Description
Abstract
This study adopted a quantitative approach and employed power and agency framework to investigate youth participation in global climate change and adaption governance and the influence of their demographic profile on participation. Questionnaire survey was administered to 195 Youth Non-Governmental Organizations members and basic descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. Results show that youth participation is shaped by their agency and power. In articulating their agency, about 69.2% of the respondents participated in conference of parties, with 54.1% and 25.9% of them participating once and twice, respectively. About 81.5% of the respondents also participated in regional climate week and conference of youth. Side event and exhibit was the common (M = 4.34) and effective (M = 3.92) means of youth participation. Adaption (M = 4.59) was the most important focus areas for climate change negotiation. Youth participation is constrained by lack of funding and highly political and bureaucratic process of negotiation. Respondents’ country of origin, the number of times of Conference of Parties participation, and the duration of Youth Non-Governmental Organizations membership significantly predicted their participation. Youth participation in global climate change and adaptation governance is constrained by multifaceted challenges, which when tackled through policies and strategies, can enhance their capacity to actively engage in climate change policies and actions.
Keywords: Youth Non-Governmental Organizations, Conference of Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, global environmental governance, youth and climate change
