In 2021, for the first time, FLN sent a delegation of young leaders to the United Nations Framework of the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties.

From 1 - 12 November, 8 young people represented FLN at the biggest climate change conference in history - calling on world leaders to embed youth priorities, and youth participation, in their decisions.

Read on to find out what our amazing young leaders got up to in Glasgow, Scotland! And thank you to our phenomenal young delegates for championing the voice of young people.

Week 1

1 - 6 November 2021

Sophie Daud (FLN CEO), Namir Chowdhury (FLN COP26 Co-Chair and Y20 Head Delegate), Jouja Maamri (FLN COP26 Co-Chair and Y7 Climate delegate) and Duncan Harris (FLN COP26 delegate) represented FLN in Week 1.

The majority of the week was spent familiarising ourselves with the COP layout - the Blue Zone (where formal UNFCCC negotiations and ‘country’ events happened); the Green Zone (for the public, where U.K. organisations hosted events) and of course, Glasgow and the many fringe events.

Key highlights include:

• Sophie speaking on a panel chaired by AstraZeneca at the Extreme Hangout, in partnership with OneYoungWorld talking about the complexity of systems change to tackle the impending global health and climate crisis - and why young people should be in solving it;

• Jouja catching up with Lord Zac Goldsmith, who she presented to during the Y7 this year;

• Sophie participating in a Climate and Careers event with secondary school students from Glasgow, run by Arup, where she and other speakers from the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce spoke about how young people can get involved in climate change;

• Namir speaking on a panel hosted by the Confederation of British Industry at the New York Times Climate Hub to celebrate and champion young people stepping up to save the world;

• Sophie chairing an ‘Intergenerational Inquiry’ event as part of the U.K. Presidency’s Programme of events on Youth and Public Empowerment Day on Friday 5 November; and

• Duncan speaking at the Nature Day Reception, on a panel chaired by supermodel Lily Cole, alongside climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti

Week 2

8 - 12 November 2021

Our Week 2 COP26 delegates Ameer Ibrahim, Mohammed-Hadi Osman, Rosalind Skillen and Emily Vernall lost no time at all in getting started! In fact, they arrived early on Friday 5 November for Youth and Public Empowerment Day and joined thousands of other young people on a Climate Strike March in Glasgow. Throughout the rest of their formal week, they enjoyed:

• Rosalind and Mohammed were spotted with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Democratic member of the U.S House of Representatives from New York’s 14th District on Gender Day;

• The team also spoke with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; John Kerry, the President of the United States’ Climate Envoy; and U.S. Transport Secretary Buttigieg;

• Ameer and Rosalind spoke with COP26 President, Alok Sharma, in the Plenary room;

• Meanwhile the rest of our COP26 delegates also spoke to Ed Miliband, former Labour Party Leader;

• Our team interviewed Nigel Topping, UNFCCC High Level Climate Champion from the U.K.; and if that wasn’t enough…

• All four members of the team took part in a Live Panel on ‘Youth Engagement: Mapping the Present and Owning our Future’ in collaboration with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

What next?

Thank you to our incredible COP26 delegates! Your energy, enthusiasm and commitment to youth participation and leadership was incredible.

The delegates are hard at work writing up a report on the state of youth participation at COPs… watch this space for more information coming soon!