PRESS CONFERENCE: UNICEF child and youth climate advocates at COP29

BAKU, Azerbaijan, 16 November 2024 – As leaders gather at COP29, climate crises continue to wreak havoc on children’s lives and wellbeing worldwide. Across the globe, climate shocks are affecting children’s health and development, safety, and their access to essential services. The world is simply not doing enough to protect children. 

Child and youth climate advocates from around the world are at COP29 with UNICEF to demand that children’s needs, rights and perspectives are recognised in climate policy, action, and investment. From participating in the negotiations, to addressing world leaders at high-level events, they are here, at COP29 to share their stories, including how climate change has directly impacted their lives and communities, and their hopes for urgent action to protect all children and young people.

What: Press conference moderated by, and featuring, child and youth climate advocates

Date: Monday 18^th November

Time: 12:30 – 13:00

Location: Press Conference room: Karabakh, Area D

Who: Child and youth climate advocates

Moderator: Youth climate advocate, Francisco

10-year-old Georgina from Tanzania

Georgina’s journey as an environmental advocate began at just seven years old, inspired by the sight of polluted beaches and wanting to help clean them up. She has since authored three books on environmental literacy and shared her campaigning and ideas with high-level figures such as the President of Tanzania. Earlier this year, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for climate action and education.

14-year-old Zunaira from Pakistan

In the last few months, devastating monsoon floods and record-breaking toxic smog across Pakistan have disrupted children’s education, health, and wellbeing. Living in Balochistan in Pakistan, Zunaira has witnessed the devastating impacts of climate change and is taking action. She has conducted award-winning research on the impact of the 2022 floods in Pakistan, triggered by climate change, and is also helping to amplify the voices of countless girls affected by the crisis in her community.

15-year-old Francisco from Latin America and the Caribbean 

Francisco will moderate the panel. He is dedicated to driving climate action, climate justice and children's rights. In June this year, he was the first child to ever speak at a mandated dialogue within the UNFCCC process at the Expert Dialogue on Children at SB60 in Bonn. He has served as a Child Advisor for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) for General Comment 26.

16-year old Rasul from Azerbaijan

Rasul is a passionate Youth Climate Envoy from Azerbaijan, advocating for climate action and sustainability from a young age. He has led projects on recycling, water conservation, and sustainable practices. Growing up by the Caspian Sea, he has witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change on its fragile ecosystem and is dedicated to promoting solutions like wastewater reuse to address water scarcity challenges.

17-year-old Catarina from Brazil

An avid surfer from an early age, Catarina witnessed firsthand the environmental changes such as water pollution and the degradation of coral reefs in her native Brazil. Catarina has roots in the Pataxó Hãhãhãe in Brazil and now lives in Salvador. When she was just 12, she submitted a petition to the UN, highlighting the failures of various countries in addressing climate change, and has since played a pivotal role in influencing local policies, such as protecting forests.

20-year-old Ketsia from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Earlier this year, the Congo River in Kinshasa reached its highest levels in 60 years as a result of severe rains. Ketsia’s neighbourhood was badly affected leaving roads only navigable by canoe. As flood waters receded, Ketsia noticed huge amounts of plastic debris and damage. She made a viral social media video demanding adult action which resulted in the Mayor of Kinshasa mobilising teams to remove the debris and repair schools.

22-year-old Michael from Sierra Leone

Hailing from a farming family, Michael has watched his family’s livelihood struggle due to extreme climate conditions, including severe flooding. Looking for a solution, when he was just 18, Michael developed a composting technique to save the crops. He has since trained many communities in climate-smart practices. As a UNICEF youth climate advocate, Michael campaigned to integrate climate change into Sierra Leone’s national curriculum and secured government support for youth climate action.

**Open to media accredited at COP29 and webcast via UNFCCC.**

At COP29, UNICEF is calling for Parties to build on the Expert Dialogue on the disproportionate impact of climate change on children which took place at SB60, and commit to responding to the disproportionate impact of climate change on children, both in recognising this in the negotiated outcomes and through ensuring a dramatic increase in climate finance to protect children.