The inaugural Nordic Youth and Children Climate Conference (NYCCC) concluded this weekend in Stockholm, Sweden, marking a historic milestone in child- and youth-led climate advocacy across the Nordic region. Over the course of three dynamic days, young delegates from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Greenland and Sweden came together to confront the climate crisis – the defining challenge of our time.

 

The NYCCC was born out of a shared recognition: while the Nordic countries are often seen as global leaders in sustainability, critical gaps remain in addressing climate risks and ensuring meaningful inclusion of children and youth in shaping climate policy. YES-Europe together with fellow youth organisations PUSH Sverige, Jamko, Ungir Umhverfissinnar, Global Shapers Malmö, Global Shapers Stockholm, Global Shapers Helsinki, and Global Shapers Copenhagen led the idea, organisation and implementation of 100% youth-led conference to provide a powerful platform to bridge those gaps, enhance cooperation across the Nordics and connect to fellow young advocates. 

After an powerful opening of the Nordic Youth & Children Climate Conference by Jennifer Unelius, Sweden’s National Gender and Climate Change Focal Point and UNFCCC negotiator, the 70+ participants engaged over 3 days in workshops, dialogues, collaborative sessions focused on the regional impacts of climate change, the structure and role of the UNFCCC, thematic deepdives and learned about youth-led initiatives. Ulla Müller, Director of UNFPA Nordics, joined YES-Europe’s Sweden Country Chapter Representative, Caterina Bittendorf, for an insightful panel discussion on climate justice highlighting that climate crisis is also a justice crisis, especially for girls, women and gender-diverse people alongside other marginalised groups. 

Based on these inputs and our realities, needs and experiences we wrote the Nordic Children and Youth Statement, a position paper that outlines child and youth demands towards climate policies and climate justice. This statement will be formally presented to Nordic heads of government, COP30 negotiators, and UNFCCC stakeholders. 

As we prepare for COP30, the NYCCC has amplified the voices of the next generation, reaffirming that children and youth are not just victims of a crisis we inherited but that we are co-designers of a resilient future. 

United we demand to dismantle the power structures perpetuating and exacerbating inequalities and ACT NOW! 

For media inquiries or access to the Nordic Children and Youth Statement, please contact caterina.bittendorf@yeseurope.org