Y4C: The first edition
The first edition of Youth 4 COP was a remarkable success, engaging over 1,100 youth across 8 South Asian countries through expert-led sessions, workshops, and dynamic engagement platforms. With guidance from experienced speakers, participants gained negotiation skills and climate knowledge, enabling them to contribute to COP 29—both in person and via social media reporting, amplifying youth voices in global climate discussions. Building on the success of the first edition, The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia proudly launches the second edition of Youth 4 COP, reaffirming its commitment to empowering young climate leaders. This initiative equips participants with a deep understanding of COP processes, helping them effectively articulate ideas, concerns, and solutions, while navigating the complexities of climate negotiations. Through capacity-building workshops, expert-led sessions, and networking opportunities, Youth 4 COP continues to foster leadership and advocacy, preparing youth to take an active role in global climate dialogues. ​In collaboration with like-minded partners, the program expands its reach and engagement strategies, ensuring youth voices remain at the forefront of climate policy-making. With structured training and a growing network, Youth 4 COP empowers young changemakers to drive meaningful climate action, shaping a more sustainable future.
Youth 4 COP in Numbers
250+
Social media posts
300+
Youth
Trained
20+
HEIs
participated
500+
Youth
Sensitised
25+
Hours of Virtual Training
15+
Country Representation
18+
Expert
Speakers
1100+
Total Registrations
Youth Voices at COP29
Mr. Achintya Ghosal from partner organization IYCN highlighted the Youth 4 COP initiative at COP 29, Baku, Azerbaijan. He emphasized the vital role of youth in advocating for climate justice, participating in negotiations, and influencing decision-making from the Global South.
Shaik Imran Hussain Choudhary, our Youth 4 COP achiever, attended COP 29 to amplify youth voices for climate action. Passionate about sustainable agriculture and food security in India, he highlighted concerns about the nation's food security amidst the escalating climate crisis.
COUNTDOWN TO #COP29
Roadmap, Engagement and Expectations
On 7th November, "COUNTDOWN TO #COP29: Roadmap, Engagement, and Expectations" webinar brought Youth 4 COP participants insights on COP 29’s roadmap. Moderated by Mr. Bhavesh Swami, with speakers Mr. Aditya Pundir from The Climate Reality India & South Asia, and Mr. Sanjay Vashisht from CANSA, the session emphasized youth involvement from the Global South, focusing on climate finance and bridging global divides. Key points included NDCs, the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), and social media strategies. Dr. Vivek Trivedi offered virtual badges, and Ms. Saumya provided guidelines to engage in COP 29’s campaigns.
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Y4C Sessions
Under the Capacity Building Workshop of Youth 4 COP, we have organized six online learning sessions covering a wide range of topics. These topics include the Historical Background on COP, Discussions and Workshops related to COP, Annual Climate Action Agendas, Important Decisions and Protocols, a detailed Understanding of the Paris Agreement, and the Evolution of Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Loss and Damage. Additional subjects include Climate Finance, Global Stocktake, Climate Politics, Youth and Gender in Climate Action, Nature-based Solutions, Media and Reporting at COP, the Negotiation Process at COP, and Experiences at COP. To enhance participants' understanding, various expert speakers will lead interactive sessions using engaging presentations. Participants will also receive assignments based on the session content for further assessment and evaluation.
The introductory session of the Youth for COP focused on the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The session featured valuable insights from the speakers, Mr. Vikrant Srivastava, Co-Founder of Lead4Earth, and Ms. Jhalak Aggarwal, Programme Associate at CEEW, The Council.
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In this session, key elements of COP, the role of UNFCCC, and crucial steps needed to advance global climate action, aiming to empower young leaders to engage in addressing climate change and understanding international climate policies, were covered.
The second session of the Youth 4 COP series, moderated by Mr. Achintya from IYCN, featured Mr. Prayank Jain and Dr. Kamna Sachdeva. The session focused on UNFCCC processes and the Paris Agreement, emphasizing international climate negotiations and the impact of local policies.
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Mr. Jain explained key elements like adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage, stressing the need for increased ambition by 2050. Dr. Kamna Sachdeva discussed climate mitigation strategies, covering carbon intensity and sustainable practices. She highlighted the importance of inclusive growth and updated NDCs.
