Mukhtar Babayev meets Brazil’s COP30 Youth Climate Champion in Bonn

As part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) session in Bonn, Azerbaijani President's Special Representative for Climate Issues and COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, along with Leyla Hasanova, COP29 Youth Climate Champion, met with Brazil’s COP30 Youth Climate Champion Marcele Oliveira and her team to discuss the COP30 preparation process.

At the meeting, Mukhtar Babayev emphasized the importance of fostering effective cooperation with youth organizations within the COP process. He highlighted the need for young people to be actively involved at both national and international levels.

“With less than 150 days remaining until COP30, the role of youth in this platform is both crucial and challenging. Young people serve as a bridge between the parties, leadership, and future generations. It’s also vital to develop a comprehensive media strategy for COP30 and raise awareness about climate issues not only in environmental circles but among youth and children worldwide. Strong communication and media resources must be mobilized for this,” Babayev noted.

Leyla Hasanova stressed that youth participation in the fight against climate change is decisive. She highlighted the success of last year’s COP29 Climate Change Summer Camp in Azerbaijan, which brought together 75 young teachers from 35 countries for climate education programs. Hasanova expressed readiness to collaborate with Brazil for COP30 and proposed co-organizing the next climate camp.

In her remarks, Marcele Oliveira underscored the importance of Brazil’s “Mutirão” initiative, which promotes cooperation between youth and local communities. “Our aim is not only to work with high-level decision-makers but also to engage directly with young people in schools, villages, and Amazon communities. Hosting COP30 in Belém, within the Amazon region, will give this effort even greater significance,” Oliveira said, adding, “We see this COP not as the end of the world, but as an opportunity for a new beginning.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed to jointly develop an action plan for COP30 preparations, hold regional consultations, and strengthen youth engagement platforms.