FAQs

Most frequent questions and answers

YOUNGO

YOUNGO is the official Children and Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC  (YOUTH + NGO = YOUNGO). It’s a network of youth organisations and individuals who get involved with international climate change policies and actions within the UNFCCC and the UN. You can find a comprehensive recording of what YOUNGO is here and the YOUNGO website.

YOUNGO has a structure with as little hierarchy as possible. 

Every member is invited to take the initiative and start a submission, action etc. The thematic working groups (WG) work quite independently and the Global Coordination Team (GCT) tries to keep an overview of all engagement in YOUNGO. 

The two Focal Points (Heeta from the Global South and Marie-Claire from the Global North) are responsible for the communication between official entities, especially the UNFCCC Secretariat and broader UN as well as COP hosts, and the other constituencies.

 

Once a month YOUNGO members meet in a monthly constituency call. It always takes place on the first Sunday of the month and the times are shifting around the globe to be truly inclusive. The upcoming constituency calls are scheduled for the following dates. Zoom link:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApfuCtrTgjE9eRvfwyrRv4kIZytsgRsNRW

        Aug 1, 2021 01:00 AM UTC

        Sep 5, 2021 03:00 AM UTC

        Oct 3, 2021 05:00 AM UTC

        Nov 7, 2021 07:00 AM UTC

        Dec 5, 2021 09:00 AM UTC

        Jan 2, 2022 11:00 AM UTC

From the very beginning of the negotiations under the UNFCCC, youth has been actively engaged at the annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and inter-sessionals (the meetings of Subsidiary Bodies of UNFCCC, also called SB), which are organised by the UNFCCC. In 2005, we formally gathered in Montreal ahead of COP11 to make our voices heard, thus creating the first Global Conference of Youth (COY). Before 2009, youth participated under a self-organised umbrella name International Youth Climate Movement (IYCM), as a part of which they engaged in the negotiations via their observer organisations, engaged in lobbying on policy fronts, and carried out creative actions.  

 

Shortly before 2009 and COP15, there was a general intention within the youth constituents, and also from the perspective of the UNFCCC Secretariat to formalise the participation of youth at UNFCCC.  The UNFCCC secretariat and the member states to the Convention officially recognised youth as an observer constituency of its own and confirmed the status in 2011, to represent the formal voice of children and youth in UNFCCC processes. 

While UNFCCC is a party to the process, it is to be highlighted that the design of the internal structure of YOUNGO was completely self-organised and youth-led. The then members of the youth movement conducted an outreach – both within and outside the existing networks – to reach various youth NGOs globally, set up the communication channels for YOUNGO, developed elements of structure: Focal Points, the Global Coordination Team, Working Groups, etc. 

 

YOUNGO adopted a flat (no hierarchy) structure, where all decisions are taken by consensus (via established decision-making guidelines), and all the engaging entities (different NGOs – irrespective of their scale) have equal voice in the system. As of today, more than a decade later, YOUNGO still grounds its work on these underlying principles. At present, YOUNGO is the oldest and largest volunteer-run children and youth constituency to a UN convention or entity. 

 

YOUNGO was granted a provisional constituency status for 2 years in 2009, and then later on in 2011 – the status became official. Over the past decade, YOUNGO has seen a variety of processes, guidelines, increase in engagement, and at the same time, challenges.

YOUNGO is an open, cost free and accessible space where we aim to build a global community of youth working to solve the climate crisis. Inclusivity is at the heart of YOUNGGO and reflected in our principles. We have a horizontal, decentralized and non-hierarchical structure and work ethic and welcome constructive, critical and diverse views. We aim to become even more inclusive especially in regards to language diversity and accessibility for youth with special needs, refugees and youth from marginalised communities. We expect all our members to be respectful of cultural differences and support each other. YOUNGO condemns all types of harassment. YOUNGO has an internal Awareness Team and a Code of Conduct including an Anti-Harassment-Policy.

There is no official YOUNGO language but the most spoken language in YOUNGO is English. Whenever possible YOUNGO tries to be language inclusive for example by having translation in the constituency calls etc. If you can help us translate documents please let us know.

The most important communication channel in YOUNGO is the official YOUNGO mailing list, where the most important things are being shared with the whole constituency. After filling out the membership form you will be added to the mailing list. Additionally, different working groups use communication channels like Slack, WhatsApp or Facebook. Here is a link to YOUNGOs linktree, that contains the most important links in one place: YOUNGO linktree.

