Indigenous youth propose greater UN climate agenda participation

More than 100 indigenous youths from 25 countries have proposed new mechanisms for increased participation in the United Nations climate agenda. During a virtual meeting organized by the Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC), the REDLAC Indigenous Youth Network, and the Global Indigenous Youth Conclave, participants called for permanent participation mechanisms and direct access to financing.

The youth representatives emphasized that their contribution to climate action is tied to territorial protection, ecosystem conservation, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, such as managing water, forests, and biodiversity. They aim to present these recommendations to the incoming UN leadership ahead of the 2026 change in the Secretary-General.