Youth Voices Shine at Climate Conference
COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, amid concerns from civil society that the negotiations should have a stronger position to meet the needs of the Global South. The conference itself was viewed by activists and advocates as wanting. But during the conference, Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassadors took a proactive role in championing youth engagement and empowerment, participating in a series of side events to highlight the central role of young people in the climate movement, especially those from the Global South and on the front lines of the climate crisis. These events amplified youth voices and showcased their capacity to lead in the fight against climate change.
The Role Youth Can Play
The side event "ACE and Capacity Building for Youth Leadership: Needs, Gaps, and Opportunities," co-hosted with the Global Youth Development Institute (GYDI), focused on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE). The session explored the current state of ACE, the ACE Action Plan, and its implementation, with an emphasis on how youth can play an essential role in shaping and delivering climate solutions.
Timothy Damon from GYDI provided an insightful overview of the ACE framework, discussing its importance for engaging and empowering youth. Hussein Kassim from CCSSE shared his experiences in Ghana, detailing local initiatives that have successfully utilized ACE to educate and mobilize young people in climate action.
Emilie McGlone, Director of Peace Boat US, spoke about the organization’s Youth for SDGs scholarship programs, which are supported by Blue Planet Alliance and provide young people with unique learning experiences and leadership opportunities. Khadija Stewart, a Youth for the SDGs alumna and founder of Ecovybz Environmental Creatives and EcoSeas Caribbean, shared her journey, explaining how she has used ACE to empower youth and build climate resilience in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago. Valentina Jimenez, a youth leader from Ecuador who participated in the 117th Peace Boat voyage, also spoke about her experience onboard and how it shaped her understanding of global climate issues.
The session concluded with presentations from Global Kids, a New York-based nonprofit organization and BPA MOU partner that provides educational and leadership opportunities for youth. Ahmed Elsayed and Munab Hasnain, both of whom are involved in Global Kids' climate programs, shared their experiences in capacity-building initiatives, with a focus on public health and social-justice aspects of climate change.
Decarbonizing the Maritime Sector
On November 16, Peace Boat US organized a UNFCCC side event focused on the role of renewable energy in the maritime sector, along with Blue Planet Alliance MOU partner the Global Warming Mitigation Project. This panel also had a strong youth presence. The session highlighted Ecoship, Peace Boat’s ambitious project that will be a transition model for the decarbonization of the maritime industry. Featuring retractable sails and solar panels, the Ecoship represents a new frontier in sustainable shipping and will serve as a platform for future youth-engagement programs. Together with Blue Planet Alliance, the organization is working toward becoming a zero-carbon-emission ship by the target year of 2045.
Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador, Reene Smith shared insights from Grenada’s efforts to integrate renewable energy into its national climate-resilience strategies, highlighting the importance of ecosystem-based adaptation. Luca Mantovani, a youth representative and member of Harvard University’s Energy and Environment Club, also spoke about the importance of renewable-energy solutions and how they can contribute to broader climate goals. Blue Planet Alliance and Peace Boat US are working to create more opportunities for university students working on sustainability to participate in various international forums, including COP and the upcoming UN Ocean Conference.
Deepening Knowledge of the Deep
This special event held at the Ocean Pavilion on Nov. 16 was designed to deepen the knowledge of youth on the pivotal role of young people in sustainable ocean development. While discussing solutions to address the economic and social barriers faced in engaging with the blue economy, speakers were able to showcase youth-led initiatives on blue carbon farming, aquaculture, green shipping, and coastal resilience while highlighting investment opportunities for SDG14. These events help to support communities that are working to tailor a supportive ecosystem for an equitable blue economy, ensuring a healthy ocean for underwater life. Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador Alan Seid Junior from Palau shared his vision for a more resilient and renewable-energy future for islands. This year he also joined the Climate Youth Negotiator Program and supported the Palau delegation in finding sustainable solutions and partnerships toward this aim.
Youth Driving Climate Ambition
At the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, Peace Boat facilitated a youth-led event focused on climate ambition and adaptation in the Pacific region. This event brought together young leaders from the Pacific and other ocean states to discuss the critical role of peer-to-peer exchanges and capacity building in strengthening climate resilience. Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador Reene Smith also shared her work toward creating a more resilient future for young leaders in Grenada and her experiences from the Climate Youth Negotiators Program at COP29. The session highlighted how youth are leading efforts to integrate traditional knowledge and innovative solutions to combat the impacts of climate change.
