In an effort to expand youth participation from underrepresented groups in climate change policy-making, the COP28 Presidency UAE announced the selection of 100 delegates for the International Youth Climate Delegate Program to embed within the COP process, with a priority for delegates from countries on the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Indigenous Peoples and other minority groups around the world. The Program is led by the COP28 Youth Climate Champion, Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, in collaboration with YOUNGO, the Official Children and Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC.

The program is the largest initiative to expand youth participation in the international climate processes to date by providing robust capacity-building for 100 young delegates and fully funding them to attend COP28, as well as other milestones in the climate negotiation process establishing a model for youth inclusion for the COP process moving forward.