UNICEF Aotearoa Young Ambassador Olivia speaks up

Recently, delegates from countries all around the world have been attending COP29 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference – held this year in the country of Azerbaijan. Thousands of youth delegates have been in attendance supported by their respective governments as official negotiators and attendees. Sadly, that is not the case this time for Aotearoa. 

COP, the United Nations Climate Change Conference UNFCCC, is a vital global summit where delegates meet to negotiate actions to tackle climate change. Young people have a major, if not the biggest stake, when it comes to climate change and decisions made at COP, so to support young people from NZ to attend and have their voices heard on behalf of the future of our country is really the bare minimum decision-makers could do.  

New Zealand is a small country with a big responsibility. Renowned for its stunning biodiversity and landscapes. It is celebrated for its friendly people and green environment. However, is New Zealand living up to its environmentally friendly reputation? 

It’s been disappointing as a young person to see so little effort made by our government to implement policies or invest in actions and technologies that would push our country to a more long-term sustainable future. New Zealand is responsible for 200 nautical miles of ocean extending beyond its shores, yet only 0.48% of this is protected. The rest is open to newly reinstalled offshore oil exploitation and deep-sea mining. I would like to see stronger freshwater and land protection policies prioritising our health over commercial use, policies that are inclusive to all the different people that live in this county. 

It is easy to think that climate change won’t affect you until you see it happen. It’s not about being left or right on the political gradient, it’s about serving a common interest so that people can continue living their lives comfortably and making their own choices, while also keeping their and their children’s futures safe.  

Those most affected by climate change are the already vulnerable ones, those with health conditions, living below the poverty line or those who depend on the land. With many young people at School Strikes for Climate across the country begging for change, wouldn't it be worth seeing decision-makers act on requests of this country’s youth? Many feel that even if they do get their voices out there, nothing is acted on. Limited funding and infrastructure hinder youth advocacy efforts, marginalised or rural communities face even more challenges due to geographic, economic, or digital barriers and a lack of support from adults. Increasing accessibility to youth leadership is essential, and COP29 was one of those leadership pathways. 

 As a young person, it feels like there are plenty of adults who don’t care to see young people in political spaces. But that just doesn’t make sense to me. The children of today will be the ones holding positions of power in the future; they will be the doctors, farmers, teachers, and caregivers. They will fill the shoes that you walk in right now. And so, it may be worth asking yourself, what kind of shoes do you want to leave behind? Children and teenagers see and understand much more than they are given credit for and involving them in decision-making spaces ensures that the future leaders of tomorrow will be best equipped to address big issues. 

Political parties seem to suffer from short-term bias; never making decisions designed to last. It feels like every time one is newly elected, they undo all the previous government’s work, wasting millions of dollars just so that they can say they are right. Why not build on each other's work and make some compromises? The goal is to serve the people, not just to win.  

I want to call on our decision-makers, which includes the voting age population of this country, to remember that young people - your children and grandchildren - will live in the world you leave behind, so include our voices now and act in our best interests, for everyone’s sake.