COP 30: Caribbean Youth Lead the Way in Shaping a Climate-Resilient Future

by Maver B. Woodley, Capacity Building and Events Unit, Lead

When young people from across the Caribbean gathered in Kingston, Jamaica, for the inaugural Caribbean Youth Environment and Climate Change Conference (CYECCC) in September 2025, one thing was clear — the region’s youth are no longer content with being seen as future leaders. They are leading now.

Hosted by the Caribbean Youth Climate Council (CYCC) and the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP, the conference brought together youth delegates, policymakers, and experts from across the region to talk about the future we are all fighting for — one built on resilience, sustainability, and justice.

Among those attending were members of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN) — Chevaughn Browne (Pan-Commonwealth Coordinator), Marver Woodley (Capacity Building and Events Lead), Bevon Charles (National Coordinator for Grenada), and Arian Scott (member and youth advocate). Together, they joined over 100 Caribbean youth in shaping what became one of the most important outcomes of the gathering — the Caribbean Youth Declaration on Environment and Climate Justice.

A Blueprint for Youth-Led Climate Action

For young people living in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), climate change is not an abstract idea. It is rising seas swallowing coastlines, coral reefs dying, and communities losing homes and livelihoods. The Caribbean Youth Declaration recognizes this reality and transforms it into action.

The Declaration focuses on six key priorities: climate justice and human rights, ocean protection, renewable energy, waste management, youth engagement, and climate adaptation. Each theme reflects the everyday challenges Caribbean youth face and their shared determination to overcome them.

Chevaughn Browne underscored the importance of linking youth advocacy to institutional mechanisms and stated, “our role is not just to amplify youth voices, but to ensure that our ideas shape real policy outcomes,”.

The document calls on CARICOM member states to adopt stronger legislation that protects the human right to a clean and healthy environment, uphold commitments to the Paris Agreement, and advance regional cooperation under frameworks such as the Escazú Agreement and the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ).

The message is simple but powerful: Caribbean youth want to be seen not only as advocates but as active partners in designing the solutions. From leading mangrove restoration in local communities to advocating for cleaner energy policies, the region’s youth are already driving change — they now want systems that allow them to do it on a larger scale.

Connecting the Declaration to the Commonwealth Agenda

For members of the CYCN, the Declaration represents more than just a regional agreement — it’s a bridge to the wider Commonwealth agenda. The Declaration’s focus on ocean conservation and youth engagement aligns directly with the Commonwealth Blue Charterand Living Lands Charter, both of which emphasize climate resilience, sustainable ocean governance, and youth participation.

By linking youth advocacy with national strategies, the Declaration offers a practical mechanism for ensuring sustainability and equity in future development pathways. Its focus on marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, ocean literacy, and equitable access to financing mirrors ongoing efforts within several Commonwealth Caribbean countries to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship within the ocean space for example.

Youth participation in these policy processes ensures that future frameworks are innovative, inclusive, and responsive to new challenges. By embracing this Declaration as a guiding tool, countries can better integrate youth contributions into official processes — transforming advocacy into meaningful governance.

Building Momentum Beyond Kingston

The energy at the CYECCC was electric. Youth leaders shared ideas on renewable energy, blue economy innovation, food security, and waste reduction. But what truly stood out was the spirit of collaboration — a realization that no single island can face the climate crisis alone.

Out of that spirit came concrete actions for the future:

• The creation of national youth climate councils to monitor and implement the Declaration’s recommendations.
• A call for youth inclusion in national delegationsto global events like COP30 and the UN Ocean Conference 2026.
• Stronger partnerships between youth networks, research institutions, and policymakers to turn advocacy into action.

The significance of the Caribbean Youth Declaration goes far beyond the region. It sends a message to the world that young people in SIDS are not waiting for permission to act. They are organizing, educating, and pushing for structural change — from grassroots initiatives to international negotiations.

The Declaration also calls for increased access to climate finance, especially for youth-led projects, and encourages Caribbean governments to adopt policies that support innovation and environmental entrepreneurship.

Through networks like the CYCN, young leaders are finding common ground and building solidarity across continents — connecting the Caribbean’s fight for survival with global movements for justice and sustainability.

Charting the Way Forward

As the world moves toward 2030 — the target year for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — youth leadership remains vital to transforming global commitments into concrete outcomes. Looking ahead, the focus is on maintaining the momentum from the conference. Youth delegates are already planning ways to integrate the Declaration’s priorities into national action plans and school programs, and to create new spaces where young people can influence decision-making at every level.

With major global meetings like COP30and CHOGM 2026 on the horizon, the Declaration provides a unified framework for the Caribbean’s youth to present a strong, coordinated voice on the international stage. It is a reminder that while our challenges are immense, our collective power — as islanders, as youth, as change-makers — is even greater.

The Caribbean Youth Declaration is more than a document. It is a promise — a shared vision for a region where every young person has a voice in shaping a sustainable and just future.

As Marver Woodley, CYCN’s Capacity Building and Events Lead, puts it:

“This is not just about climate change. It’s about charting a new course for the Caribbean — one where our oceans, our people, and our future are protected by design, not by chance.”

From Kingston to the wider Commonwealth, the message echoes clear: the next generation of Caribbean leaders isn’t waiting for change — they are making it happen.