Beyond a Seat at the Table

A reflection from COP29 to the NDC 3.0 revisions

by Bodh Maathura

In the wake of an uncertain period for the Paris Agreement, nations are preparing their third revision of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) for submission in 2025. Throughout COP29, young people echoed their call not only for greater ambition but also for meaningful youth engagement in the design and implementation of revised climate policies.

This was the key theme at the intergenerational roundtable discussion on Advocating for Child- and Youth-Centric NDCs, organised at the Commonwealth Pavilion. On one hand, the discussion focused on the need to build the capacity of young people in climate policy, while on the other, it addressed the lack of governmental capacity to mainstream youth participation in climate policy design and implementation. Officials representing the Commonwealth, UNDP, and the NDC Partnership acknowledged their role and responsibility in bridging this gap. Many young people shared their journeys and tactics in youth advocacy, fighting for causes they believed in, while also recognizing the role of organisations such as the Commonwealth in providing them with a platform and amplifying their voices. From this discussion NDCs, it was clear that building on the strength of key allies is the most effective strategy to ensure that NDC 3.0 is truly child- and youth-sensitive.

Fast-forward three months, and many countries have heeded the call to action from young people at COP29, ensuring that the revision is viewed through a child- and youth-sensitive lens, building on the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) framework used previously. Back home in Sri Lanka, young climate advocates and youth-led organisations rallied together, with support from UNICEF Sri Lanka, to ensure that our voices were heard within the NDCs. While both the government and other stakeholders were welcoming and enthusiastic about having a record number of young people involved in NDC stakeholder consultations, the gap in capacity to meaningfully engage young people in the policymaking process once again became apparent.

While it can be disheartening to feel unheard—whether due to a generational gap in understanding the importance of prioritising mental health or the reluctance to shift from institutional agendas that drain funding for more innovative and ambitious recommendations put forward by young people—having fellow peers to regroup, re-strategise, and push harder is essential. This ensures that the voices of the most vulnerable—whom we represent—are not ignored. This is the energy that youth bring to the table, whether it is the one or two young people at COP negotiation tables, those asking hard-hitting questions at consultations, or youth groups raising awareness of climate change within their communities. Young people are fighting tirelessly to play their part in securing their future against a crisis they did not create.

We have come a long way since the first NDC. Both governments and development partners have become more receptive to the voices of young people and are increasingly ensuring they have a seat at the table. The Commonwealth has played a pioneering role in advocating for youth mainstreaming. We have started the engine with intergenerational dialogues as a space for stocktaking and ideation, but now it is time to create an actionable plan that goes beyond checklists and guidelines. This means ensuring investment not only in building the capacity of young people but also in strengthening the capacity of governments and policymakers to engage with youth meaningfully.