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The inaugural cohort of Global Youth Climate Training (GYCT) Programme bursary recipients will arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan in the coming days, ready to participate in their individual streams of work at COP29. 

The GYCT, a collaboration between researchers at Oxford Net Zero, the Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and the Global Youth Coalition, a group of young global changemakers, has just finished its second iteration of the programme, which ran this year from September to November. Our 285 participants represented an impressive and motivated group of young people working on international climate policy. Within this cohort, we selected five people through a competitive application process to receive a bursary to cover the costs of attending COP29. Our team has learned two important things from this process: 

• We had far more demand and desire to support incredibly talented young people than we could meet with our five bursaries. We call on other elite educational institutions to use their access and connections to mobilise funds to support young people attending climate and biodiversity COPs. 
• Our bursary amount (£3,000) we decided on was not sufficient to cover the high cost attending COP for those coming from the other side of the world, demonstrating a need to guarantee equitable access to these decision-making spaces. 

The five bursaries were introduced this year following feedback from last year’s cohort and have been generously supported by the ClimateWorks Foundation, who are supporting the GYCT to run in 2024 and 2025. We are deeply thankful for their support and their championing of youth climate action and intergenerational equity. 

Alexis McGivern, Co-Director of the Global Youth Climate Training Programme and lead on the Oxford side, said: “I am so grateful to be able to support young climate leaders to attend COP29 and do the work they do best. We are hopeful that this bursary programme will grow in the coming years to enable more young people access to the decision-making spaces they must be in.”

Agustín Ocaña, Co-Director of the Global Youth Climate Training and Founder & Chairperson of the Global Youth Coalition: “We deeply understand the challenges many young people face when attending conferences like these, and we hope that this bursary offers some small relief. At GYC, we are also experimenting with innovative tools to virtually connect more people, reducing the need to rely solely on these physical spaces for youth engagement. Our belief is that a smoother and more inclusive UN negotiation process is possible, and we are committed to supporting even more young leaders in the years to come.”

Renata Varea will be attending COP29 to support the Fiji delegation, focusing on advocating for stronger climate action commitments under Loss and Damage for the Pacific. She is dedicated to advancing meaningful progress in Loss and Damage negotiations to protect vulnerable Pacific communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.

Renata said: “I’ve had the privilege of meeting a great team of fellow climate advocates under the GYCT24 Program and thanks to the University of Oxford partners (Oxford Net Zero and the Smith School) and the Global Youth Coalition, I have the opportunity to participate at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. I’ll be following Loss and Damage negotiations and plan on using this opportunity to call for better climate action commitments from developed nations in support of people and communities in the Pacific drastically affected by climate change.”

Malkia John will attend COP29 with Observer-NGO status, supported by YOUNGO, Women Deliver and Business Fights Poverty. She will bring her experience from the Women and Gender Working Group at YOUNGO and her advocacy with the Joint Youth Working Group for sexual and reproductive health rights and climate at UNFPA to advocate for gender-sensitive climate policy and youth-led solutions. Malkia will focus on advancing inclusive climate finance, emphasising sustainable energy access, and integrating gender perspectives in climate resilience frameworks. She will also engage with Business Fights Poverty to highlight the intersections of climate justice and economic inclusion for marginalised communities. By participating in panel discussions, strategy sessions, and collaborative dialogues, she aims to amplify African youth voices and ensure actionable commitments are reached.

Malkia said: “I’m deeply honoured to represent young, resilient voices from Kenya and beyond at COP29. I’ll be using this platform to push for climate solutions that prioritise both gender equality and local sustainability, and to connect with partners who are equally committed to driving transformative change.”

Camilo Maldonado will be attending COP29 to support the Paraguayan delegation, focusing on providing assistance in areas related to adaptation and climate finance. He is committed to advancing effective strategies that enhance Paraguay’s capacity to address climate change impacts and secure necessary funding for sustainable development initiatives.

Camilo said: “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Global Youth Climate Training (GYCT) program for this incredible opportunity to represent the Republic of Paraguay at COP29. This experience allows me to support our delegation across various tracks, advocating for essential climate finance and adaptation strategies to strengthen our nation’s resilience against climate change. Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable future.”

Seruni Salsabila will be attending COP29 to support the Youth and Children Constituency to the UNFCCC (YOUNGO) with Observer-NGO status through the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union. She will actively engage in youth participation at thematic and headline events, following NCQG and NDC discussions on climate mitigation and adaptation, and advocating for stronger commitments in energy transitions.

Seruni said: “I am incredibly grateful to Oxford University (Oxford Net Zero and Smith School) and the Global Youth Coalition for this opportunity and support to attend COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. I will closely follow NCQG and NDC discussions, focusing on equity, non-state actors, and a just energy transition – with the support from Oxford and the GYC, I will be able to help YOUNGO on youth-led forums for youth advocacy to urge stronger commitments that reflect our generation’s drive for a sustainable future.”

Zachary Lubin will be attending COP29 with Observer-NGO status as a representative of multiple international organisations focused on promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including Peace Boat, GloCha, and YOUNGO. While also working to highlight youth engagement with GloCha at the Digital Innovation Pavilion and the Global Youth Coalition, he will focus on climate finance and Loss and Damage developments, particularly pertaining to the Pacific region. 

Zachary said: “I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to attend COP29 in Baku thanks to Oxford Net Zero, the Smith School, and the Global Youth Coalition. I will ensure that I use my platform to speak up on behalf of the communities that need it most, and I look forward to further engagement with my fellow colleagues and climate leaders around the world.”