At COP30, children meet with the Presidency Youth Climate Champion (PYCC) Marcelle Oliveira. Download photo here: DSCF9782.jpeg Copyright: Children and Youth Pavilion
Ten young advocates and experts from around the world will bring their experiences, expertise and demands to the Children and Youth Pavilion at COP31.
Antalya, Türkiye, 4 November 2026 – As COP31 is about to begin in Antalya on 9 November, the Children and Youth Pavilion is introducing ten young spokespersons from different regions and backgrounds who will contribute their perspectives to the global climate debate.
First established at COP27, the Children and Youth Pavilion is a fully youth-led initiative within the official UN Climate Change Conference. It provides a dedicated space for children and young people to engage with climate policy, exchange knowledge and perspectives, and make their voices heard in international climate discussions. It remains the only space at COP with a fully youth-led infrastructure.
The ten spokespersons bring a variety of experiences to COP31, ranging in age from 14 to 31. Among them are Prasiddhi Singh (14, India), who has planted more than 100,000 trees and established over 40 fruit forests through her foundation; Ferdison Valmond (23, Commonwealth of Dominica), who advocates for the recognition of Indigenous knowledge and stronger climate action for Small Island Developing States; and Flawa Malle (25, Tanzania), a climate and gender justice advocate whose work focuses on clean energy, climate adaptation and locally led solutions. Other spokespersons bring experience in areas such as marine conservation, sustainable waste management, climate policy and community-led urban resilience.
Together, they connect local initiatives and practical experience with broader discussions on climate policy, justice and the future of climate action.
Bringing different perspectives to the climate debate
CYP spokesperson is interviewed by Rede Globo at COP30. Download photo here: DSCF0027.jpeg Copyright: Children and Youth Pavilion
For Julia Korten, a German climate advocate and researcher focusing on marine conservation and biodiversity, protecting the natural world is inseparable from addressing the climate crisis.
“A healthy ocean and biodiversity is not a luxury, it is essential to a stable climate and livable future,” she says.
Mathias Charles, co-founder of Live Love Beirut and Live Love Recycle, works on technology-driven waste solutions, circular economy and community-led approaches to urban resilience. He emphasises the importance of involving local communities in shaping solutions: “Resilient cities are not built through infrastructure alone; they are built by empowering the people who live in them to become active architects of their own future.”
Sidra Riaz, a climate justice advocate from Pakistan, highlights the importance of ensuring that the communities most affected by climate change have a meaningful say in decisions about their future: “The people hit first by the climate crisis must be the first ones heard when we decide how to respond.”
As COP31 gets underway, the ten spokespersons will offer journalists access to a wide range of perspectives on the issues shaping the conference and the future of climate action. They will be available for interviews and media conversations throughout the conference.
Marina Silva, former Brazilian minister, meets young people in the CYP at COP30
Download photo here: DSCF8688.jpeg Copyright: Children and Youth Pavilion
About the Children and Youth Pavilion
The Children and Youth Pavilion is a fully youth-led initiative dedicated to providing a space for children and young people at the UN Climate Change Conference. It brings together children, young professionals, Indigenous activists, and organisations from around the world to advance intergenerational justice and ethical climate action. It remains the only space at COP with a fully youth-led infrastructure. Through cross-sectoral collaboration, it welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds and promotes knowledge exchange.
First established at COP27, the Pavilion gives young people a visible and meaningful presence within the official conference space. It showcases their expertise, initiatives, and contributions to developing innovative solutions to the climate crisis.
The CYP serves as an essential platform for children and young people to engage with and influence the negotiations and broader processes under the UNFCCC and at COP. It enables them to connect, exchange perspectives, and coordinate their engagement in climate policy, while amplifying the values and priorities of the global youth climate movement.
The Pavilion is coordinated by a coalition of entirely youth-led organisations that form its Steering Committee. Together, they shape the Pavilion’s programme, communications, and resource allocation, ensuring that young people remain at the heart of its direction and decision-making. The Steering Committee is supported by leading institutions that contribute expertise, capacity, and resources to strengthen youth participation and help bring the Pavilion’s vision to life.
The Children and Youth Pavilion is made possible through the efforts and commitment of its institutional partners, including the Climate Champions Team, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Alana Institute. Information on the Pavilion’s funding partners can be found on our website.
Explore the full programme of the Children and Youth Pavilion on our website. Follow us on Instagram at @childrenandyouthpavilion for daily updates and information about our sessions.
PRESS CONTACTS
📞 Mathias Schweikert: +49 1525 5778256 (WhatsApp)
📞 Valentina Ruas: +351 934837773 (WhatsApp)
