Description
A school closed by floods in Nepal. An 11-year-old attending his first UN climate summit. A neighbourhood in Brazil transformed by children's dreams.
Climate change is already reshaping young lives. But children and young people aren't just living with its consequences. They're demanding a say in their future — and coming up with solutions of their own.
One week into COP31 in Antalya, more than 100,000 children and young people from over 100 countries have contributed to a Global Youth Statement calling for stronger climate action and a meaningful voice in negotiations.
In Episode 6 of Talk & Action, Laura Quiñones and Arianna Flores Corral meet a young climate advocate from Nepal whose education was disrupted by floods, and Colombian activist Francisco Vera, who began attending climate summits at just 11 and later had to leave his country after receiving death threats.
We also travel to Brazil, where children's ideas helped create a Plaza of Dreams, and explore an often-overlooked question: Who will have the skills to build, maintain and benefit from the clean energy technologies of tomorrow?
Plus, as COP31 enters its decisive second week, we bring you the latest from the negotiating rooms, with UN climate adviser Selwin Hart.
Talk & Action is the daily COP31 podcast from UN News and the United Nations University-EHS reporting from Antalya, Türkiye.
00:00 – Introduction: Youth and climate action
00:48 – COP31 week one negotiations update
02:23 – Global youth take the COP31 plenary
03:47 – Assessment of week one with Selwin Hart
07:30 – Climate impacts on children worldwide
08:16 – Interview: Jaganti (UNICEF climate advocate, Nepal)
10:38 – Interview: Francisco Vera (Youth environmental activist, Colombia)
13:48 – Translating climate education in Brazil (Lucas Dutra)
16:48 – Developing green skills and jobs in Africa (Ambe Emmanuel Cheo)
19:14 – Bridging the gap from knowledge to action (Maximilian Jungmann)
20:24 – Looking ahead to week two & wrap-up