Local conference of youth on climate change

Last month, RegNet PhD scholar Isabelle Zhu-Maguire hosted a global youth consultation for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Youth constituency at the Australian National University. Participants had the opportunity to meet with UNFCCC negotiators and share their perspectives on climate change. The insights gathered from this consultation will be presented to the Australian Government and the parties at the UN’s climate conference later this year.

Isabelle has been a strong advocate for youth inclusion in climate negotiations. She has attended multiple UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties and has actively participated in the researcher’s contingency of the UNFCCC (RINGO). As part of her PhD research, she is currently investigating the geopolitical causes and implications of climate security agendas in the Pacific region.

Participants of the consultation were young people from across the country including activists, early career academics and young professionals. Overall, there was a significant emphasis on greater inclusion of First Nations and Pacific knowledge in Australia’s climate strategies.  Participants shared their ideas to make a potential Australian-hosted COP31 equitable, impactful and climate conscious. They also underscored the importance of community involvement in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in Australia and across the region.

This consultation is one of several being hosted around Australia by various organizations including UNICEF Australia, PLAN International Australia and Australian Youth for International Climate Engagement (AYFICE) Network.