers how the Amazon rainforest is being threatened by the collagen industry. Josephine Moulds takes us into the Congo Basin, where fossil fuel auctions are endangering one of the world’s most vital forest ecosystems. Ana Bottallo travels deep into the Amazonian mangroves to witness how local communities fought to have their voices heard. The episodes went live on November 17/18th/19th across EARTHDAY.ORG social media, including on Facebook: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3 and YouTube: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3.
Youth activists are also pushing for all long-term national and international commitments to be assessed by their impact on future generations. Youth groups are also advocating for investments in education and vocational training, to better prepare them for the shift to a rapidly growing green economy.
Our future is being stolen from us by the inaction of adults today. And we all have a responsibility to act and demand that our governments do more. What we do now matters.
Ruby Rodgers, Australian youth climate activist
What’s Next for COP30?
The increased presence of youth movements at COP30 will be essential to maintain pressure on negotiators to deliver ambitious outcomes. The energy and moral clarity of the youth movement are vital for bridging the gap between current government commitments and the action required by climate science.
As COP30 negotiations unfold over the coming week, consider supporting youth-focused initiatives like EARTHDAY.ORG’s Climate Education Coalition to help amplify the demands of the next generation of climate leaders.
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