News facts
COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan, 18 November 2024 – About 40 youth activists, innovators, and supporters gathered at COP29 as youth-led climate solutions took central stage at the Youth Talk event organized by the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) in collaboration with YOUNGO and the Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB).
Reaffirming the significant role of youth-led climate initiatives, the Local Innovators, Global Change: Youth Talk highlighted groundbreaking innovations and inspiring stories from young leaders at the forefront of climate action.
Designed to foster connections and support promising youth-driven projects, the event united CTCN’s technological expertise, PCCB’s focus on capacity-building, and YOUNGO’s grassroots engagement, creating a powerful bridge between innovative climate solutions and potential partners to help young innovators scale their impact and drive sustainable change.
Ruth Zugman do Coutto, Deputy Director of the Climate Change Division at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of youth involvement in climate action, encouraging young people worldwide to engage actively in initiatives like Youth Talks and the Youth Climate Innovation (YCI) programme.
Highlighting the impact of these youth-oriented platforms, Ms Zugman do Coutto noted that such programs provide crucial opportunities for young innovators to design, refine, and scale their climate solutions.
As CTCN has increasingly engaged youth in its technology initiatives over the past decade, the Talk features alumni from the first cohost of the Youth Climate Innovation program, a technical assistance implementor from the Central African Republic, and the CTCN-supported Gender Just Climate Solutions Award champion.
Omer Badokhon, Co-founder & CEO of bioTreasure, highlighted that the Youth Climate Innovation Programme was “a real catalyst for the growth of our startup.” He emphasized, “For young people, gaining entrepreneurial skills, strategic guidance, and capacity-building opportunities means more than just advancing an idea; it’s about equipping them with the tools and knowledge to create real, impactful change.”
From exploring the role of incubator programmes in accelerating youth-led climate technology startups to highlighting initiatives that empower mountain-dwelling women by breaking isolation and facilitating a just energy transition, the Talk showcased a diverse range of impactful solutions. These projects, and many others, illustrate young leaders' innovative approach and determination to tackle climate challenges through practical, community-driven solutions.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact [email protected] or visit the CTCN web page.
- Photos from the event may be found here.