COP28 – The role of youth, education and skills in driving climate goals

COP28 is fully underway and among this year’s thematic programme, ‘youth, education and skills’ is a key area of focus – and the topic that underpins eight separate events. So while COP27 dedicated a specific day to events along this theme, this year, youth-based events span a number of days of the conference, and take various forms. So, what key issues will these events cover and how are they seeking to drive change in improving climate impacts? We look here at the main line up.

Student Energy Summit

Perhaps the prime event on the youth, education and skills agenda for COP28 is the Student Energy Summit, which promotes itself as “the world’s largest youth-led energy event”. This large-scale summit demonstrates how seriously COP28 is taking the views of future generations, providing an opportunity for over 600 young people to meet key energy sector individuals, and collaborate on various ideas and initiatives to take forward on energy issues and solutions.

The principle is clear – it’s important for young people to have their say on important climate-related issues and for key stakeholders, including the wider business community, to take their views on board. This event gives the perfect opportunity for youth voices to be heard.

In our ‘Tomorrow’s World’ report, which looks at how Generation Z is driving change, we take a deep dive into the attitudes and action of this new generation of employees, consumers and citizens, and how they are becoming instigators of trends that are defining our society. Youth generations provide an opportunity for businesses to renew their thinking. And new ways of thinking will act as a catalyst, and prompt the changes needed to address environmental, social and governance concerns. The Student Energy Summit sets out to refocus minds and highlight the key concerns of youth.

The Leaders’ Event

The Leaders’ Event – the Latent Force of Climate – seeks to establish structures in which the voices of youth and educators can be heard and to solidify their roles in addressing the climate crisis. Youth are vocal about their concerns and about what changes they want to see for their futures. They are aware that they hold the power to drive change as consumers, employees and citizens via their actions. Youth generations are calling for businesses and organisations to be purpose-led and the Leaders’ Event provides a platform for youth to engage with leaders and also vocalise innovative solutions to the climate crisis.

It goes without saying that effective climate solutions require collaboration between youth and leaders. To achieve this collaboration, new partnerships need to be formed and youth voices need to be heard (and crucially acknowledged and listened to). In our ‘ESG: The Investor Perspective‘ report, we acknowledged that while Gen Z may not yet be our investors or shareholders, they are effective in cultivating their indirect influence on investors’ decisions relating to ESG. The Leaders’ Event is an opportunity for these different stakeholder groups to come together and embrace stronger engagement mechanisms to help create positive change.

Building a strong platform for the future

COP28 is being marked as a significant landmark in the fight for climate justice, as it will facilitate the first global stocktake of the targets set in the Paris Agreement, and discussions surrounding the financing of the loss and damage agreement. It is important to also acknowledge that youth and educators are central in achieving success, as they are leading intergenerational discussions. Having events at COP28 that focus on youth, education and skills really highlights the positive steps being taken to ensure that the views of youth are being integrated into global climate policymaking and dialogues in a bid to achieve climate justice.

Keep up with the year’s summit with our latest blog updates, including our recent blog on biodiversity.