Global Youth Climate Leaders to Convene in Brazil for COP30 Preparation
The Global Youth Climate Summit 2025 will take place from April 2 to 5 at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, gathering 200 climate leaders in person and 300 virtually. This summit, organized by the Global Youth Leadership Center and UFMG, emphasizes youth perspectives from climate-vulnerable regions ahead of COP30. Participants will create the Belo Horizonte Youth Climate Declaration and award grants for community projects, showcasing the critical role of youth in climate action.
From April 2 to April 5, 2025, Brazil will host the Global Youth Climate Summit at the historic Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), gathering 200 young climate leaders from 39 countries, alongside 300 virtual participants. The event is expected to be pivotal as attention shifts to Brazil for the COP30 climate negotiations. This summit, organized by the Global Youth Leadership Center (GYLC) with UFMG, aims to empower youth most affected by climate change to share their insights and solutions.
Ejaj Ahmad, CEO of GYLC, emphasized the importance of youth from climate-vulnerable regions, stating, “Youth from climate-vulnerable regions bring unique perspectives and innovative approaches that are essential to addressing the climate emergency. This summit represents a critical opportunity for these voices to shape the global climate agenda ahead of COP30.” This gathering will feature influential stakeholders, including government officials, corporate leaders, and academia, alongside passionate youth activists.
High-profile participants will include government figures such as Professor Mateus Simões de Almeida, Vice Governor of Minas Gerais, and representatives from Brazil’s national government. Business leaders like CEMIG CEO Reynaldo Passanezi Filho and several esteemed academics from UFMG will contribute to the discourse. Notable scientific insights will be provided by former NASA scientist Peter Fiekowsky, ensuring a multi-faceted approach to discussions.
Youth climate activists like Amazon Indigenous leader Rayane Xipaya will lead discussions on pressing topics such as forest protection and Indigenous rights. Participants from diverse nations, including Japan, Kenya, South Africa, and Peru, will share their experiences and proposed solutions.
The summit aims to produce measurable outcomes, including the Belo Horizonte Youth Climate Declaration, which will inform the COP30 negotiations later this year, as well as $1,000 grants for ten outstanding youth climate champions to support their local initiatives.
This ambitious event is made possible through various partnerships, including UFMG’s Knowledge Center for Biodiversity and Institute of Biological Sciences. GYLC, drawing on its 16 years of expertise in youth leadership training across the Global South, is uniquely equipped to lead this summit, emphasizing practical climate action.
As the climate crisis escalates, the voices of those directly impacted are crucial. Belo Horizonte will serve as a hub for youth climate activism and leadership, highlighting the contributions of young leaders in shaping tomorrow’s climate action, especially as they approach the critical COP30 negotiations.
The upcoming Global Youth Climate Summit in Brazil marks a significant milestone for youth involvement in climate action. By gathering diverse voices from various nations, this summit aims to empower young leaders to shape the climate agenda ahead of COP30. Through collaborative efforts, participants will articulate key insights and solutions, fostering innovative climate actions globally while reinforcing the necessity of frontline perspectives in addressing the climate crisis.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
