African youth at the African negotiators meeting

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 23 January 2015 – The third day of the ClimDev-Africa Youth Platform (CLAYP) workshop provided an unprecedented opportunity, the first of its kind to convene African youth and African decision makers representing the continent in global climate negotiations. The deliberations focused on the modalities of engagement between the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) and the CLAYP, which aim to dispel the long-standing mistrust and forge a mutually beneficial relationship to advance Africa’s climate agenda at the upcoming COP21 and thereafter.

 The decision to establish the CLAYP as an initiative to support the African Common Position on Climate Change and advance African youth’s climate concerns was largely welcomed by the AGN. The African youth called for a greater backing from African governments for their involvement in the climate negotiation process. The CLAYP initiators urged the AGN to serve as the link that will bridge the gap between the African youth and policy makers by advocating for their effective integration into climate negotiation processes as active participants, rather than mere observers, to ensure that their voices are heard at the national, regional and international instances.

Heeding the call of the African youth for intergenerational equity, the AGN invited CLAYP initiators to adequately define their roles and encouraged them to use existing national channels and entities to facilitate their entry onto the negotiation scene. It also recommended that CLAYP extends its reach to the rural youth and to tap into the AGN expertise for guidance and technical assistance to establish an effective platform.

Photo caption: CLAYP initiators presenting an overview of the platform's framework to African climate negotiators at the AGN meeting.