While it is impossible to represent “all” youth, at YOUNGO we strive to listen and engage with all youth who want to engage and hence be as representative as possible. As outlined under inclusivity, all children and youth up to the age of 35 can join YOUNGO. While all YOUNGO members can participate in any working group, we set up virtual, Local and Regional Conferences of Youth (vCOY, LCOY & RCOY) to ensure representation. All of these voices are culminating in the Global Conference of Youth (GCOY) prior to the COP.

YOUNGO is guided by its principles.

  1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngo.unfccc/
  2. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/youngo.unfccc
  3. Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/175380385816743
  4. Twitter: https://twitter.com/IYCM
  5. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/youngounfccc/
  6. TikTok Channel: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMexK6aqx/

Membership

Everyone up to the age of 35 and interested or engaged in climate action and advocacy is welcome to become a YOUNGO member. Just fill this form https://tinyurl.com/YOUNGO-Membership.

Anyone up until the age of 35 years can join YOUNGO. There is no minimum age. In case you are older than 35 you can join another UNFCCC constituency.

From the very beginning of the negotiations under the UNFCCC, youth has been actively engaged at the annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and inter-sessionals (the meetings of Subsidiary Bodies of UNFCCC, also called SB), which are organised by the UNFCCC. In 2005, we formally gathered in Montreal ahead of COP11 to make our voices heard, thus creating the first Global Conference of Youth (COY). Before 2009, youth participated under a self-organised umbrella name International Youth Climate Movement (IYCM), as a part of which they engaged in the negotiations via their observer organisations, engaged in lobbying on policy fronts, and carried out creative actions. 

 

Shortly before 2009 and COP15, there was a general intention within the youth constituents, and also from the perspective of the UNFCCC Secretariat to formalise the participation of youth at UNFCCC.  The UNFCCC secretariat and the member states to the Convention officially recognised youth as an observer constituency of its own and confirmed the status in 2011, to represent the formal voice of children and youth in UNFCCC processes. 


While UNFCCC is a party to the process, it is to be highlighted that the design of the internal structure of YOUNGO was completely self-organised and youth-led. The then members of the youth movement conducted an outreach – both within and outside the existing networks – to reach various youth NGOs globally, set up the communication channels for YOUNGO, developed elements of structure: Focal Points, the Global Coordination Team, Working Groups, etc. 


YOUNGO adopted a flat (no hierarchy) structure, where all decisions are taken by consensus (via established decision-making guidelines), and all the engaging entities (different NGOs – irrespective of their scale) have equal voice in the system. As of today, more than a decade later, YOUNGO still grounds its work on these underlying principles. At present, YOUNGO is the oldest and largest volunteer-run children and youth constituency to a UN convention or entity. 


YOUNGO was granted a provisional constituency status for 2 years in 2009, and then later on in 2011 – the status became official. Over the past decade, YOUNGO has seen a variety of processes, guidelines, increase in engagement, and at the same time, challenges.

As soon as you are in the YOUNGO database, you will be added to the YOUNGO google group / mailing list. From that moment on you are a YOUNGO member.

YOUNGO has no membership fee.

YOUNGO currently has a membership of +10,000 individuals and +1,000 organizations. Our membership is growing by the day.

By being a YOUNGO member you have the opportunity to have an impact on the youth representation, to join a worldwide community and to meet amazing people and start new friendships. As a YOUNGO member, you will have access to some UNFCCC process insights and amazing opportunities. During your time in YOUNGO you will learn new skills, from time management and communications to international climate politics and even languages and for sure, you are going to have much fun!

Working in YOUNGO

YOUNGO aims to empower children and youths around the globe to take action and be drivers of meaningful, impactful and positive change by raising awareness, sharing knowledge, building capacity, enhancing collaboration and cooperation, enlarging networks, advocating for pragmatic and ambitious policies and mobilizing for youth actions to achieve a  livable climate just future.

 

YOUNGO focuses on the following areas:

1) Awareness, Knowledge and Capacity Building

2) Collaboration, Cooperation and Network 

3) Policy, Lobby and Advocacy

4) Youth Action


Please find more information in the Introduction to YOUNGO guide and recording

It is up to you how much time you invest into the work of YOUNGO. If you become part of an active working group you may speak to the WG contact points on how much they expect of you. If you are part of the Global Coordination Team (GCT) you are expected to contribute at least 4 hours per week to the work in the GCT. Note that the more you, engage the better you will understand and hence it is more fun and rewarding and satisfying.

