Capacity Building Session at Conference of Youth (COY18)

In the past years, youth all over the globe have mobilized to raise awareness of the need to take more action to fight climate change. Young people today are fully aware of the challenges the world is facing because of the climate crisis and how climate change impacts can jeopardize their future. But they also acknowledge the opportunities that lay ahead of us. Youth voices and ideas are an integral part of COPs discussions with for example the appointment of the first official Youth Climate Champion at COP27, or with COP28 Parties that agreed in the official COP28 negotiated text to institutionalize the role of the Presidency Youth Climate Champion (YCC) within UNFCCC, and the featured of the COP28 Global Youth Statement. 

1. Why talk about Migration and Climate Change?  Migration and climate change are hot topics in the news, academia, and policy-making circles. But misconceptions abound. In this session, we’ll debunk these myths together and empower you with the latest evidence and tools to advocate for meaningful change. 

2. What is the link between Migration and Climate Change? There is a growing awareness that the adverse impacts of climate change increasingly contribute to reshaping the patterns of migration and displacement, whether it is within countries or across borders. The World Bank projects that, by 2050, without inclusive development and concrete climate action today, over 216 million people could move within their own countries due to the impacts of climate change. The year 2023 registered more than 26.4 million new internal displacements in the context of disasters (IDMC 2024). A figure that does not, however, represent the full picture. The data is not disaggregated as it does not distinguish between youth, children, women, disable people or any other vulnerable groups. Also, it does not take into account people currently on the move due to slow onset processes, such as droughts or sea-level rise, and there are many other different links between migration and climate change. In this session, we will learn more about this important nexus together. 

3. How does this relate to the youth of today? The youth generation of today is heavily concerned by migration dynamics. Youth are the least responsible for climate change and are among the most impacted by its effects. Predictions indicate that many more people could be on the move within their own countries due to the adverse effects of climate change. Considering the demographic weight of children and young people in places where projections are the highest, and the intersection of demographic trends and rapid urbanization in places highly vulnerable to climate change, it is likely that children, youth and the generations to come will be among those people most affected by mobility impacts linked to climate change in the immediate and longer-term future. At the same time, The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change in its 6th report of 2022, highlights that "Regions with more youthful populations – such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central America - are both highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, and reliant on agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and fisheries for livelihoods. (...) In these vulnerable regions, climate change compounds other drivers such as poverty to increase youth out-migration to urban areas or other regions (medium confidence), which can further worsen rural economies." In essence, youth are not responsible for the climate crisis, yet you bear its brunt, and understanding the dynamics of climate migration is vital. 

4. Why a capacity building session on Migration and Climate Change? A one hour capacity-building session provides youth with the tools to familiarize themselves with the latest evidence on migration and climate change. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the latest policy progress, to support youth advocacy work targeted at States to implement their commitments under the Paris Agreement.  

5. Why should I join and what is in it for me? Youth are important agents of change in raising awareness and taking action: They have shaped a space to make their own voices heard to urgently address climate change impacts. You have a stake in the future and the power to influence it! Let’s talk about opportunities and how to elevate your voice in COP discussions.