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The Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has pledged the Group’s support for efforts to strengthen the participation of children and young people in global climate change negotiations.
He says Africa must be intentional about creating opportunities for children to contribute to climate policy discussions, given their vulnerability to the growing impacts of climate change.
Nana Dr. Amoah made the commitment during an engagement with youth and children’s representatives at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
He explained that the initiative to involve children more meaningfully in climate negotiations began at COP28 in Dubai, where discussions were initiated on how to integrate their perspectives into the global climate process.
He said the engagement was necessary because children were increasingly exposed to climate hazards, including changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and flooding.
Studies, he noted, had highlighted the widespread exposure of African children to climate-related hazards, underscoring the urgency of giving them a voice in decisions that would shape their future.
“So it tells you that we shouldn’t be taking these things for granted,” he stressed.
The AGN Chair said the Group considered the initiative important and was committed to supporting ongoing consultations involving the climate conference leadership in Türkiye and Australia to strengthen children’s engagement in the negotiations.
He recalled the AGN’s previous support for efforts to secure language recognising children’s participation in the climate process, including dialogues held in Bonn.
Nana Dr. Amoah believes Africa’s demographic profile makes the issue particularly important, noting that the continent’s median age is approximately 19 years.
He identified the Just Transition work programme, the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) agenda and discussions on the COP cover decision as potential avenues for incorporating children’s and youth-related concerns into the negotiations.
“We need to be very careful and then intentional. Where can we have a conversation of children in this space?” he said, highlighting the need to identify specific negotiation tracks through which their concerns could be advanced.
He added that the AGN had assured the young representatives of its commitment to supporting the initiative and working to advance their interests through the negotiations.
The engagement was warmly received by the youth representatives, who described the presence and support of the African negotiating bloc as an important source of encouragement.
One of the youth leaders expressed appreciation for the AGN Chair’s continued commitment to the issue.
“I can’t tell you how much your support and commitment means – as you said, you have been accompanying this issue from the very start with the expert dialogue, and we hugely appreciate you being here and your words,” the youth leader said.
The engagement reinforces growing calls for more inclusive climate governance, with children and young people seeking greater recognition not merely as victims of climate change but as stakeholders whose voices must influence the policies and decisions shaping their future.
By Kofi Adu Domfeh
