​Young people carry the energy, creativity, and innovation the world urgently needs—especially in the global fight against climate change. Yet too often, without the right skills or financial support, many youth are excluded from the rooms where critical decisions are made.

My personal journey illustrates why empowering young people is not only important, but necessary.

 

A Dream Born in a University Classroom

My name is Yves Itangivyiza, a Burundian environmentalist and graduate of the Polytechnic University of Gitega, Faculty of Environmental Sciences. I pursued this field with passion, and among the courses that marked me deeply was the one on climate change, taught by Mr. Alexis—an experienced practitioner who had worked on various resilience projects and represented Burundi multiple times at the UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties (COP).

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His stories brought the complexities of climate negotiations to life.
He also helped us understand how deeply climate change affects Burundi:

• accelerating soil erosion

• reducing soil fertility

• increasing floods and landslides

• disrupting agricultural seasons

• intensifying water scarcity

• threatening food security and livelihoods

 

Realizing how vulnerable Burundi is made me understand something essential: young Burundians must be part of the spaces where solutions are shaped.

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This is how I first dreamt of attending a COP.
 

From Gitega to Glasgow: When Support Opens Doors

After graduating in 2018, I continued my engagement in environmental action, notably through YOUNGO—the official youth constituency of the UNFCCC. Through my involvement, I was selected to receive an accreditation for COP26 in Glasgow.

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This opportunity became possible because my employer at the time provided financial support for my travel.

Arriving at COP26 was overwhelming.

The scale of the conference, the thousands of participants, the endless meeting rooms, the high-level delegations—everything was larger than life.

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But very quickly, I felt lost.

The negotiations were extremely technical, the discussions flowed rapidly in English, and I struggled to follow. The more I tried to understand, the more I realized how complex everything was. And oddly, it felt like I was the only one experiencing this.

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That was the moment I understood something crucial: being physically present at a COP is not enough; one must be prepared, trained, and equipped to engage meaningfully.

 

From Chaos to Clarity: The Power of Capacity-Building

At COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, I navigated the space with more confidence, but many parts of the process remained unclear to me.

It was there that I met Marie Claire, one of the founders of the Climate Youth Negotiators Program (CYNP). She introduced me to their work—providing youth with the training and support they need to participate effectively in decision-making processes. We also discussed the possibility of building a partnership with Burundi.

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The following year, I was selected for the CYNP training and funding.
It completely transformed my understanding of climate diplomacy:

• structured modules on climate governance

• clarity on negotiation processes

• mentorship

• exposure to real negotiation simulations​

 

At COP28 in Dubai, I was able to follow negotiations on climate finance for the first time. While I still lacked full understanding, I could finally identify the areas where I needed deeper focus.

In 2024, I was selected for the advanced cohort, which included high-level training such as a module from the Program on

Negotiation at Harvard Law School.

With these new skills, I participated in COP29 in Baku with far more confidence and effectiveness—collaborating closely with Burundi’s national delegation and contributing meaningfully in different negotiation groups.

 

COP30: When Trained Youth Become Actors of Change

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In 2025, as a CYNP alumni, I was selected as a Thematic Ambassador for Climate Finance within the Youth Negotiators Academy (YNA).
This new initiative empowers alumni to take a more active leadership role by:

• supporting peer learning

• sharing updates and opportunities

• strengthening collective knowledge

• preparing young negotiators for COP30

• fostering collaboration across regions

 

Thanks to the support of CARE Denmark, I was also able to attend COP30, where not only was I able to follow climate finance negotiations at a deeper level, but I also supported younger negotiators from CYNP—helping them understand key issues and engage more proactively.

 

It was also an opportunity to support my country’s delegation by facilitating collaborations with partners and contributing to various YNA-related activities.

 

This experience was extremely fulfilling—and it reaffirmed a powerful truth:
when young people are trained and supported, they deliver impact.

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Why Investing in Youth Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury

My journey demonstrates a simple reality: Young people are not lacking in ambition, ideas, or passion. They lack opportunities, training, and financial means.

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When youth receive quality capacity-building, access to decision-making space, and the financial support to participate, they become not only better professionals, but also leaders, able to represent their countries and influence global processes.

 

Governments, NGOs, international institutions, and the private sector must invest more in:

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• youth training programs

• mobility and participation funds

• mentorship structures

• integration mechanisms for youth in decision-making spaces

 

The climate crisis is accelerating—and the world needs skilled, empowered young leaders now more than ever.