From November 17th–19th, 2024, I had the privilege of attending COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as one of the Department for Education’s Youth Focal Points (YFPs) for sustainability and climate change. It was a packed and inspiring few days, where I had the opportunity to represent UK youth voices, spotlight the UK government’s progress on sustainability and climate education, and connect with global leaders and organizations working in this space. I previously attended COP26 in Glasgow through Mock COP, and it was fantastic to be back at COP again in a different capacity, but still championing young people and their critical role in climate justice. I also worked closely with Minister Creagh, Defra, and received valuable support from Quinn Runkle, Director of Education at Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK).

One of the most exciting milestones at COP29 was the UK’s announcement that education the youth clause would be formally included in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This is critical because education is truly how we will change the world, and how countries can deliver Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. DESNZ Secretary of State Ed Miliband announced the UK as the first country to sign the Universal Youth Clause into its NDCs, highlighting the need for meaningful youth engagement in achieving the UK’s ambitious 81% emissions reduction target. It was particularly rewarding to hear the Secretary of State reference the DfE’s Youth Focal Point program as a standout example of involving young people in shaping policy.

A major highlight for me was participating in the World Bank’s Climate Education Panel, where I spoke alongside representatives from South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, the Secretary of Education for Pará, Brazil, and the Deputy Minister of Education from Ukraine. I shared insights into the role of the DfE’s Youth Focal Points and how the UK collaborates with young people to enhance its approach to sustainability and climate education. The interest and enthusiasm this generated were incredibly motivating - I’ve already been invited to meet with the Minister of Education for Pará to support pre-COP30 youth engagement initiatives in Brazil. Additionally, the World Bank expressed interest in exploring future collaborations on climate education.

I also had the chance to join a panel with the British Council to discuss equipping young people with green skills for the net-zero transition. It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight how young people can drive real change, not only through advocacy but also by actively contributing to policy development and decision-making.

One of the most impactful events I attended was a high-level roundtable on greening education, where Minister Creagh outlined the UK’s goal for all schools to have Climate Action Plans (CAPs) and Sustainability Leads by the end of 2025. She also emphasized the role of outdoor learning, referencing the National Education Nature Park, and drew attention to the link between climate education and the resilience of education systems. Another exciting moment was the OECD’s announcement that future PISA rankings will include climate literacy alongside literacy and numeracy—a huge step forward for embedding climate action into global education frameworks.

In between sessions, I had the chance to meet with Minister Creagh to discuss the role of young people in cross-departmental collaboration on climate and nature. We talked about how education can enable climate action and resilience, and how great it is to see other government ministers getting involved in the education sustainability agenda. I’m excited to build on this discussion in upcoming meetings with Minister Morgan.

I also leaned into the media side of COP29. I filmed a TikTok/Reel showing a “Day in the Life” at COP, which was shared on SOS-UK’s channels and reposted by the DfE. I also recorded a podcast with DESNZ reflecting on why COP matters to young people and joined a “Live at COP” [link] interview with the University of Edinburgh. It was great to share the experience with a wider audience and highlight how events like COP are relevant to young people everywhere.

Looking ahead, my term as a Youth Focal Point ends in summer 2025, but I’m excited to see the next cohort take the lead at COP30 in Brazil. One thing I’d love to see next year is an education-focused event at the UK Pavilion, co-hosted by the YFPs and the DfE, and other partners like UNESCO and Brazil. I’d also recommend extending the YFPs’ attendance at COP to allow more time for follow-ups and networking.

Reflecting on my time at COP29, it was an incredibly rewarding and empowering experience. I felt well-supported by the UK government and SOS-UK, and it was an honour to advocate for young people on a global stage. The UK is widely recognized as a leader in climate education—several attendees even described our approach as“ the best in the world.” It was also inspiring to see innovative approaches from other countries like Finland, Brazil, and Scotland. There’s so much potential for collaboration in the lead-up to COP30, and I’m excited to continue working with the Department for Education, SOS-UK, and the next cohort of YFPs to make it happen.