The Focal Points are elected YOUNGO members with experience and knowledge, who liaison between the UNFCCC Secretariat, other relevant offices, institutions and groups and YOUNGO. YOUNGO has two Focal Points: one from the Global North and one from the Global South to ensure regional representation. At COP25 in 2019, Marie-Claire Graf from Switzerland and Heeta Lakhani from India were elected. The Focal Points have no decision making mandate and serve the constituency. There is a Focal Point, mandate including an election guide. All UNFCCC have Focal Points and are referred to as Constituency Focal Points (CFP).

Global Coordination Team (GCT) is a group of dedicated and experienced YOUNGO members who provide oversight, facilitation and support. It consists of 40 members from around the globe. There is a GCT mandate.

The time to join the Global Coordination Team will be announced via email to the YOUNGO mailing list when the time for new GCT members comes.

YOUNGO organizes its thematic work in so-called working groups. There are more than 20 active working groups. You may find an overview in this document. You can establish new working groups in case there is none. There is no selection or application process to join WG, everyone can be part of as many WG as one wishes. Whereas we suggest joining only a few and getting rather deeply engaged. 

In the working group overview sheet you can find the contacts to the WG contact points. You can simply contact them and they will add you to the communication channels.

A dedicated YOUNGO member who seeks, applies or requests for such a letter, be based on their meaningful contributions that shall merit such a valid recognition document. The contributions can be of various forms, including but not limited to contribution to the work of YOUNGO GCT and/or any other of the Working Groups within YOUNGO over a time-period of more than 6 months. 

 

Such contribution can be expressed through, or be in the form of the following activities:

 

    • Involvement and especially leading the drafting of at least one YOUNGO submission (YOUNGO submission does not necessarily include opening or closing statements at one of the UN climate conferences)
    • Meaningful representation of YOUNGO at meetings of UNFCCC events (e.g. TEC, Adaptation Committee Meeting, etc) and comparative ones (e.g.)
    • Facilitation and active contribution during the online-calls of Working Groups throughout the indicated time-period
    • Leading or supporting the execution of Action Points that were identified during the work of the GCT or the Working Groups/Task Teams 
    • Taking responsibility for a remarkable activity related to YOUNGO which include
    • Organizing at least one major events within YOUNGO, like a Local COY, VCOY or comparative projects
    • On-ground/in-session capacities such as logistical support, culture watcher support during at least one intersessional or COP
    • Membership identification especially in case of inactive members (based on subscription to mailing list)
    • Other forms of contributions that would be deemed suited by the YOUNGO GCT members.

No, there is no salary or financial benefits in YOUNGO. We are all volunteers from around the globe with the same goal – to make a change and make our voices heard. Sometimes we receive funds or stipends for projects, consultations and moderations.

No, you cannot automatically join COP if you join YOUNGO. To join COP you will need to find or be part of an admitted NGO that can provide you with an accreditation badge which then gives you access to the COP. You can find the list of all admitted NGOs and institutions here. Alternatively you could ask your government to give you a party badge (mostly only possible after a long term engagement) or maybe you can join as a media reporter via media badges.

YOUNGO often gets invitations to represent youth voices and statements on panels, conferences and meetings. There is a selection process to represent YOUNGO. Without selection process and consultations, you can never represent YOUNGO or talk on behalf of YOUNGO.

COY

Every year YOUNGO together with local youth organizations organizes the Global Conference of Youth (COY) the days prior to the annual UN Climate Change Conference (COP). The COY brings together young people from around the world who are passionate about addressing climate change and promoting sustainable lifestyles. This year’s COY16 as COP26 will take place 28th to 31st of October 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. You can find COY on social media @coy16glasgow (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIN)

As a Conference of Youth, COY attendees will be both coordinators of the Conference, volunteers and of course, Country delegates. The event will also be joined by various distinguished guests involved with the same goals and objectives of COY16. This Conference is intended to provide a space for young advocates around the world, As such, COY16 encourages the prominent youth participation and presence in all aspects of the Conference.

As much as COY16 organizers would love to host as many guests as possible, COVID-19 poses a huge obstacle in the number of spaces available. This means the number of people attending COY depends more on safety regulations by the Scottish government and health policies.

