Organized in powerful partnership with theYOUNGO Loss & Damage Working Group andUNICEF, this 1 hour and 30-minute session on October 29, 2025, served as a crucial preparatory event for the upcoming negotiations in Belém, Brazil.
Why This Dialogue Now?
As COP30 approaches, all stakeholders—from youth and civil society to researchers and practitioners—must have a clear, unified understanding of the ongoing Loss and Damage (L&D) processes. Significant global developments have occurred over the past year, including the work of theWarsaw International Mechanism (WIM), theFund for Loss and Damage (FRLD), theSantiago Network, and outcomes from recent SB62 sessions.
Our primary objective was to cut through the complexity. The webinar aimed to:
- Provide a concise overview of key global L&D processes.
- Clarify the current stage of the L&D agenda ahead of COP30.
- Guide participants on how to effectively follow and engage with the negotiation tracks during COP30.
Key Highlights and Strategies for COP30
The session was structured to bring attendees to a state of“Negotiation Readiness”. Our expert speakers dove deep into what to expect at COP30, offering concrete strategies for effective engagement.
Key areas of discussion included:
- Global Updates: Recent developments from WIM, FRLD, the Santiago Network, and SB62 outcomes.
- The Path Forward: A gap analysis from COP29 and strategic ways forward for COP30.
- Youth Engagement: Highlighting how youth, including throughYOUCAN andYOUNGO, can actively engage, influence decision-making, and ensure their perspectives are represented in negotiations.
- Tracking Negotiations: Practical guidance on how to follow L&D negotiation streams (like the FRLD Board and WIM ExCom), track official side events, and prepare effective interventions.
- Equity Focus: Discussion on cross-cutting issues, includinggender, equity, and vulnerable communities within the L&D framework.
By the end of the session, participants gained an enhanced, updated understanding of the global state of Loss and Damage and felt more confident to follow and engage effectively in the negotiation discussions.
Voices of Leadership
We are grateful to the leading voices who shared their insights, helping to reaffirm the critical role of youth in driving transparency, accountability, and equity in the global L&D process:
Speakers:
- Harjeet Singh
- Nadia Zaidi
- Towrin Zaman
- John Leo Algo
Moderators:
- Aayush Dwivedi
- Jasmima Sabatina
This discussion solidified our collective commitment to ensuring that L&D commitments translate from rhetoric into reality. YOUCAN continues to work to foster stronger collaboration among youth, CSOs, and other non-state actors, promoting a united and informed approach to climate justice advocacy at COP30 and beyond.
