The Global Indigenous Youth Summit on Climate Change (GIYSCC) is being convened by, for, and among Indigenous youth (in contrast to Elders), who will participate in designing the agenda and invite the participants from three eight-hour time zones, in a 24-hour period, on 9 August 2023 (United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples). In a complementary context, the Summit will precede the United Nations International Youth Day on 12 August.

The Global Summit main objectives are:

  • Providing a ‘one of a kind’ platform to accelerate global engagement with Indigenous youth communities, cultures, languages, ethnicities, countries, and continents across the world;
  • Sharing youth perspectives, approaches, observations, concerns, interests, and strategies to address the local impacts of climate change across Indigenous communities on Earth;
  • Stimulating lifelong learning among Indigenous youth to contribute with knowledge and skills in the evolution of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and related global agreements that have regular Conferences of the Parties;
  • Enhancing intergenerational synergies in view of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other Indigenous declarations; and
  • Inspiring Indigenous youth leaders to think short-to-long term across their lifetimes into the 22nd century to empower progress with sustainable development at local-to-global levels.

The following cross-cutting topics will be included for the agenda within and across the three eight-hour regions:

  • Climate Change Impact Perceptions/Knowledge by Indigenous Youth;
  • Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation/Resilience Strategies;
  • Climate Change Communication;
  • Current Realities on Climate Change; and
  • Future Perspectives on Climate Change.

It is anticipated the presentations will include speeches, panel dialogues, short documentaries, artwork, music and cultural dance, photo galleries, and other formats that are self-selected by the Indigenous youth.

For more information, go to:
Summit webpage