COP31 youth pavilion opens in Antalya for fifth consecutive year

The COP31 youth pavilion has opened in Antalya at the United Nations climate change conference, giving children and young people a place to put forward their priorities. This is the fifth successive year that the Children and Youth Pavilion has operated at the official summit.

According to the report, it is the conference's only space run entirely by young people. Its activities bring them into contact with policymakers and allow participants to share ideas while pressing for more ambitious climate action.

The opening brought together representatives of organisations working with young people and climate issues. UNICEF, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation and the British Council were represented at the ceremony.

Sally Higgins and Marcele Oliveira also attended. They are the Presidency Youth Climate Champions for COP31 and COP30 respectively.

Young spokespeople bring priorities into discussions

Ten young spokespeople represent the pavilion, with ages ranging from 14 to 31. They contribute different experiences and areas of knowledge to conversations about the subjects under negotiation.

Their involvement is intended to keep the concerns of children and young people visible as the conference proceeds. The COP31 youth pavilion provides a setting for those contributions alongside exchanges with policymakers.

Samoan climate activist Brianna Fruean used the opening event to underline why young people should participate in negotiations. She said they needed a role in decisions whose implementation would later fall to them.

Fruean linked participation in the talks with responsibility for carrying out the commitments being made. Her remarks stressed that young people would be the ones expected to translate present promises into future action.

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