New Zealand's first-ever Conference of the Parties (COP) Simulation was held on Saturday, with around 30 rangatahi aged between 12 and 18 in attendance.
The rōpū spent the day as COP delegates, simulating the process as government and civil society representatives -participating in committee discussions, gaining a deeper understanding of climate policy, and the importance of collaboration in addressing climate change.
Save the Children New Zealand advocacy, strategy, and research director Jacqui Southey said the simulation provided young people the opportunity to share their views, ideas, insights, and advice on the climate action we should be taking.
"This advice will form a youth climate statement, and we'll be sharing that with our decision makers, calling on them to put children's voices first when they go to COP," she said.
It will be shared as a statement of asks, presented to the New Zealand delegation travelling to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November. It will also feed into a Global Child and Youth Statement collated by Save the Children International.
"The world's two billion-plus children are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis - an emergency that is taking lives, eroding children's rights, and threatening their future.
"It was children who pushed the climate emergency up the political agenda, and, as adults, we must step up and support children to implement their ideas for a better future. Children want and deserve to be heard. Their voices matter. We need to ensure a focus on children's rights, based on children's own views and recommendations, in climate negotiations, policies, and financing at all levels."
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Delara, a 16-year-old Generation Hope NZ youth ambassador and COP simulation delegate, said rangatahi were disproportionately impacted by climate change, yet their voices are among the most overlooked.
"But through this event, we have the power to change that," she said.
She said climate change not only destroyed things but also erased identity and culture.
"When we're talking about climate change, it's very important, of course, to talk about how people's lives are being impacted in terms of property, but it's so important to talk about culture as well."
Sylvie, another 16-year-old Generation Hope NZ youth ambassador and COP simulation delegate, said there was a strong focus on ensuring people were at the heart of the discussion.
"I think that it's really important for Aotearoa to make sure that, as an island nation, we are always finding ways to improve our responses in mitigating and adapting to climate change to help our future generation," she said.
For Millie, a 12-year-old COP simulation delegate, her goal was to reduce pollution. And for Tigilagi, a 13-year-old COP simulation delegate, he wanted more companies and countries contributing to the climate crisis to pay reparations.
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UNICEF child and youth engagement lead Angus Lonergan was a COP28 delegate in Dubai last year.
He believes rangatahi deserve a seat at the global climate negotiations table - both as agents of positive change and as those most impacted by the crisis.
"This is where significant decisions are made, but our current government doesn't provide opportunities for them to attend and participate meaningfully," Lonergan said.
"The climate crisis is of significant concern for many children and young people across the motu, and there aren't official mechanisms in place to allow them to contribute to policy decision making or some of the global conversations that happen.
"Because of that, it's been up to some of the NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and other sectors to step in and try to empower and elevate the voices of these children and young people at events that they're not normally prioritised at."
Lonergan hoped this group of rangatahi would be able to attend COP in person, which might happen in 2026 when Australia and the Pacific are expected to host COP31.
"If that's the case, then this group will be ready and raring to go."