Conference
Youth Engagement Enables Youth-led Climate Action

As part of its larger youth focus, HSS India supported the organisation of the LCOY India 2024 in Mysore, Karnataka, India from 15 August to 18 August 2024. More than 250 young delegates from across India gathered to ideate, discuss and evolve a youth-led climate policy statement. A total of 12 capacity building sessions were organised as part of the LCOY India 2024. One such session was conducted by HSS India on the theme of “Climate Empowerment: Discovering New Frontiers in Youth Engagement” on 16 August 2024. Around 70 delegates comprising domain experts, thought leaders and students participated in the HSS-hosted interactive session. As part of the group activities, the delegates were divided into five groups which engaged in the five urgent climate change topics (Waste Management and Circular Economy in Rural Area, Air Pollution and Public Health, Waste Management and Circular Economy in Urban Areas, Climate Education and Awareness, Deforestation and Forest Conservation) through solution-oriented methodology to provide innovative solutions to the existing and emerging challenges in those areas. The two-hour interaction provided the youth with knowledge about the current and future climate change situation. It also empowered the youth to make strategic decisions when it comes to taking climate action.  

The LCOY India 2024 brought out the National Youth Statement which not only contributes to the national decision-making, but also feeds into the creation of Global Youth Statement that is subsequently submitted to the Conference of Parties (COP) for its consideration. The National Youth Statement was developed with the inputs from the Indian youth through a consultative process spanning over two months. The input submission was made open for every Indian youth. Consequently, 1832 inputs were received, which were processed into the Draft Statement. The youth delegates of the four-day conference that had representation from across India, societal groups and genders, finalised the Statement which will be shared with the political leaders at the COP 29. 

“My generation has largely failed until now to preserve both justice in the world and to preserve the planet. It is your generation that must make us be accountable to make sure that we don’t betray the future of humankind.”- António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations

For effective climate action, a whole-of-society approach is needed. Youth engagement bears a huge potential to transform the climate policy environment and act as catalyst to localise and fast-track the climate action globally. The annual Local Conferences of Youth (LCOYs) which are hosted nationally by YOUNGO (the youth constituency within the UNFCCC), provide a unique youth-led platform to engage and empower local youth in climate action and decision-making processes.

Youth constitute a sizable population of India: 27.3 percent of its total population are in the age group of 15-29 years. As critical thinkers and change-makers, youth are prime to dealing with critical challenges posed by climate change. Hanns Seidel Stiftung (HSS) India through its local partners has been at the forefront of engaging youth and encouraging them to actively participate in democracy, good governance, and sustainable development. Not only that, HSS India has been supporting other global youth initiatives in climate action. Previously, HSS supported UN Environment Programme’s Tide Turner Plastic Challenge (TTPC), that is the world’s largest youth movement to reduce plastic waste.