Fostering youth inclusion and engagement in the hydrometeorological community

Geneva - The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG) joined the EC-78 Side Event WMO & Youth: Fostering youth inclusion and engagement in the hydrometeorological community, focusing on the state of the involvement of UN Organizations with the youth community and the impact of climate change on the development of future generations.

In his opening remarks, Johan Stander, Director of the Services Department of WMO, emphasized the importance of youth work, especially on matters pertaining to weather, water, climate, and the environment. He explained that our responsibility is to expose, mentor, capacitate, and empower youth to become the best possible version of themselves. He also pointed that WMO should be more aligned with other UN Agencies regarding youth and move forward with the WMO Youth Action Plan.

Claire Ransom, Youth Advocate in the Climate Monitoring and Policy (CMP) Division of WMO, spotlighted why a Youth Strategy is essential to better engage with WMO youth across the Secretariat, Regional Offices, and Members. She presented core points for developing a Youth Strategy in WMO, including systemizing its ongoing work to better engage with youth, and aligning with the UN Youth Strategy. Furthermore, she emphasized that youth being the most vulnerable to climate change, it is urgent to develop and implement such a strategy in WMO.

During the roundtable discussion that ensued, Prof. Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of WMO, pinpointed that the vital aspect of engaging with the youth is giving them the power to act. She noted that giving the youth opportunities for youth-led initiatives and action can initiate meaningful dialogues and constructive conversations. The mobilization towards youth action is at its best when working collaboratively, bringing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas together, especially when implementing a youth strategy plan, said Prof. Saulo.

Yuhan Zheng, Intern (YOUNGO) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), spoke about what youth can do to fight the impacts of climate change, including innovative solutions to contribute to a sustainable future. She pointed to examples of what is needed for the youth to turn their climate fears into climate action.

Sebastian Chavez, Youth Engagement Specialist in LOG, highlighted FAO’s work and efforts towards youth engagement. He spotlighted FAO’s Rural Youth Action Plan and the launch of the FAO Youth Committee in 2019, both of which focused on increasing youth engagement. He also presented youth-driven and led platforms such as the World Food Forum (WFF), with its thematic programmes and its mission on “Empowering youth for a Better Food Future”, mobilizing youth-led local action to help achieve more sustainable agrifood systems. Finally, he welcomed future collaboration between WMO and FAO for boosting youth empowerment and fostering youth inclusion in the hydrometeorological community.

Ofa Fa’anunu, Permanent Representative of Tonga, discussed the impacts of climate change on the people of Tonga, specifically women and children who are most vulnerable. He particularly noted that youth empowerment is shedding light on how to take care of the vulnerable in the face of climate change. He also presented the cooperation between WMO and Tonga on early warning directed at the youth, through the translation of the COPE disasters book series.

In closing remarks, Secretary General Saulo encouraged everyone to be the leaders of today in supporting youth inclusion and engagement, moving forward in the fight against climate change.