At a workshop aimed at refining youth inputs to the international climate negotiations, a group of young students and alumni of Addis Ababa University met under the theme: “Youth Contribution for Paris Agreement Implementation.”  The workshop was held in Addis Ababa from 15-16 October 2016, and was a pre-event of the 6th Climate Change and Development Conference that took place at the United Nations’ Conference Centre.

The youth group, consisting of about 30 students and alumni, discussed the current climate negotiation leading to COP 22 in Marakesh, Morocco. The workshop primarily sought to consolidate demands and interest of the youth on the post-Paris Agreement action. It helped the participants better understand the existing intergovernmental set-up on climate change and develop a community-oriented project for youth. Using a computer training program, the participants also received climate-negotiation training.

The participants were graduate students of the Environmental Science Center and undergraduate students of Natural Science and Social Science departments of Addis Ababa University (AAU). AAU alumni, members of Youth Negotiation on Climate Change Convention (YNCCC), and students from various private educational institutions were also present. The workshop was hosted by YNCCC, with the support of African Climate Policy Centre of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Since its establishment as a HoA-REC&N project in 2014, YNCCC has been working to link the youth with ongoing climate change discussions and solutions. This workshop was held as part of its effort to host events where youth from various regions come to interact, discuss and develop common statement that reflects interests of the youth