Storytelling for Climate Action
In collaboration with Care About Climate, Peace Boat co-hosted a session at the SDG Pavilion titled "Youth Leadership in SDGs: Talk Story for Climate Action." The event emphasized storytelling as a powerful tool for raising awareness and fostering action on climate change. Khadija Stewart shared her experience with Peace Boat’s Youth for SDGs program, encouraging youth to work together and build creative networks for ocean and climate action. Participants also shared their personal stories of the impacts of climate change on local communities and the innovative solutions that are being implemented around the world. Emilie McGlone highlighted the work of Blue Planet Alliance in supporting SDG 7 for Affordable and Clean Energy for All, encouraging youth to take action in their home communities and learn more about the Global Ambassador program.
The Power of Film for Climate Action and the United Nations Ocean Decade
As part of its commitment to amplifying youth voices in climate action, Peace Boat and Blue Planet Alliance also hosted a Film Festival for the UN Ocean Decade at the Extreme Hangout. This festival featured a selection of short films showcasing the incredible biodiversity of pristine regions, including Patagonia, the Caribbean, the Pacific coasts, Alaska’s fjords, and the mangrove forests of Mexico. These films not only highlighted the beauty of these regions but also underscored the urgent need to protect them from climate change.
Youth leaders from Ecuador, Colombia, the United States, and Trinidad and Tobago gathered to share their insights from the films, reflecting on the importance of ocean conservation and the role of young people in protecting marine environments. One of the festival’s highlights was a Director’s Talk with Luis Barreto, a Colombian filmmaker, who showcased his short film “HOPE,” which was filmed during Peace Boat’s voyage to the Arctic. He also presented his 30-minute feature film, “Against the Tide: A Journey for Climate Hope,” which explores the challenges of building climate resilience in the face of adversity. Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador Mark Haver presented the trailer for the film “Deep Rising” and emphasized the importance of calling for a moratorium on deep sea mining as a global community. As we transition to renewable energy, it is important to also conserve the biodiversity of our planet in the process and seek nature-based solutions.
Throughout COP29, Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassadors advocated for youth leadership and empowerment in the fight against climate change. Through side events, films, exhibits, and panel discussions, they showcased the immense potential of young people to drive meaningful climate action. By amplifying the voices of youth leaders, particularly those from vulnerable communities, they demonstrated that youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow — they are already shaping solutions, leading initiatives, and inspiring global change today. Their leadership is crucial to building a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for all.
Reflections from the Youth
Alan Seid Jr.
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Alan Seid, Jr. stood out as a dedicated advocate for small island developing states (SIDS) and a representative of Palauan youth. As a negotiator for the Republic of Palau, Alan focused on the topic of Just Transition, advocating for equitable pathways to renewable energy and sustainable economies. His journey in climate activism, which began at the 2021 Our Oceans Conference in Palau where he became one of Blue Planet Alliance’s first Global Ambassadors, has since evolved into an impactful presence on the global stage, including his participation in COP28 in Dubai, training with the Youth Negotiators Academy’s Climate Youth Negotiators Programme, and now COP29.
Alan's involvement at COP29 went beyond negotiation. As a panelist at multiple side events, he shared the unique challenges faced by Palau and other Pacific Island nations. He also represented RENG Collective, a youth-for-youth organization based in Palau that focuses on providing capacity-building and educational opportunities for Palauan youth in the areas of climate, culture, conservation, and climate. Being a part of RENG Collective’s inaugural Climate Cohort, he amplified the voice of Palauan youth and emphasized the importance of including indigenous perspectives in climate discussions.
Mark Haver
"It's no secret that the finance outcomes for COP29 were disappointing. With significant rollbacks to negotiations on NDCs, gender, and more, COP29 was a reckoning for many members of our global community to ask themselves: is the UNFCCC even working the way it needs to? If this cannot deliver us the climate future we need, what will? Even though skepticism surrounding the efficacy of COP is valid, we cannot lose focus on the importance of COP30 and countries' updated NDCs. These will be major guiding signals for how and where we can implement ambitious climate action for the second half of the decade."
Reene Smith
“Over the past four months, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Climate Youth Negotiators Program (CYNP), an experience that has truly transformed my understanding of international climate diplomacy. This journey, which included both online training and an in-person workshop in Azerbaijan leading up to COP29, has equipped me with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to engage meaningfully in global climate negotiations.
One of the most valuable takeaways from this program was learning how to amplify my country’s voice on the international stage. In the context of COP negotiations — where larger, wealthier countries often dominate discussions — having the skills to strategically represent my country’s needs is essential. The CYNP has given me not only technical knowledge but also a network of like-minded youth from around the world, who are equally committed to achieving climate justice.”