The third Youth4COP session discussed the Evolution of Loss & Damage, Adaptation, and Climate Finance, stressing their importance in policy-making. The session highlighted the urgency of addressing Loss & Damage due to unprecedented climate impacts and the critical role of climate finance.
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Guest speakers Ritu Bharadwaj, Director of Climate Resilience at IIED, and Vivek Sen, Acting India Director of the Climate Policy Initiative, emphasized the need to integrate these issues into policy frameworks to enhance resilience and promote sustainable development.
The fourth session of Youth4COP, moderated by Mr. Bhavesh Swami from The Climate Reality Project, featured Mr. Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director at the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, and Mr. Pradeep Bhattarai from WWF Nepal. This session enriched participants' understanding of the Global Stocktake and climate justice, highlighting the roles of finance, technology, and capacity-building.
Mr. Singh discussed climate justice in South Asia, the effects of rising temperatures, and the disparity between rich and poor countries. Mr. Bhattarai explained the Global Stocktake (GST), its objectives, and the importance of the Paris Agreement and Enhanced Transparency Framework.
The fifth session of Youth for COP, led by
Ms. Niharika from the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN), featured three distinguished speakers:
Ms. Meenal Pahuja, NbS Expert at IUCN India;
Dr. Supriya Singh Bhatla, Director of Carbon Projects at Earthbanc; and Ms. Jayashree Nandi, Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times.
This session provided an insightful exploration into the critical relationship between Gender and Climate Action, addressing impacts, challenges, and solutions. It also highlighted the potential of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and emphasized the pivotal role of Media and Reporting in amplifying voices and perspectives from the Global South in COP processes and negotiations.
Youth 4COP Session 6, moderated by Mr. Achintya, featured guest speakers Rituraj Phukan, National Coordinator of The Climate Project Foundation, and Ayadi Mishra, Advisory Board Member of the UN Decade and IYCN.
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The session focused on the COP negotiation process and youth participation. Mr. Phukan discussed the realities of COPs, youth involvement in UN bodies, and indigenous youth representation. Ms. Mishra shared her experiences at COPs and emphasized capacity-building for young leaders. Both speakers answered participant questions, guiding them on climate action and UN engagement.
The Youth 4 COP “Workshop on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) & Youth Engagement” was a valuable session moderated by Mr. Achintya from IYCN, with guest speaker Mr. Amanullah Porag, South Asia Mobilisations Coordinator at 350.org and Co-Contact Point for the NDCs Working Group of YOUNGO, from Bangladesh. The session began with an interactive Mentimeter activity, exploring National Action Plans, youth satisfaction, and their perspectives on climate action. Mr. Porag’s presentation on NDCs covered their role in achieving national climate goals, the ratchet mechanism, mitigation targets, financing, and the global stocktake. He emphasized the vital role of youth in ensuring accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in climate action.
The second Youth4COP workshop, "UNFCCC COP Negotiations 101," was moderated by Dr. Sakshi Grover and featured Ms. Heeta Lakhani, a climate educator and co-founder of the Youth Negotiators Academy. Ms. Lakhani provided a comprehensive overview of UNFCCC processes, including key bodies like COP, CMP, and CMA, and explained the roles of SBI and SBSTA. She shared practical tips for youth engagement and clarified delegate badge distinctions. The session was interactive, allowing participants to ask questions. It concluded with announcements on upcoming assignments and workshops, enriching participants' understanding of COP negotiations.
On October 5, Youth for COP held Workshop 3, moderated by Mr. Achintya Ghosal, with Ms. Alka Tomar as the guest speaker. Starting with a Mentimeter activity to gauge participants’ understanding of climate change, COP, and media’s role, Ms. Tomar discussed COP29’s expected outcomes, goals, and effective media tools. She outlined avenues for youth engagement, including social media, blogs, YouTube, and UNFCCC events, emphasizing preparation and impact tracking. Following her presentation, Ms. Tomar answered participants' questions, and Mr. Achintya concluded by thanking all involved for a successful workshop.
