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Conference statement and recommendations We, the young people gathered at the Cumberland Lodge virtual conference Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives, offer the following recommendations to the international delegations and other stakeholders preparing for the UNFCCC COP26 summit in Glasgow.
Work with us: we are your partners, and only by working together can we make a better future possible. We urge you to urgently implement the following initiatives and democratic reforms, to safeguard our interests and involve us more meaningfully in decision-making that affects our futures.
1. As an outcome of COP26, create a Youth Climate Parliament to facilitate international and intergenerational dialogue on climate solutions and resilience, over the next decade. Young people have been participating in UNFCCC events from the beginning, but we have been sidelined for too long. Over the past few years, a new youth climate movement has emerged and it is time for you to listen to our voices and join us as partners.
2. Lower the voting age to 16 years old, in line with the Scottish model. Youth action is moving from the street to the ballot box. We are climate-focused voters and we will determine the outcome of future elections. Your political careers, and the future of your political parties, depend on us. We are working to increase our influence on the political process in our respective nations, and, collectively, we call for the rapid adoption of electoral reform.
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