Our priority this year, following our previous participation in COP26 and COP27 is to focus on intergenerational equity and strengthen the implementation of Articles 51 and 55 of the Sharm el Sheikh Implementation Plan, through our meaningful participation at COP28.

During COP27 we organized a networking session in the Children and Youth Pavilion regarding intergenerational equity with a negotiator guest speaker, who provided us with some tips we would like to implement.

Therefore, we aim to: 

• 🟢 Promote youth demands in coalition with other European youth NGOs (with whom we have already co-produced 2 policy position papers, for COP27 and COP28, respectively) and create constructive dialogue with the EU Delegation; 
• 🟢 Continue to act as a supportive and empowering force for youth by enabling collective youth advocacy at COP28 as part of NEYCA; 
• 🟢 Advocate for genuine and effective youth participation in the UNFCCC process, building upon YEE’s engagement at COP27, by ensuring that youth perspectives are represented in all thematic areas, in addition to youth participation and climate education;
• 🟢 Advocate for the elevation of Art 55 of the Sharm el Sheikh Implementation Plan to the level of mandatory requirement and for its effective implementation and enforcement at international, regional, and national levels through the establishment of youth advisory bodies, a youth test, or similar mechanisms; 
• 🟢 Advocate for the UNFCCC and state parties to guarantee broad access and safe conditions for civil society participation in UNFCCC processes. 

Based on the previous 1/CP.27 Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan, paragraph 16 “including accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”, we anticipate that in the peak of the climate crisis we are living in, we have no time phase down rather than to demand a phase-out all fossil fuel activities from developed countries and finally set their economies on a trajectory compatible with 1.5°C – rather than pursuing a source-by-source approach – while also assisting developing nations to progressively phase out their share of fossil-based emissions. 

We aim to build upon our COP27 policy position paper on fossil fuel phase-out by: 

• 🟢Advocating for stronger and more clear wording on the COP28 decision, urging States to commit to phase out of all fossil fuel activities.

• 🟢 Avoiding uncertainties in the final COP agreement by advocating against the use of qualifying language (‘unabated’, ‘phase down’, etc.); 
• 🟢 Advocating for the ratification of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty by all UNFCCC members ; 
• 🟢 Demanding stricter regulations of the financial sector to deter private investments towards fossil fuels, facilitate investment in low-carbon technologies, and improve overall transparency of the sector. 
• 🟢 Commit to a global action plan towards a fair transition, by accelerating the funds towards renewable energy
• 🟢 Ensuring the just transition at national and international scales by calling upon states to:
  • ▫️Carry out impact assessment of green policies to ensure vulnerable populations are not disproportionately affected; and 
  • ▫️Respect the fundamental principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) by strengthening international solidarity and assisting nations of the global south to engage in phasing out fossil fuels.

The agreement on the establishment of a Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund at COP27 was a breakthrough moment in international climate negotiations. In order to ensure that this mechanism has real impacts on the ground, it is essential that the operationalisation of the Fund occurs in a timely and equitable manner, in line with the objectives of climate justice and in recognition of the human rights in jeopardy as a result of the adverse effects of climate change already unfolding. 

Through our participation at COP28, we aim to: 

• 🟢 Advocate for the effective operationalisation of the L&D Fund in a form that does not replicate existing power structures, and takes a holistic approach – for instance, by incorporating debt relief and consisting of grants – that does not further entrench developing countries in debt; 
• 🟢 Advocate for increased transparency in the L&D Fund; 
• 🟢 Advocate for the operationalization of a fund that meets the needs of communities at the frontlines of the climate crisis — including youth and children — and that promotes and protects human rights (CIEL human rights principles);
• 🟢 Advocate for developed countries, including the EU, to contribute to the L&D Fund with new and additional funds, and not merely relabeled development funds already in existence; 
• 🟢 Advocate for the L&D Fund to be publicly funded, with private contributions playing only an additional supporting role.

Ninety-nine per cent of the world’s population breathes air that fails to meet WHO guidelines. The main drivers of air pollution are also sources of greenhouse gases, the largest culprit being the combustion of fossil fuels. Unlike climate policy, environmental policies such as air quality often do not attract the same level of public attention, and consequently, are often not as highly prioritised by States. However, according to the IPCC AR6 report, it is highlighted that clean air action will improve global public health to such a degree that it will pay for itself or even be cost-negative. Taking into consideration the location of this COP28 and its fossil fuel strategy, it is crucial momentum to advocate for concrete steps towards reducing air pollution and adopting measures which would benefit the climate, public health and economies. 

Through our participation at COP28, we aim to: 

• 🟢 Raise awareness of the interlinkage between air pollution and health hazards;
• 🟢 Urge parties to the UNFCCC to adopt measures which would align with WHO Global air quality guidelines (AQG);
• 🟢 Advocate for comprehensive air quality monitoring to demonstrate progress towards WHO Air Quality Guideline levels.