There’s a number of different positions you can take as a COY16 volunteer. The easiest way to find if there’s a position suitable for you, is to visit our website and look for a vacancy that aligns with your experience. We urge young people from around the world to participate, either as a Country Coordinator, delegate, or volunteer.

As a United Nations endorsed Conference, some COY guests get the chance to attend COP. Sadly, COVID is a huge obstacle and how many people will be able to attend both Conferences.

vCOY

vCOY is the virtual Conference of Youth and is in line with YOUNGO’s mandate and year-round policy processes aimed towards the UN and especially UNFCCC. The vCOY ensures that youth who can not travel to physical events can participate.

All people below the age of 35 who are interested in making their voices heard in the UNFCCC climate processes can apply.

LCOY

Local COYs (LCOY) aim to bring together youth from one country or area. At LCOYs, youth participate as part of national and regional movements. They focus on climate related topics which have high national importance, discuss and develop respective outputs, which are fed into the Global COY and consequently into the UN climate negotiations. They normally take place before the Global COY. Furthermore, they also serve the purpose to train youth and to build their capacities for climate action. Here you can find more info.

As explained in the section About COY, the name, “LCOY”, is the collective intellectual property of YOUNGO, and as such may only be used by YOUNGO, or by other youth entities who YOUNGO has given permission to. Hence, you need the official approval by YOUNGO. Otherwise, in case of use of term LCOY without endorsement, various steps might be taken which include, but are not limited to: (1) contacting the sponsors of the proposed Local COY, (2) issuing (a) public statement(s), (3) not recognizing any outputs from the COY for inclusion in YOUNGO’s work at the COP.

Ideally, it should take place 4 months before the Global COY (which usually takes place prior COP). However, if suited reasons are given, a LCOY can also take place before that. Also, coordinating the scheduling of local and regoinal COYs in a region might be expedient to make sure that outcomes of each LCOYs can be fed into the RCOY.

Ideally, only one LCOY should take place per country or “region”. However, in case it makes sense due to logistical or geographical reasons, it might be possible that two separate LCOYs take place in the same country/region. In any case, close communication with all involved actors will happen before any approval.

Yes, you can submit an updated version of the request to be considered in the forthcoming tranches.

Yes, a Local COY can be hosted in any language. It is indeed encouraged that LCOYs adapt to the regional and national circumstances relevant to them. However, we encourage that communication with YOUNGO should preferably happen in English or any official UN language.

In the past, different collaboration took place:

  1. The outcome of every LCOY and RCOY feeds into the Global COY outcome, which will be used at the UNFCCC meetings and COP
  2. Video project: a collective video to present the whole of LCOYs
  3. Cross promotion on Social media and live streams
  4. LCOY organisers (who were able to travel to GCOY) presenting their outputs in-person at GCOY
  5. General exchange on organisation and focus topics/central themes

Please note that this is very much dependent on capacities and circumstances of GCOY and the LCOY, and new ideas of collaboration can be explored and are welcome.

Failure to uphold this agreement can result in YOUNGO withdrawing its endorsement of the Local COY in question, should reasonable efforts within the COY WG not resolve such problems. Dissociation may include, but it is not limited to: 1) contacting the sponsors of the Local COY, 2) issuing (a) public statement(s), 3) not recognizing any outputs from the COY for inclusion in YOUNGO’s work at the COP.

If you and your organisation want to organise a COY in your region or sub-region, please reach out to team@lcoy.earth with the subject: “RCOY request: (Name of the region).” The Mentoring and Applications Sub-WG of the COY WG will take your request and evaluate it case by case. Please, contact us before making any concrete actions. We will contact you with organizations and YOUNGO members of the same region that are planning the same or have already successfully requested for the approval by YOUNGO. As RCOYs are also characterized by an organizing team that represents the diversity of nationalities in the region, reaching out to YOUNGO is helpful to find further organisations willing to support the respective planning process. By reaching out to the COY Liaisons, the COY WG or the YOUNGO mailing list you will also find out, whether there is already a RCOY planned and who might be the contact to reach out to in order to join the organising team.

 

IMPORTANT: For approving your request, the coordination team of the RCOY must represent the diversity of the region & the RCOY must encourage to host national LCOYs & the RCOY must have the endorsement of (at least) 5 LCOYs approved in the region that are happening the same year.

