YES-Europe is happy to announce the nomination of the two Project Leads for COP30: Amaryllis Perotti and Caterina Bittendorf!

 

YES-Europe is an accredited observer-NGO to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), engaging in processes to advocate for youth inclusivity and ambitious policies to tackle the climate crisis and limit greenhouse gas emissions to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference. With the climate crisis being the most prevailing problem of our time, it needs substantial efforts to address, mitigate and adapt. Despite the catastrophes climate crisis already causes worldwide, governments fail to present and implement suitable policies. 10 years after the historic Paris Agreement we still lack climate finances, adaptation mechanisms and even a human rights based approach was again negotiated at COP29. A strong civil society, a strong youth movement, calling for appropriate climate policies that guarantee our right of future was never more important – on the streets, and in the negotiation rooms! 

 

On the road to COP30, YES-Europe will engage with policy submissions and advocacy efforts. The COP30 Project Leads & Team Members will represent YES-Europe in June 2025 at SB62 in Bonn, Germany and at COP30,  taking place in November 2025 in Bélem, Brazil. Their goal during both events will be to engage with stakeholders to promote the voice and values of YES-Europe by presenting policy recommendations to relevant organisations and policymakers as well as joining forces with other children and youth to advocate for ambitious, equitable and just climate policies that meet realities (of those most affected). 

 

Presentation of the COP30 Project Leads

Amaryllis PEROTTI currently works as a researcher at the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP) in Amsterdam, where she develops statistical tools to capture the complexities of energy poverty across Eurozone countries. Her work also extends to ethnographic studies and economic scenarios, particularly in relation to the impacts of ETS2 on vulnerable consumers. Before joining IEECP, Amaryllis was Youth Delegate for Plan International, traveling to Cotonou in Benin with five projects co-lead to engage with local communities. Together, they contributed to a memorandum for the incoming Belgian government, emphasising bilateral collaboration between Global North and Global South. The previous year, she represented French-Speaking Belgium as a National Delegate for the European Youth Forum, attending the General Assembly in Tirana, Albania, as well as various working groups and conferences in Cyprus and Brussels. Prior to these roles, Amaryllis gained experience in European policy in both the public and private sectors in Brussels. She holds a First-Class Honours degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen, combined with economics and policy, where she was awarded the prize for best thesis.

 

Caterina Biitendorf has been a Climate Advocate for over fourteen years, engaging in YOUNGO, FridaysForFuture and NGOs as a speaker, trainer, moderator or organiser. Starting from a young age, she focused on children and youth empowerment, educating and raising awareness among peers. Her work nowadays focuses on gender, equality and the Just Transition, while keeping the children and youth centric approach. She is notably YOUNGOs Contact Point for Women&Gender Working Group and member of the Global Coordination Team. Caterina was a youth delegate to COP28, SB60, COP29 as well as to UN CBD (biodiversity) COP16.  Caterina was also nominated UNFPA Youth Delegate for Sweden to the ICPD30 GYD 2024 and Youth Delegate of the Council of Europe to the World Forum for Democracy 2024. She is currently a consultant, working mainly with a startup in robotic and software industry. Caterina holds a degree in political sciences from the University of Georg August University Göttingen, Germany, and the University of Dalarna, Sweden. She dedicated her thesis to democracy studies, thereby addressing the impacts of the climate crisis on governmental systems.

 

Introduction to YES-Europe COP30 Project

The project, led by Amaryllis and Caterina, consists in building an Advocacy Roadmap  for Sustainable Youth Employment to highlight relevant policy recommendations on this pressing theme, which is the quality of entry-level jobs. Many reports and studies suggest that young people across Europe are struggling to find entry-level positions with a suitable salary and fitting their skills levels, especially in green industries. Higher quality jobs usually require moving to a bigger city where living costs are burdening young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Vulnerable groups are less likely to access these quality jobs. These groups are also less likely to save money and more likely be precarious than their parents and grandparents at the same age. The goal of Caterina, Amaryllis, and their team will be to highlight this transversal issue and the key policy developments on this topic, especially under the Just Transition negotiation track – a key theme of this years negotiations with the expectations of a 10-year Work Programme to be developed until COP30. Through their work, YES-Europe will use the youth’s voice to engage efficiently with policymakers, companies and non-profit organisations at both SB62 and COP30, through a focus on relevant employment incentives and policies for young people, especially in rural or peri-urban vulnerable areas. 

 

Eager to learn more about the project and to engage with YES-Europe? Amaryllis and Caterina are currently looking to build the COP30 Team. Team Members have the possibility to attend UNFCCC conferences, based on badge availability: 

  1. SB62 taking place between the 16th – 26th June in Bonn, Germany. 
  2. COP30 taking place in November in Bélem, Brazil.

 

We are looking for team members with either/or

  • Genuine interest in climate, policy, negotiations and advocacy
  • Good communication skills 
  • Energy and/or climate action/ advocacy experience (in UNFCCC processes, optional) 
  • Previous fundraising experience and project management experience is a plus 
  • Previous experience in developing policy positions is a plus

 

For any queries about joining the COP30 Team (do attach your CV to the email), media, partnerships, YES-Europe membership and project-related requests, reach out to caterina.bittendorf@yeseurope.org and amaryllis.perotti@yeseurope.org

We are looking forward to hearing from you!