The Importance of Youth in the Climate Transparency Process – within the Scope of the 8th Lusophone Hub Seminar in Brasília

Today’s youth carry a great responsibility for the future. Many of today’s young people will be tomorrow’s decision-makers — they will hold leadership positions, be part of governments and institutions, and play an active role in shaping public policies. But more than that, all young people today are an integral part of the collective future we aim to build: a sustainable, clean future, with respect for the environment, climate justice, and the ambition to keep the global average temperature below 1.5°C, as established in the Paris Agreement.

Their inclusion in the Climate Transparency process is therefore essential. Environmental awareness and knowledge about climate change must be instilled early, so that this generation is not only informed but also empowered to actively engage in monitoring, communication, and demanding effective measures from decision-makers and institutions.

To better frame this reflection, let’s observe the age structure of the resident population in Cabo Verde in 2022:

As can be seen, the youth age group represents a large majority of the Cape Verdean population. Empowering this segment of society to face climate change challenges and participate in climate transparency mechanisms is both a smart and essential strategy. It not only ensures more robust and informed civic engagement but also guarantees continued environmental sustainability over the coming decades.

One of the key topics discussed at the 8th Lusophone Hub Seminar, under the title “The Importance of Transparent and Measurable NDCs to Attract Climate Investment”, was the inclusion of youth in the climate transparency process. The discussion focused particularly on the steps needed to ensure the effective participation of young people in the preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in a transparent and participatory manner.

The seminar was attended by eight young people from various Lusophone countries – Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste – who presented a draft guide clearly identifying the reasons and entry points for meaningful youth involvement in these processes.

Reasons why youth participation in climate transparency is essential:

• Intergenerational responsibility: Today’s youth will inherit the effects of current climate decisions, making their participation in shaping the future critical.
• Innovation and willpower: Young people bring new ideas, creativity, and a unique motivation to face climate challenges.
• Climate justice and inclusion: Including young voices promotes a more equitable and representative approach to environmental decision-making.
• Continuity and sustainability: Training and involving youth ensures long-term continuity of climate commitments.
• Monitoring: Youth can play an active role in tracking and scrutinizing climate policies, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

Entry points for youth participation in BTR and NDC development:

• Openness to inclusion: Institutional openness and the creation of real opportunities to involve young people are necessary. Effective participation often depends on clear policies and fair recruitment criteria.
• Access to knowledge and information: Ensuring access to relevant data and information in a clear and accessible way is crucial.
• Inclusive education and technical training: Education in climate literacy and technical capacity is a foundation for effective participation.
• Space in climate governance: Youth should have representation in decision-making and advisory structures on climate matters.
• Communication and transparency: Communication channels that foster dialogue between youth, government, and civil society must be promoted.
• Monitoring and implementation: Youth should also be involved in assessing the progress of adopted climate measures.

Youth inclusion in climate transparency is an ongoing and current challenge. However, important steps have already been taken in this direction, and with consistent effort, it is possible to envision a future with significant progress in the effective participation of youth in climate transparency processes.

Autoria

Loriana Monteiro, Climate Action Program