In brief, Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) is an initiative of YOUNGO, the official youth constituency at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

These conferences are held in countries across the world with the aim to provide a space to boost youth climate action locally and act as a national version of the International Conference of Youth (COY).

Background:

Formally recognized in 2009, YOUNGO serves as the official voice of young people from across the globe in the UN climate negotiations under the UNFCCC.

Since the very beginning, YOUNGO has organized and hosted a COY each year immediately prior to the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. This meeting provides a crucial space for youth to gather for networking, topical training, and preparation to actively engage in the COP and other UN processes relating to climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development.

In 2015, the global wave of energy around COP21, which gave us the Paris Agreement, sparked an interest by many young people who could not attend the main conferences in Paris to organize parallel conferences. Known as “Local COYs”, these meetings played a critical role in mobilizing more young people for climate action than ever before around the world.

This practice of Local COYs continued since then. As the world now moves into pursuing the implementation of the Paris Agreement and raising ambitions in national and global efforts, it is more important than ever to engage young people beyond the realm of just the negotiations at the UNFCCC.

Who should attend?

We invite participation from youth students, young entrepreneurs and those interested to get involved in creating a better world. You will learn from industry experts, sustainable initiatives and youth innovators.