The YLE Foundation took part in the COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, with a youth delegation composed of Eng. Donia El Khatib, Ms. Rawda Aboubakr, and Eng. Sama Samy. The delegation represented the voices of Egyptian and Arab youth at one of the world’s most important environmental forums, highlighting key issues such as climate adaptation and climate-induced displacement.
During their participation, members of the delegation joined several high-level sessions, including the launch of recommendations to enhance Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in partnership with the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). Eng. Donia El Khatib contributed in her capacity as the official GCA focal point in Egypt. The delegation also participated in two events at the Regional Center for Climate Mobility Pavilion, discussing future climate risks and their implications for North Africa.
Ms. Rawda Aboubakr delivered an intervention at the Mauritanian Pavilion during a session on Local Conferences of Youth (LCOYs), highlighting the experiences of Mauritania, Spain, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and Ghana in empowering young people and creating effective youth engagement platforms.
The delegation also held a press conference on the first day of the second week, focusing on the role of civil society in building the capacities of African youth in climate action and emphasizing the importance of youth leadership in shaping more just and sustainable climate policies.
To broaden public outreach, the delegation shared daily updates from the summit through livestreams and short-form videos on social media, targeting young and non-specialist audiences. Their content surpassed 250,000 views across platforms, contributing significantly to raising youth awareness of global climate negotiations.
The delegation also organized regular coordination meetings for Arab youth at the summit to strengthen their capacity and keep them informed of negotiation updates. They hosted an Arab Café, which brought together Arab negotiators and youth participants, creating a space for direct dialogue and exchanging key insights from inside negotiation rooms.
These efforts align with the Foundation’s mission to strengthen meaningful youth participation in international climate dialogues and empower them to influence decision-making processes. The participation of the delegation expanded Arab representation, showcased the capabilities of Egyptian youth, and built new partnerships with regional and international organizations.
This representation also deepened youth understanding of climate challenges and translated it into actionable engagement, paving the way for impactful future initiatives in Egypt and the Arab region, especially in climate education, community empowerment, and supporting young green innovators.
The YLE Foundation reaffirms its commitment to representing Egypt and its youth at international platforms, promoting knowledge exchange, and developing innovative programs that address climate impacts and build a sustainable future for generations to come.
