Background and Context:
For the past three years, the Mediterranean Pavilion has been a strong platform for regional cooperation on climate issues at COP. It has highlighted the Mediterranean’s shared vulnerabilities—rising sea levels, severe droughts, biodiversity loss, and extreme heat—and has fostered collaboration among Mediterranean countries to tackle these challenges.
At COP29, the Mediterranean Pavilion is making a significant shift by placing youth at the center of the agenda. The Mediterranean Youth Gathering will mark the first event in its three-year history that focuses on empowering young leaders from across the region to take ownership of the Mediterranean’s climate future. This isn’t just a symbolic gesture—this event is about giving youth the tools, connections, and platforms to drive real solutions to the region’s pressing climate challenges.
The Mediterranean region is highly vulnerable to climate change, and its youth will bear the brunt of climate impacts. However, young people have shown themselves as dynamic innovators in sustainable agriculture, water management, renewable energy, and coastal protection. in collaboration with the Youth4Climate initiative and YOUNGO constituency, The Mediterranean Youth in Action event will provide a platform within the UNFCCC framework for these young leaders to showcase their solutions, engage with decision-makers, and think about the Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda for long-term climate resilience. The event will bring together a diverse audience, including youth delegates, policymakers, and representatives from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), as well as participants from the UN system, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and national representatives, fostering an inclusive dialogue on climate action and resilience.
Key Issues:
1. Mediterranean Climate Vulnerabilities:
The Mediterranean region faces serious and worsening climate impacts—extreme weather, droughts, biodiversity loss, and sea-level rise. Without decisive action, these challenges will threaten food security, livelihoods, and ecosystems across the region.
2. Youth as Leaders of Climate Solutions:
Mediterranean youth are already leading on climate solutions at the local level, but they lack access to high-level decision-making processes. This event will amplify their voices and position them as essential partners in developing regional climate policies and strategies.
3. Building Regional Climate Resilience:
Collaboration across borders and sectors is key to strengthening the Mediterranean’s ability to adapt to and mitigate climate impacts. This event will create a platform for young leaders to collaborate with governments, NGOs, and the private sector to drive forward practical, youth-led climate solutions.
Event Structure and Program:
The Mediterranean Youth in Action program is designed to inspire youth leadership, facilitate collaboration on tangible solutions, and culminate in creating a Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda. The sessions will be focused on practical outputs and strategic actions, ensuring a clear roadmap for youth-led climate initiatives.
14:00–14:30: Youth High-Level Segment (Keynote Speeches)
Kick off the Mediterranean Youth Gathering by setting the tone for action, with high-level officials and youth leaders committing to making youth central to the region’s climate strategy.
Keynote Speakers
- Youth4Climate Delegate: Presenting key outcomes from the recent Youth4Climate: Sparking Solutions event, highlighting the importance of innovative youth-led climate solutions in the Mediterranean region.
- Youth Climate Champion for COP29 (TBC): Sharing insights on the pivotal role of youth in driving innovative climate solutions and highlighting the unique perspective and leadership of young people.
- Minister of the Environment and Energy Security (Italy): Reflection on Youth4Climate’s journey from manifesto to action, and why it is important now for the Mediterranean region.
- Minister of Youth (TBC): the importance of having a youth climate agenda in the Mediterranean region, and how this will support the implementation of NDCs, and NAPs.
- Senior Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Energy, and Climate Action: Overview of UfM’s climate action and the role of youth in advancing the Mediterranean agenda.
- YOUNGO Representative: the role of Mediterranean youth in leading the charge against climate change, emphasizing practical solutions and the need for immediate action.
14:30–15:30: Thematic Panel Discussion – Mediterranean Youth Solutions and Initiatives
Title: Driving Change: Scaling Youth Climate Solutions Across the Mediterranean
This panel will feature a diverse set of speakers, including youth innovators, regional NGOs, and private sector representatives. The focus will be on real-world examples of youth-driven climate solutions that are tackling key challenges like water scarcity, energy transitions, and marine conservation.
Key Questions Addressed:
- How can successful youth-led solutions be scaled and replicated across the region?
- What are the biggest obstacles facing young climate leaders, and how can we overcome them?
- What partnerships are necessary to support and sustain these initiatives?
Speakers:
- Youth4Climate Delegate
- UfM Youth Delegate
- YOUNGO
- IAAS
Key Output:
- Clear recommendations on how to expand successful youth-led projects, identifying potential partners and resource needs.
15:30–16:30: Interactive Working Sessions – Developing Concrete Solutions
Title: Building Solutions for Mediterranean Climate Challenges
Format:
Participants will break into four thematic working groups, each focusing on a pressing issue for the region. Guided by expert facilitators, the groups will work through a solution-building methodology that starts with problem identification and moves toward creating actionable, practical initiatives.
Themes:
- Youth-Centric Science and Policy for Climate Action, led by Youth4Climate
- Renewable Energy and Energy Transitions, led by YOUNGO
- Youth Engagement in Climate Resilience and Adaptation, led by Youth Stocktake team
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, led by IAAS International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences
Methodology:
- Problem Identification: Each group will begin by discussing the key issues in their theme area and the most pressing obstacles.
- Solution Brainstorming: The groups will then brainstorm innovative, youth-led solutions to these challenges.
- Action Planning: Each group will create an actionable plan, identifying the next steps, partnerships, and resources required to implement their solution.
Key Output:
Each group will present its proposed solution during the final session, contributing to the shaping of the Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda.
16:30–17:30: Mediterranean Youth Circle – Shaping the Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda
Title: How Should the Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda Look?
Format:
This session will serve as an open and participatory dialogue on how the Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda should be structured. Participants will discuss the main points gathered from the working sessions and agree on key priorities and actions.
Key Discussion Points:
1. Vision for the Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda:
What should be the overarching goal and vision of the agenda?
2. Key Climate Priorities:
Based on the working groups, what are the most urgent climate issues, and how can youth lead in addressing them?
3. Actionable Projects and Policies:
What youth-led initiatives should be prioritized, and how can they be scaled and supported?
4. Partnerships and Resources:
What partnerships with regional governments, NGOs, and businesses are critical for implementing the agenda?
Speakers:
- UNDP Rome Representative: Highlighting how UNDP is working with Mediterranean youth to scale impactful solutions and integrate youth voices into broader climate efforts.
- Youth4Climate
- YOUNGO
Outcome:
A draft Mediterranean Youth Climate Agenda priorities will be outlined based on the session’s discussions. This draft will be finalized after COP29, incorporating feedback from youth participants and stakeholders.
