Providing an interactive platform for deliberations, knowledge sharing, and collaboration amongst young climate professionals, activists, researchers, and policymakers for building capacity on climate diplomacy, advocacy, and policy negotiation skills, the 2024 edition of Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Bangladesh concluded on Wednesday.
Hosted by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) from 6th to 9th October 2024 at Hotel Sarina, LCOY Bangladesh 2024 was designed in tandem with the goals of COP 29 and COY 19, enabling the young leaders with diversified capacities for informed climate action at both national and international levels.
The event has unfolded in two key segments: first, the Young Negotiator Programme on Climate Diplomacy from October 6-8, a three-day intensive workshop that has trained 26 selected youth leaders and climate professionals. It included key modules on climate diplomacy, policy drafting, and advocacy techniques that can get them through some of the difficult climate negotiations at the global level.
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The second part of this year’s LCOY edition, on October 9 at Hotel Sarina, was a day-long conference joined by 100 participants, alongside 50 youth delegates, government officials, and delegates from international organizations.
In dynamic plenary sessions, panel discussions, and a vibrant showcasing of youth-led climate initiatives, the event brought together a pool of climate diplomats and advocates. In the segment named ‘Stories of Change’, 13 youth organizations presented their youth-led initiatives to protect the environment in front of the guests.
Co-convened by UNDP, ActionAid, and VSO Bangladesh, with strategic support from the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) and the Centre for Climate Justice Bangladesh, LCOY Bangladesh 2024 emphasized the importance of youth empowerment in climate policy discourse.
The Young Negotiator Programme on Climate Diplomacy was a core component of this year’s event, focusing on honing negotiation and diplomacy skills that will enable young leaders to contribute meaningfully to global climate decisions and agreements. Training encompassed the areas of climate finance, mitigation policies, climate diplomacy, and climate justice providing a comprehensive foundation for policy engagement; and this year’s event was also intended to increase the number of females by 10% from previous years, hence enhancing its commitment to inclusivity and gender equality in response to climate action.
The conference also brought about the Bangladesh Youth Statement 2024--a set of actionable policy recommendations that will be taken to COP29 and COY19 later this year, amidst great contribution by Bangladeshi youth toward the Global Climate Dialogue.
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The conference started with inspiring speeches from special guests. Dr Abdul Hamid, Director General (Grade 1), Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; Md Mamunur Rashid, Joint Secretary (WH Wing), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Khabirul Haque Kamal, Country Director of VSO Bangladesh; and Dr Rudaba Khondker, Country Director of GAIN were the speakers for the opening session.
In the closing plenary, Edwin Koekkoek, First Counsellor, Team Leader - Green Inclusive Development, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, joined as the Chief Guest. While sharing his closing speech, he mentioned, “Climate negotiation is the most exciting form of negotiation because it’s the young people who care about the world”.
Dr Rudaba Khondker encouraged young people to reflect upon their experiences of this year’s LCOY and the Young Negotiator Programme. while the vote of thanks on behalf of the LCOY Bangladesh Secretariat was provided by Mehedi Hasan Bappy, Coordinator of the LCOY Bangladesh Secretariat and Project Coordinator at GAIN.