New addition at COP27 is a ‘big moment for young people’

Dr Saad Uakkas, the North Africa coordinator for the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change, says the introduction of the new Children and Youth pavilion at COP27 is a “big moment for young people”

“For the first time ever we have a whole pavilion for children and youth,” Dr Uakkas said. “It is a big moment as young people have a space where they can network, unite, where they can relax and link up with each other. They can also invite ministers and high level people to hear their dialogue, organise sessions and lots more.”

The pavilion is one of the reasons Dr Uakkas has #ACopHalfFull sense of optimism about the future.

“It’s #ACopHalfFull because children are the inspiration for the world and remind us that there is a generation waiting for us to take urgent action,” he said. “It’s #ACopHalfFull because we have for the first time young people uniting and working with each other and having a space to raise and share their voice.”

“And it is #ACopHalfFull,” Dr Uakkas added. “Because there are strong negotiations about loss and damage and also adaptation.”

For more messages and opinions like this from COP27, follow me and Paula Maultasch, the creative executive producer of the Inside Ideas podcast, and the hashtag #ACopHalfFull on twitter, as we bring you reasons to believe a better future is on the way – and remember to share your own thoughts on why you think the same.