Young delegates take youth climate message to COP31

Two Danish youth delegates are presenting a video calling for young people to have a stronger role in climate decisions at the COP31 summit in Antalya, Turkey, DR reports.

Marie Smedegaard Andersen and Rosa Pedersen helped make the eight-minute film with other young people at Klimatorium, a climate centre in Lemvig. It brings together climate perspectives from young people around the world and says they should be heard and included in climate debates, with a place at the negotiating table.

Both women are among Denmark’s youth representatives at the United Nations summit. Andersen said it was exciting to present the video, while Pedersen described representing young people in the official Danish delegation as a privilege. Andersen said young people could achieve more by organising together.

The video closes with a four-part youth climate manifesto. It calls for young people to be treated as equal partners in climate governance, for COP talks to focus more on action and accountability, for climate policy to respect planetary limits and fairness between generations, and for climate action grounded in equality and human rights.

Representatives from nearly 200 countries are attending COP31 to discuss issues including rising temperatures and how to limit them. The delegates said international climate negotiations can move slowly because countries must reach agreement. Pedersen said young people need to recognise small gains to maintain hope.

Pedersen is due to speak at a reception where other young participants will watch the video. She and Andersen also hope to contribute to the wording of the negotiations. COP31 began on November 9 and runs until November 20.