The Arab world is gearing up for significant climate change discussions as the youth take center stage through the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change, based at the Arab Youth Center.
With the upcoming COP28 conference looming, the council recently published the report titled "Empowering Youth Voices in Arab Climate Policy." Highlighting the active contribution of Arab youth to climate efforts, the report uncovers urgent gaps in their engagement with climate policies, aiming to bolster their effective participation.
The report also introduces the first educational module of several climate initiatives, titled "Capacity Building Model: Understanding and Utilizing Policy Reports," aimed at enhancing youth skills to interact with climate policies. This initial module offers recommendations for promoting youth involvement within climate policies across Arab states, particularly focused on the framework of Youth Climate Conferences.
Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Niyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Arab Youth Center, stated, "The launch of this report opens new horizons to strengthen Arab youth engagement with climate policies, contributing to the development of Arab youth leadership capable of steering impactful climate initiatives within communities."
He elaborated on the urgent need for equipping youth with fundamental skills to address regional climate challenges and ensuring their impactful participation in global discussions on diverse climate-related issues.
Similarly, Sheikha Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Community Development and Youth Climate Leader for COP28, emphasized the integral role of Arab youth as the core of the region's future, showcasing their energy and innovation needed to confront the climatic challenges for global solutions.
With the region hosting COP28 and COP29 consecutively, there is significant pressure for youth capabilities to translate energy and potential visibly and effectively for climate progress. This report is deemed pivotal for tackling challenges youth face and sets out clear frameworks to maximize their vast capabilities alongside leading regional entities, marking confidence in youth voices to induce authentic societal changes.
Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, stressed the comprehensive framework provided by the report, which reflects true commitment to involving youth directly within climate solutions pertinent to the Arab region. He noted the importance of strengthening intergenerational efforts to meet common climate objectives.
He underlined the value of establishing permanent youth councils within climate entities to facilitate continuous engagement and development of mentoring programs, promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange between decision-makers and young climate activists.
Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of Social Affairs at the Arab League, also praised the strategic framework proposed by the report. She believes it could significantly advance Arab youth engagement with climate policies by pinpointing primary development areas and undertaking practical steps toward executable solutions.
The Arab Youth Center continues to work tirelessly to empower the upcoming generations and activate youth participation on environmental matters, particularly through the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change, collaborating with decision-makers and strategic partners within the region. This aims to create systems where youth voices are fundamental to shaping and executing sustainable global and regional climate action directives.
Meanwhile, other related concerns across the Arab region highlight stark economic disparities. According to the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook report released this October 2024, the per capita GDP across the Arab region reflects significant wealth discrepancies.
The oil-rich Gulf nations dominate the economic scene, contrasting starkly with other countries grappling with growing economic challenges. This disparity translates directly to their ability to invest and engage meaningfully within global climate discussions and initiatives.
With pressing issues spanning across economic and climatic domains, the upcoming COP events stand as milestones for potential youth engagement and advocacy aimed at achieving actionable climate policy reforms within the Arab world. The endeavors of the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change simply resonate as hopeful beacons of change amid these multifaceted challenges.
Finally, the necessity of fostering resilient infrastructure and effective governance at this junction is more apparent than ever. The collaborative efforts outlined within the reported strategies aim to cultivate communal involvement, initiate climate discourse at the grassroots, and inspire cooperative frameworks across nations for sustainable environmental practices.
The call for unified action and strategic equity recognizes the role of youth as pivotal agents of change within this narrative. The Arab youth, with their unyielding passion and innovative spirit, appear ready to champion meaningful transformation and become the architects of their climate future.
