SB62: Why Civil Society Youth Engagement and Participation are Questions of Privileges, Power, and Resources First

The Bonn Climate Change Conference – Annual Preparation Meetings for Global Climate Change Policy Making

by Carla Wenzel & Emmanuella Sante

Every June, the so-called Bonn Climate Change Conference, June Climate Meetings or UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) takes place in Bonn for two weeks. It serves as the preparatory meeting for the World Climate Change Conference, also known as COP, which is generally held at the end of every year. 

The number of participants who attend the COP has markedly grown over the last few years, peaking at  97,000 registered delegates for the  2023 COP28 in Dubai/United Arab Emirates 2023 [1]. The Bonn Conference, by contrast, is attended by significantly fewer delegates – the total number of people joining the preparatory meetings each June has not exceeded 6000 [2]. The rather small conference venue, limited affordable overnight accommodation options, and struggles with visas and funding, especially for (youth) delegates coming from the Majority World [3], are only some reasons that Bonn has had relatively fewer attendees until today. 

Civil Society Youth Engagement as an Integral Part of the UNFCCC Policy Process

The topics of the Subsidiary Bodies Meeting in Bonn are the same as those of the COP;  hundreds of climate diplomats worldwide compete for global policies that seek to accelerate climate action for mitigation, adaptation, just transition, gender equality, and finance. During two weeks of climate diplomacy, their work is influenced by non-governmental action, civil society engagement, media and press work, and scientific reports of the latest climate science findings on climate change.

When reflecting on different stakeholders’ engagement in policymaking and the inclusivity and intergenerational elements of the policies themselves, it is crucial to consider the often-overlooked role of civil society youth delegates. Many youth delegates from both the Majority and Minority World still face significant barriers to meaningful engagement. As international climate policy outcomes become more intergenerational just and inclusive if voices of civil society youth delegates enter into negation rooms, holding national delegates accountable to the principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) in the light of different national circumstances [4; 5] and Leave No One Behind [6], we consider it fundamental to uncover barriers for civil society youth engagement and participation at Bonn Climate Change Conference.

Breaking Barriers: The Three-Pillar Matrix in the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs)

In the dynamic and often complex world of climate negotiations, meaningful participation requires more than just a seat at the table. The UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) play a pivotal role in shaping how countries and stakeholders from all backgrounds contribute to global climate governance. To better understand and improve this process from an intergenerational justice and inclusivity angle, we can apply the lens of the Three-Pillar Matrix: Conditions of Participation, Engagement, and Knowledge. 

Within the SBs, conditions of participation refer to the institutional and procedural frameworks that enable Parties and stakeholders to take part in negotiations, dialogues, and mandated events. Participation for civil society youth delegates is often constrained by limited financial resources and badge distribution, smaller delegations, and challenges in accessing travel, translation, and digital platforms [7]. Furthermore, the host countries’ political and geographical situation might be a point of concern. These barriers can restrict attendance for civil society youth delegates at parallel sessions and side events, and limit their ability to follow fast-moving negotiations. Efforts such as travel funds, hybrid meeting formats, and observer engagement initiatives have improved access, but disparities remain [8].

The second pillar – conditions of engagement – refers to the quality, inclusivity, and influence of interactions among Parties, observers, and stakeholders throughout the UNFCCC process during meetings, workshops, and dialogues.  In particular, civil society youth delegates from the Majority World may encounter trust deficits or feel that their inputs are less influential in shaping outcomes. As conferences are often long and intense days of political grappling, the lack of recovery spaces for civil society youth delegates can hinder them from engaging meaningfully on top. 

Also, civil society youth engagement in the UNFCCC requires a strong understanding of its specialized language. Familiarity with terms such as ‘subsidiary bodies’, ‘nationally determined contributions’, and ‘means of implementation’ allows civil society youth representatives to navigate procedural complexities, respond to calls for submissions or interventions, and strategically influence agenda-setting processes. Without this linguistic fluency, civil society youth groups risk being relegated to the role of observers only rather than active contributors. This then limits their ability to hold Parties accountable and advocate for more ambitious, intergenerational, just, and inclusive policy outcomes. 

The last pillar –  conditions of knowledge – focuses on the availability, accessibility, and usability of information, data, and capacity-building resources necessary for informed youth participation and engagement. Access to and understanding of technical documents, real-time data, and policy analysis can be limited by insufficient information infrastructure or persistent language barriers within the (digital) UNFCCC space. Many civil society youth organisations rely on capacity-building workshops, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing platforms provided by the UNFCCC, partner organizations, and Majority World country Parties [5, 6]. 

Dismantling Participation and Engagement Barriers: Key Actions

While words matter to uncover and visualize, deeds are needed to dismantle barriers of participation and engagement for civil society youth delegates.

Based on our existing experience within the UNFCCC context, we advocate for systemic change in several ways: 

1. Structural support must be strengthened by providing financial and logistical assistance for civil society youth delegates from the Majority World and marginalized groups, including travel funds and digital access, and by ensuring translation and interpretation [9,10].
2. Capacity building, consisting of knowledge transfer and acquisition of strategic abilities, must be enhanced through investment in targeted training and technical support, especially for civil society youth delegates. Additionally, information and documents must be made accessible in multiple languages and formats [11]. 
3. Unequal historical responsibility and deriving questions of equity must be addressed by designing processes that confront power imbalances and actively promote climate justice.

Reducing barriers to participation and engagement means providing resources, reforming procedures, building capacity, and ensuring all voices are heard and have a meaningful influence on international climate decision-making.

References:
[1] Carbon Brief, 2023. UN Climate Talks. Analysis: Which countries have sent the most delegates to COP28?, https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-which-countries-have-sent-the-most-delegates-to-cop28/.
[2] Bonn General-Anzeiger, 2024. Around 6,000 climate delegates meet in Bonn for UN Conference, https://ga.de/ga-english/news/around-6-000-climate-delegates-meet-in-bonn-for-un-conference_aid-113865753.
[3] Alam, S., 2008. Majority world: challenging the West’s Rhetoric of democracy. Amerasia J 34:87–9,  https://doi.org/10.17953/amer.34.1.l3176027k4q614v5.
[4] UNFCCC, 2015. Paris Agreement, https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/paris_agreement_english_.pdf
[5] Voigt, C., & Ferreira, F., 2016. ‘Dynamic Differentiation’: The Principles of CBDR-RC, Progression and Highest Possible Ambition in the Paris Agreement. Transnational Environmental Law,5(2), 285-303. doi:10.1017/S2047102516000212 
[6] UNFCCC, 2023. Leaving No One Behind in the Transition Towards a Low-Carbon Economy, https://unfccc.int/news/leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-transition-towards-a-low-carbon-economy.
[7] Lawyers responding to climate change, 2012. Observer participation in subsidiary bodies, Legal Responses, https://legalresponse.org/legaladvice/observer-participation-in-subsidiary-bodies/.
[8] UNFCCC, 2024. Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation on its sixtieth session, held in Bonn from 3 to 13 June 2024, https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/sbi2024_13_adv.pdf.
[9] UNFCCC, 2024. Report of the Facilitative Working Group of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/sbsta2024_01E.pdf.
[10] Indian Youth Climate Network, 2024.  Guidelines and Criteria for IYCN’s Engagement in UNFCCC Conferences, https://iycn.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Guidelines-and-Criteria-for-IYCNs-Engagement-in-UNFCCC-Conferences.pdf.
[11] UNFCC, Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/subsidiary-bodies/sbi.