On 22 and 23 February, 16 young climate experts and activists met in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg to exchange views on the effects of the climate crisis on young people, as well as to share experiences, practices and recommendations on youth participation in climate-related activities. This expertise and knowledge will inform the work being done by a drafting group, composed of two members each of the governmental committee – the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) – and the non-governmental committee – the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) – and a representative of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), charged with preparing a draft Committee of Ministers recommendation on climate crisis and young people (working title). The drafting group members also took part in the meeting.
To be able to reflect these in its work, the drafting group listened to the diverse needs, circumstances and aspirations of the climate experts present, and listened to proposals for strengthening young people’s participation in climate-related decision-making procedures.
Support was given to the consultative meeting by Iceland, which is concerned about the increasing negative effects of environmental degradation and climate crisis on the enjoyment of human rights across the globe. Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and president of the Committee of Ministers, joined the participants to hear their conclusions at the end of the two-day meeting, stressing two of four priorities of the Icelandic presidency, the environment and children and youth. The Minister was joined by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, who underlined the strong intergenerational dimension of the right to a safe and healthy environment.
The drafting group will meet in April to prepare the text of the draft Committee of Ministers recommendation to be examined by the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) at its meeting in October 2023.
Concept paper and programme of the consultative meeting
Greening the youth sector: sustainability checklist
T-kit: sustainability and youth work
Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)20 to member States on human rights and the protection of the environment
Manual on human rights and the environment