This can entail several benefits:

  1. Authorisation to use “Local Conference of Youth (LCOY)” as the branding of your conference
  2. Endorsement by YOUNGO, as a part of which you will be provided with an official approval letter in English and any other requested language (depending on the capacity for translations)
  3. Authorisation to use the official logo(s) of YOUNGO on all relevant forms of branding (such as website, flyers, publications, etc.) associated with the LCOY
  4. Have the outputs of the LCOY being formally fed into GCOY and YOUNGO through avenues that are used by YOUNGO
  5. Have the opportunity to present your LCOY at a centralized website and YOUNGO website (should such and further such avenues exist)
  6. Being approved may not necessarily entail any financial benefits (note that YOUNGO, currently, is volunteer-run)

UNFCCC

The UNFCCC is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also referred to as UN Climate Change. It was the first international agreement in which countries decided to mitigate global warming. It was endorsed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 and came into force in New York City, USA, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1994. Here is a link to the Convention in English: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Here you can find more information about the UNFCCC: understanding the UNFCCC.

Civil society representatives, like us, from admitted NGOs can attend the conferences of the UNFCCC as so-called observers. These observers organize themselves in nine constituencies. These are loose groups of NGOs with diverse but clustered interests or perspectives. These include:

​

  • BINGO – Business and Industry NGOs
  • ENGO – Environmental NGOs
  • Farmers – Farmers and agriculture NGOs
  • IPO – Indigenous peoples organizations
  • LGMA – Local government and municipal authorities
  • RINGO – Research and independent NGOs
  • TUNGO – Trade union NGOs
  • WGC – Women and gender constituency
  • YOUNGO – Youth NGOs (this is us!)

 

In addition, the UNFCCC secretariat also recognizes the following groups as informal NGO groups:

 

  • Faith Based Organizations (FBOs)
  • Education and Capacity Building and Outreach NGOs (ECONGO)
  • Parliamentarians


These constituencies are officially recognized by the UNFCCC and are granted certain rights, e.g. speaking slots in the plenaries of the conferences and making interventions during sessions, access to certain meetings etc. or providing written input, called submissions, on views and information on various issues under negotiation. You can be part of different constituencies. Find more detailed infos by UNFCCC here and by YOUNGO here.

There are lots of abbreviations flying around in the international climate negotiations. Most of them are explained in this UNFCCC Glossary. Have a look!

By joining any constituency and especially YOUNGO. Find more infos here how you can engage at COPs.

If you want to obtain the UNFCCC observer status that will allow you to attend COPs and other UNFCCC sessions you have to follow the process outlined here:   How to obtain observer status?

Check out the explanation here: What is multilateralism?

Important documents

Check out the explanation here: understanding the Paris Agreement.

Here are some useful links to help you understand the UNFCCC, it’s processes and bodies: 

COP

The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention (196 + EU) are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements. The first Conference of the Parties, COP1, was held in 1995 in Bonn, where the UNFCCC Secretariat is located. (Source: UNFCCC) This website has some more information about the COP you might find useful: understanding a COP.

Find more about what is discussed at COP here.

No, a YOUNGO membership does not grant you the right to be part of your country’s delegation. For that, you will need to contact your country’s ministry that is responsible for the COP delegations (list of national Focal Points). Maybe YOUNGO members from your country have already tried reaching out and you can combine your efforts.

SB

The SBI represents Subsidiary Body for Implementation, and its work has been at the heart of all implementation issues under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and more recently the Paris Agreement. In this respect, its agenda is shaped around the key building blocks of implementation of all these treaties and instruments: transparency, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity-building, and aims at enhancing the ambition of Parties on all aspects of its agenda.

(source: https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/subsidiary-bodies/sbi)

The SBSTA – Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice- is one of two permanent subsidiary bodies to the Convention established by the COP/CMP. It supports the work of the COP, the CMP and the CMA through the provision of timely information and advice on scientific and technological matters as they relate to the Convention, its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. 

(source : https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/subsidiary-bodies/sbsta)

Pre-COP

The Pre-COP is a preparatory meeting held before each Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a selected group of countries with an informal setting to discuss and exchange views on some key political aspects of the negotiations and offer political guidance for subsequent negotiations.

(source: https://ukcop26.org/pre-cop/pre-cop-milan/)

The Youth 4 Climate Pre-COP is a conference for about 400 youth delegates and is facilitated to provide young delegates an unprecedented opportunity to put forward ideas and concrete proposals on some of the most pressing issues on the climate agenda.