UN Secretary-General appoints expanded youth climate advisory group

Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of fourteen young climate leaders who will form the third cohort of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. The Group provides the Secretary-General with practical and outcome-focused advice, diverse youth perspectives and concrete recommendations to support the United Nations’ work to accelerate global action to tackle the climate crisis. 

The announcement, on International Youth Day, comes at a pivotal moment for climate action. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and it is also the year when all countries must prepare and submit their new national climate plans – or nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – aligned with 1.5C. 

With increasingly more intense and frequent climate disasters and progress towards limiting temperature rise to 1.5C and achieving climate justice far from sufficient, it is even more crucial that young people continue leading the charge – raising their voices, holding leaders accountable, and making change happen. Recognising the critical importance of youth voices in climate action and the contributions of previous Youth Advisory Group members, the Secretary-General has expanded this cohort from seven to fourteen members given the concerning global trend of shrinking civic space and funding limitationsthat are putting young activists at risk and hindering meaningful youth engagement in climate efforts.