COP 28: It is important that joint initiatives, aimed at building the capacity of youth as future leaders and driving forces of the climate regime, are undertaken, he added
Emphasising the pivotal role of youth as "agents of change," Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav urged nations to prioritise young people in addressing the climate crisis. Speaking at the launch of the Green Rising initiative, a collaboration between India and UNICEF at COP28, Yadav underscored the importance of placing young individuals at the forefront of climate solutions.
The Green Rising Global Initiative aims to engage at least 10 million children in contributing to ambitious National Action Plans on Climate Change. Minister Yadav acknowledged that while the youth are the most vulnerable to climate change's impacts, they are also valuable contributors to climate action.
Highlighting the youth's role as innovators, entrepreneurs, and environmentally conscious individuals, Yadav stressed their capacity to drive positive change. He noted that today's youth leverage education, science, and technology to intensify efforts towards climate action and compel governments worldwide to prioritise sustainability in governance.
Yadav emphasised the responsibility to equip youth with the knowledge and skills necessary for driving change, emphasising the need for a balanced understanding of technology's role in addressing the crisis. He reiterated India's commitment to "saving ecology and driving the economy" and welcomed the global initiative as a crucial step towards building the capacity of youth as future leaders in the climate regime.
Kevin Frey, CEO of Generation Unlimited, echoed the sentiment, proposing proactive measures such as scaling up climate education, promoting green skills, fostering job opportunities and entrepreneurship, and ensuring the meaningful participation of children and youth.
The Green Rising initiative, launched at the RewirEd Summit during the first-ever COP Youth, Children, Education, and Skills Day, aims to mobilise world leaders to support children- and youth-led grassroots climate action. It seeks to unite leaders across sectors at COP28, spotlight commitments to integrate children and youth as partners, influence policymakers towards a more youth-centric perspective, and encourage organisations to contribute resources and expertise.
Accompanying Minister Yadav at the launch were Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt, and Dr. Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment, Republic of Rwanda. The initiative marks a significant step towards harnessing the potential of young minds to address the global climate crisis.