Baku: The ‘Youth-led Climate Forum’ was held as part of the Fourth Climate Week (CW4) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, APA reports. The event discussed the role of young people in combating climate change, their involvement in decision-making processes, and the transformation of climate commitments into tangible results.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, COP31 Youth Climate Champion Sally Higgins emphasized that young people play a key role in combating climate change. Higgins stressed that success in the climate field should be measured not only by commitments made but also by tangible results achieved. She noted that positioning COP31 as a ‘COP for the future’ creates an important opportunity to enhance the role of young people in climate policy. Highlighting the demographic significance, she stated, ‘No climate strategy can succeed without young people. Because more than half of the world’s population is under the age of 35. We are the largest generation in history and have the greatest human potential to accelerate climate action.’
Azerbaijan’s Presidential Representative on Climate Issues and COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev stated that the role of young people in climate action is not limited to the future and that their contribution is already significant today. Babayev urged young people to properly assess the opportunities before them, emphasizing, ‘Be aware of the opportunities before you. Your knowledge, ideas, and choices will play an important role in shaping the world in the future.’ He noted that important decisions being made today will directly affect the future of young people, adding, ‘We are negotiating climate agreements, setting policies, and making investment decisions. Ultimately, you will inherit the world shaped by these decisions.’
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev noted that young people, in addition to being the future of every country, are one of the main driving forces of progress. They bring knowledge, innovation, and creative energy to society. The deputy foreign minister pointed out that although children and young people are among the groups that contribute the least to climate change, they are among those most affected by its impacts. He asserted, ‘Young people are not only those who will live with the consequences of the decisions we make today. They are already participating in shaping solutions, driving innovation, and calling for more ambitious climate action.’ Rafiyev emphasized the importance of providing young people with knowledge, skills, and opportunities for meaningful participation in decision-making processes to build a sustainable, low-carbon, and climate-resilient future.