What is COP?
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC is an agreement between 198 Parties (197 States and the EU) with the primary aim to address anthropogenic climate change. The treaty entered into force in 1994 and every year since then leaders from all over the world have come together at COP to discuss and agree on international climate policy. Many of the most significant international climate commitments and agreements have emerged from these summits, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Representatives from civil society, business and academia are also present at COP to observe, influence and participate in the proceedings.
This year’s Conference of the Parties will be held between the 11th and 22nd of November in Baku, Azerbaijan. Stakeholders from across the world will focus on advancing the goals of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including efforts to limit global warming, adapt to the impacts of climate change and mobilize financing for these activities.
COP 29 will be preceded by the 60th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60) in Bonn, Germany, held between the 3rd and 13th of June 2024. Delegates representing more than 100 Parties to the Paris Agreement will gather to pave the way to some key decisions expected to be made during COP 29 in Baku. The YES-Europe delegation will follow and participate in both negotiation sessions as official observer entities, part of the youth constituency.
Check out our position paper for COP29!
The COP29 position paper developed by YES-Europe and EYEN highlights the critical role of subnational governance and youth engagement in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Cities, responsible for roughly 70% of global emissions, are both significant contributors to the triple planetary crisis and pioneers in developing sustainable low-emissions solutions. To achieve meaningful progress, local governments and regional leaders must take an active role in designing, implementing and monitoring climate action within the frameworks of the UNFCCC and other international forums. We call for a governance model that involves local stakeholders, especially youth, in decision-making at the international, national and regional levels. Ensuring a just transition also requires empowering communities, especially marginalized groups, to drive the transformation of their own regions by providing them with sufficient financial resources, administrative support and educational opportunities. Ultimately, we believe that bottom-up engagement, multilevel governance and youth participation can drive the global transition toward sustainability. With the 1.5°C target hanging in the balance, COP29 must prioritise these efforts and ensure that financing reaches those most in need of support
How have we contributed in the past?
At COP 28, the YES-Europe community has been calling for more ambitious climate change mitigation actions to be taken by global leaders. In collaboration with European Youth Energy Network – EYEN, our joint statement was published in the Position Paper “Adopting global energy targets & empowering youth to put the energy transition back on track”. Together we were calling for:
- a need for a global target on renewable energy and energy efficiency;
- a way to bridge gaps between current renewable energy deployment and Paris Agreement targets;
- a comprehensive program to tackle the global renewables skills gap;
- emphasis on boosting the capacity of the youth workforce in the energy transition.
During COP, YES-Europe organized a side event at the Finnish Pavilion and participated in three other side events organized at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Finnish Pavilion. These platforms provided us with the opportunity to underscore the pressing need to bridge the gap between current renewable energy deployment and the benchmarks set by the Paris Agreement. We were also able to spotlight the crucial role of clear renewable energy targets in translating aspirations into tangible actions. Central to our discourse was the recognition of youth as key stakeholders in the energy transition and the importance of addressing the global renewables skills gap, while boosting the capacity of our youth workforce in the energy transition.
Who are we? Meet our COP 29 Team!
On the ground, our aim is to actively promote decisive, effective and equitable climate and environmental action by engaging in negotiations, making interventions, conducting bilateral meetings with policymakers, co-organizing and participating in side events as well as other advocacy actions in cooperation with other youth-led NGOs. Moreover, we aim to foster the engagement of young people from diverse backgrounds in this process through a dedicated communications campaign prior to and during the conferences.
Do you want to join us?
Follow our work
This year, YES-Europe will again actively engage in the international climate negotiations process and amplify the voices of young people at this crucial decision-making forum. If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments of our work at COP 29, make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Partner with us
As a partner of YES-Europe, you will have the chance to connect with young professionals in the energy sector and help us have a meaningful impact on the industry. We are looking for media partners, event co-organisers, sponsors, as well as other NGOs to collaborate with us on this project. If you wish to make a meaningful impact with us, you can reach out to us at inez.brogowska@yeseurope.org or elizabeth.chavdarska@yeseurope.org.
Join our team
Do you want to actively participate in the project as out team member? Our community spans across Europe and we are always looking for new people to join in! If you wish to cooperate with us make sure to reach out to us at operations@yeseurope.org.