5 Young People to Watch at COP30

By Charlotte Boggon

Age 22

COP30 (the 30th UN Climate Change Conference) is happening right now in Belém, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest.

What is COP?

COP (Conference of the Parties) gathers countries that signed the 1992 U.N. climate treaty to work collectively on climate change. The treaty established "common but differentiated responsibilities," meaning higher emitting countries bear greater responsibility in addressing the climate crisis. Attendees include; government officials, NGOs, scientists, activists, Indigenous leaders, youth, businesses, and media.

**Useful links to find out more about COP below

Why COP30 Matters:

COP30 is the first to acknowledge failure in keeping warming below 1.5°C.

Key focuses of COP30 include:

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The young people to watch at COP30

Youth representation has become a critical issue at these conferences. Whilst COP27 introduced the first Youth Pavilion and COP28 saw record youth participation, there's still work to do. Often young people are invited symbolically, rather than as decision-makers, despite being the generation whose futures will be most impacted by climate change.

Below are youth activists and representatives to follow this week as they push for climate education, justice, and adaptation at COP30.

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‍Marcele Oliveira (Brazil)

Follow: Instagram: @marceleoliv, @oclimaedemudanca

Marcele Oliveira is a 26- year-old climate activist and was chosen by President Lula as the COP30 ‘Presidency Youth Climate Champion’, a role focused on coordinating global youth movements. She is also co-founder of the "O Clima é de Mudança" (The Climate is Changing) coalition and is a Youth Climate Negotiator for Rio's Secretariat of Environment and Climate.

Her Work: At COP30, she is highlighting the concept of “mutirão” (collective effort) as essential to climate action and is advocating for stronger adaptation plans, better climate education, and action against climate disinformation at COP30.

In Her Words:

‍"Young people's position in this discussion is also one of demand: for real inclusion and participation when decisions are being made about us."

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Emmanuel Mirus Ponon (The Philippines)

Follow: Instagram: @mirusssp | @aseanyouthadvocates

Emmanuel Mirus Poon is a 23 year old activist, founder of Asean Youth Advocates Network to galvanise young people to find their advocacy and participate actively in society. Emmanuel Mirus Ponon founded Asean Youth Advocates Network to galvanise young people to find their advocacy and participate actively in society. With chapters in Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore and VietnamWith chapters in Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. He is also and on the youth council of WWF

Emmanuel Mirus Ponon is a 23-year-old activist and founder of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network, an organisation that brings young people together, across all ASEAN Member states. He also serves on the Youth Council of WWF.

His work:

He is one of Seven WAFF Youth Leaders heading to Belém for COP30. Together, they will be advocating the NDC Youth Clause campaign, a campaign pushing governments to include youth in their Nationally Determined Contribution. The campaign is built on three pillars: partnering with youth to achieve climate goals, promoting intergenerational collaboration, and empowering young people as co-creators of climate policy.

In His Words:

‍"I aim to position youth as co-creators of climate resilience, using platforms that connect local stories to regional and global action."

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Kasha Sequoia Slavner (Canada)

‍‍Follow: Instagram: @globalsunrisers, @1.5degrees_of_peace

Kasha Sequoia Slavner is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer and founder of The Global Sunrise Project, a youth-led initiative using storytelling to inspire social change and climate action. She has also served as a Climate Ambassador for the Global Youth Climate Network in 2021.

Her Work:

She is heading to COP30 as one of 7 WAFF Youth Leaders. Through her two films, 1.5 Degrees of Peace and The Sunrise Storyteller, Kasha highlights the connection between climate change and conflict, and how peace-building can help the world face climate challenges sustainably as a unified front. She has previously spoken at COP26 and COP28, advocating for the integration of peace and disarmament into climate discussions.

In Her Words:
"At the community level, my organisation hosts workshops on storytelling for climate justice. We want to help people critically think about the narratives we tell about the climate crisis, and whether they’re positively influencing change, or reinforcing harmful beliefs. Our goal is to encourage them to share the climate stories that impact them, to reclaim their own narratives.”

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Jabri Ibrahim (Kenya)

‍ Follow: @ayiccafrica

Jabri Ibrahim is an Associate at the Africa Climate Energy Nexus (AfCEN) and a Chevening Scholar, specialising in climate science and energy policy. He is also a member of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s Advisory Group on Climate Change, representing youth and African perspectives in global climate discussions.

His Work:
At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Jabri joins the AfCEN delegation to spotlight Africa’s innovation in climate resilience. He will help lead sessions on sustainable agriculture and data-driven climate finance. Both these sessions explore how African countries can align climate targets with national budgets through intelligent data systems and AI.

In His Words:
" Involving young people in dialogues and decision-making processes is not only a diversity win, but also a strategic way of sourcing diverse thoughts and ideas. Young people represent the biggest segment of Africa’s population, and they stand to lose the most if we fail to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals.”

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Xiye Bastida (Mexico)

Follow: Instagram: @xiyebeara

Xiye Bastida is a 22-year-old climate justice activist, storyteller, and Director of the Re-Earth Initiative, a global youth-led organisation making the climate movement more accessible and intersectional.She began her activism after her hometown of San Pedro Tultepec, Mexico, experienced flooding and water contamination. Through the Re-Earth Initiative, she supports youth-led, nature-based projects across the Global South and works to shift climate narratives toward solutions and equity.

Her Work:
At COP30, Xiye is part of the #WomenLeadingOnClimate campaign, highlighting the role of women in driving climate action. She advocates for ecosystem resilience, equity, and the protection of biodiversity and Indigenous rights. Her work focuses on empowering youth and Indigenous voices to drive bold, intersectional climate action and ensure climate decisions prioritise justice and nature.

In Her Words: (on inter-generational collaboration)
" I think a good example is in Indigenous communities. We have youth and elder circles where youth talk to elders to listen to stories, to wisdom, and the elders listen to us about our aspirations, about the way in which we’re seeing the world, what’s possible, the clarity that a lot of youth have. Imagine what the world would look like if every single president had a kid next to them all the time. What would climate negotiations look like if all the delegates had a youth next to them, looking at them with every decision that they made? “

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