Young Ambassadors for the Environment at COP16 Biodiversity in Cali

From October 21 to 28, 2024, the city of Cali, Colombia, hosted the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16). This international summit, hosted by Turkey, brought together representatives from 196 member states to discuss key issues related to biodiversity protection. Discussions focused on all life forms, from microorganisms to large ecosystems, and on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Agreements, adopted at COP15.

For this edition, the Young Ambassadors for the Environment (JAE) delegation, supported in part by the OFQJ, consisted of Emma Taplin, Noé Ade, and Manon Bourhis. All three, with diverse backgrounds, aimed to actively participate in discussions and amplify the voice of French-speaking youth on issues related to biodiversity.

Their main missions include: enriching the reflection on the post-Kunming-Montreal period, participating in briefings of the French delegation of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, organizing a French-speaking webinar on the role of young people in a COP, and strengthening ties with other international youth networks.

The webinar organized by the JAE was a highlight of the week. It brought together young French speakers from several countries for a lively discussion on the ongoing negotiations, the legacy of COP15, and levers for action to increase youth participation. They notably addressed the growing role of African delegations and the challenges of representativeness.

On October 23, during Education Day, the JAE participated in working groups, notably on the integration of young people into the monitoring mechanisms of the Kunming-Montreal Agreements, strengthening the proposals made at the international level.

Another highlight: Noé Ade's participation in the Cities Summit, at the invitation of the Eco Maires association. This event provided an opportunity to extend the discussions on urban resilience, in conjunction with local areas.

Finally, the JAE participated in numerous side events, notably those of the IUCN, and explored topics such as biodiversity financing and the Green List, questioning the inequalities of access between countries in the North and South.

COP16 thus enabled the JAE delegation to promote youth engagement, to have rich and unforgettable encounters with other young internationals, and to lay the foundations for new projects in favor of biodiversity. Despite the mixed results of the negotiations, our participation demonstrates a constant desire to make the voice of young people heard and to take concrete action for a sustainable future.