The KSA Local Conference of Youth marked a resounding success as it concluded its second conference in Saudi Arabia. The event, hosted by the Saudi Youth Climate Network in partnership with Pristine NGO and Global Shapers Riyadh Hub, and sponsored by EDF Saudi and UNDP, took place on Oct. 21 at the United Nations House in Riyadh. It brought together passionate young climate advocates and experts to inspire intergenerational dialogues, debates and actionable solutions that promote climate literacy and the adoption of green skills, expediting the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s green goals.
Having run for 18 years, LCOY18 is the official event of the Children and Youth Constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
KSA LCOY18 featured keynote speeches from leaders of EDF, UNDP, UNICEF, and IsDB, addressing a spectrum of critical topics, including innovative low-carbon technologies in the Kingdom, youth inclusion in sustainable development as a pillar of Vision 2030, children and youth rights across all sectors, and comprehensive social, environmental, and economic development efforts in Muslim-majority countries.
Margaret Jones Williams, deputy resident representative, UNDP, said: “UNDP Saudi Arabia is committed to empowering youth voices and supporting their engagement in policymaking and helping guide the development of youth-inclusive climate change policies.”
The event also featured an engaging panel discussion that explored how different stakeholders can collectively mobilize youth in Saudi Arabia as key players in the Kingdom’s green transition. Panelists, moderated by Naif Alharthi, included Noura Alissa, international policy specialist at the Ministry of Energy; Faisal Al-Qurooni, clean energy technologies specialist at the Ministry of Energy; Fawaz Abu-Ghazaleh, CEO of Remedium Network; Ahmed Alsaidlani, CEO of Roots Ventures; Dr. Sultan Alshareef, sustainability director of New Murabba; and Dr. Mohammad Nurunnabi, chair of the accounting department at Prince Sultan University.
The event concluded with an interactive Global Youth Statement session, where the primary objective was to gather inputs from the audience. The Global Youth Statement policy document, which will feature the voice of youth in Saudi Arabia, will be submitted to the Middle East and North Africa Regional Conference of Youth in Oman in November, followed by the Global Conference of Youth in the UAE at the end of November. This represents a significant step toward youth involvement in the official youth policy paper for the COP28 climate negotiations, the supreme decision-making body of the Climate Change Convention.
Hassan Qadi, vice curator of Global Shapers Jeddah Hub, said: “As a community-led project, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives like the Saudi Youth Climate Network to reach a maximum number of beneficiaries and create meaningful and sustainable change.”
Hanan Alnuwaiser, founder of the Saudi Youth Climate Network, said: “KSA LCOY18 granted a platform for young climate advocates and leaders in Saudi Arabia to share ideas, foster innovative discussions, and drive tangible and actionable climate policy recommendations. Witnessing the immense potential of our youth in addressing climate challenges is inspiring and exciting — our future will be in good hands.”
