International
Youth Climate Delegate Program

Empowering global youth at the frontlines of climate change with first-hand experience and meaningful participation in global climate dialogues throughout 2023.

BACKGROUND

The International Youth Climate Delegate Program (International YCDP) will embed 100 youth within the COP28 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.

This program will be overseen by the COP28 Youth Climate Champion Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, in collaboration with YOUNGO, the Official Children and Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The specific objectives of the program include the following:

  • Ensure that youth views and proposals are fully integrated into global climate policymaking and dialogues.

  • Build youth skills, capacity, knowledge, and networks particularly in the most impacted countries, to engage in climate processes.

  • Provide a model for the COP process on youth inclusion.

Duration of the program

The International YCDP runs from March to December 2023. The timeline for the selection period was as follows:

  • Application opened 15 March and closed on 7 April, 2023

  • YOUNGO facilitated the rolling review of applications throughout April

  • Shortlisted applicants will have a final interview to be conducted between mid - to late April

  • The program will run from June 2023 to December 2023

  • The 100 selected applicants will be announced in June

duration

Opportunities for Delegates

As one of the 100 International Youth Climate Delegates,
you will have the opportunity to:

  • Follow the UNFCCC negotiation
    processes over the year, gathering inputs and shared goals from youth in your country or community.

  • Access capacity-building
    opportunities to learn more about climate diplomacy, negotiations and more.

  • Participate in critical moments in the climate calendar, including the June SB58 UNFCCC Intersessionals in Bonn, Germany, the “Pre-COP” in October and UN Regional Climate Weeks.

  • Participate in the 18th Conference of Youth in the UAE, ahead of COP28, as well as relevant local or regional youth events.

  • Participate in COP28 at Expo City Dubai, UAE from November 30 to December 12.

In addition to the opportunities listed above, a small number of delegates will also be invited to participate in other critical climate change summits, including the SB58 UNFCCC Intersessionals in June 2023 in Bonn, Germany, the “Pre-COP” in October 2023, and the UN Regional Climate Weeks. The selection process for these opportunities will be announced at a later stage.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • The deadline for delegates to submit their applications was 7 April 2023. Applications are now closed.

  • Shortlisted candidates were asked to submit a short essay on a climate-related topic specified by the committee.

  • YOUNGO has been shortlisting and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis. Delegates will be announced in due course.

  • The International YCDP is committed to diversity and gender equality. As the vast majority of negotiations take place in English, the application form was provided in English and candidates with a working knowledge of English or access to interpretation assistance were encouraged to apply. However, the COP28 Presidency will strive to make more opportunities available with interpretation assistance in line with our commitment to advocating for more accessible COP processes The application form was provided in English and youth with a working knowledge of English were encouraged to apply.

  • The program was open to youth everywhere, with strong priority to residents of SIDS and LDCS. We encouraged youth from indigenous communities and other minority youth to apply.

  • Demonstrable commitment to and experience in climate and sustainability fields, including but not limited to education, paid and/or voluntary work, and extracurricular activities.

  • Applications were encouraged from candidates with at least two years of experience and/or education in sectors such as climate, energy, infrastructure, urban development, biodiversity and nature conservation, food and water systems, health, peace and security, education, humanitarian relief, transport, industry, finance, gender equality, and community engagement, among other areas.

  • Priority will be given to candidates who have two years experience of climate policy engagement, and are able to commit to building a clear advocacy plan for COP28.

  • Candidates should ideally be independent from their government COP delegations. In a limited number of cases, participants may be youth representatives within their national government delegations but would still be expected to consult with youth outside of government.

  • Membership of YOUNGO was not a requirement to apply.

THE WINDOW FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CLIMATE DELEGATE PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED

We have started to send out decisions on the IYCDP applications.
Please make sure iycdp@cop28.com is added to your contacts list to avoid missing important communications.