African climate negotiators rally youth for action ahead of COP31 and COP32

Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Dr Nana Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has urged international partners and young advocates to unite around an integrated climate agenda focused on resilience, equity, and practical action.

The Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) Africa 2026 held in Accra, Ghana, centered on the theme "Driving Integrated Solutions across Africa’s Climate Agenda for Impact, Resilience and Justice," highlighting the urgent need to translate international negotiating priorities into tangible community outcomes.

Speaking to diplomats, policymakers, and youth delegates, Dr Amoah emphasised that climate change cannot be treated as an isolated environmental concern, noting that it directly impacts food security, water availability, energy access, public health, and economic development across the continent.

Representing the collective voice of African nations within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the AGN Chair outlined core negotiating priorities, including adaptation, predictable climate finance, loss and damage mechanisms, technology transfer, and a just energy transition.

Dr Amoah stressed that African countries must be enabled to pursue vital development aspirations while receiving support for a crisis they contributed relatively little to causing.

"Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach that connects international climate negotiations with national policies, regional cooperation and implementation at the community level," Dr Amoah noted, adding that adaptation ambitions require predictable finance and technical capacity at all levels.

Turning to climate diplomacy, Dr Amoah highlighted the vital role of Africa's youth demographic in driving innovation, community mobilisation, and technical research across issues such as renewable energy, environmental governance, and climate adaptation. However, he underscored that youth engagement must extend far beyond attendance numbers.

"The objective is not simply to have more young people present in climate diplomacy, but to strengthen their capacity to contribute to the substance of the decisions being made."

He urged young climate leaders to approach negotiating processes with preparation, discipline, and evidence-based advocacy—including analysing negotiating texts, conducting credible research, and building constructive relationships with policymakers. At the same time, he called on governments and institutions to remain open to the proposals and evidence presented by younger generations.

As negotiations build momentum ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, and look forward to COP32 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2027, Dr Amoah called on RCOY Africa delegates to generate clear, actionable recommendations capable of informing national policy and shaping negotiating strategies.

He reaffirmed the AGN's commitment to collaboration, urging global partners and African institutions to ensure youth contributions have meaningful opportunities to inform collective climate action so African communities receive the support needed for long-term resilience.