Young climate delegates have urged governments to involve young people in shaping national negotiating positions well before global summits, warning that representation at COP alone does not guarantee meaningful influence.
The call emerged during a panel discussion on diplomacy, youth and climate action at the Youth Climate Summit Qatar 2026, where diplomats and young advocates explored how youth participation could translate into genuine influence on international climate policy.
Moderated by Neeshad Shafi of the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, the discussion brought together HE Fahad al-Attiyah, founder of Caravane Earth and Heenat Salma Farm; Australian ambassador to Qatar Shane Flanagan; Qatari youth advocate Hamed Nasser al-Thani; and Areej Alsayed, German Youth Delegate for COP30.
Drawing on her experience within Germany’s COP delegation, Alsayed highlighted the importance of involving young representatives throughout the policymaking process rather than bringing them in only when international negotiations begin.
However, she said meaningful participation depended on access to information and opportunities to influence national positions before countries arrived at COP.
“The negotiations don’t start really with the COP. They are not just two weeks every year,” she said, emphasising that young representatives needed to be included throughout the process between climate conferences.
Flanagan said the appointment of Australia’s COP31 Presidency Youth Climate Champion, Sally Higgins, was intended to connect young people’s experiences with international decision-makers.
He described Higgins’ role as a bridge between communities and negotiating teams, particularly those experiencing the effects of climate change, including unpredictable rainfall and severe storms.
“It is an advisory role, and I think that is probably something, an area that can be built on into the future,” Flanagan said, pointing to opportunities to strengthen youth engagement in future COP processes.
He also highlighted the partnership between Turkiye, which will host COP31 in Antalya, and Australia, which will lead the negotiations, describing it as an example of compromise and international cooperation.
“What we do have which unites us is a shared commitment to making this COP very effective at galvanising international action,” he said.
Al-Attiyah stressed that climate awareness and participation must also begin at the community level, including in homes, schools and neighbourhoods. He encouraged greater engagement between young people, experts and policymakers to build understanding of environmental challenges and the impact of everyday consumption choices.
Hamed, one of the young Qatari voices on the panel, said young people needed to be heard and given opportunities to participate in spaces where decisions were being made.
The discussion highlighted a central challenge ahead of COP31: moving youth participation beyond representation towards meaningful involvement in the decisions that will shape their environmental future.
