What is COY?

The Conference of Youth (COY) is the official event of YOUNGO, the children and youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is an annual gathering of young people from all over the world who are passionate about climate change and environmental topics. The global COY takes place right before the annual UN Climate Change Conference, also known as the Conference of Parties (COP), at the same location. A COY is envisioned to have the following objectives:

Preparatory space for YOUNGO to COP: COY primarily serves as a space for capacity building and policy training to prepare young people for the COP that follows the COY. The participants are inducted into the various Working Groups of YOUNGO, where they develop common policy positions (lobby points) and develop strategies to best advocate for the interests of youth in those policy areas.

Facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience: Apart from the primary purpose highlighted above, the very nature of COY also provides a brilliant space for young people coming together from different parts of the world to share experiences, knowledge, thoughts and ideas for enhanced global climate action, also providing space for various artwork and movement building.