“Melbourne’s young people would be more hopeful about the future if COP31…” This was the question put to the audience of 100 Melbourne youth who gathered at the city’s Town Hall on October 15th for Melbourne’s first Town Hall COP.
The session, Powered by hope, driven by youth, co-hosted by the City of Melbourne, the United Nations Association of Australia Victoria Division (UNAA) and ICLEI Oceania, was an opportunity for young Melbournians to share their priorities and aspirations for the global climate negotiations. While young people will live with the consequences of today’s climate decisions for decades to come, they remain underrepresented in many of the formal spaces where those decisions are negotiated. The Melbourne Town Hall COP tackled this reality head-on.
Amplifying youth voices and Pacific perspectives
With the PreCOP31 proceedings in the Pacific coming to a close the week before, this two-part workshop was a unique opportunity for Melbourne’s young people to explore the perspectives of Pacific neighbours in a mini Model UN simulation. Building on these insights, participants formulated Melbourne’s collective messages of hope for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Part one considered the regional significance of our Pacific neighbours’ plight. Participants carried those perspectives into the final messages and discussions. As MC, Carlisle Richardson, former Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations from UNAA Australia, highlighted, Pacific nations are among the most important voices in climate action, encouraging participants ‘to keep the flame burning’ on the UNFCCC process, which has supported global cooperation and multilateralism for 31 years.
Melbourne’s youth’s priorities
In the second phase of the event, participants drafted, shared, edited and negotiated to develop nine messages of hope outlining their vision for the future they will inherit. Many drew inspiration from the communities, workplaces, studies and groups they belong to and causes they support to answer the event’s core prompt.
Melbourne’s young people would be more hopeful about the future if COP31…
1
Commits to addressing the disconnect caused by human activities by empowering and incorporating Indigenous populations’ ways of being in mainstream societies.
2
Invests in the transformation of the food system for people, planet, prosperity and peace with emphasis on gender equality and sustainable fuels.
3
Commits to investing in and delivering safe, affordable, and sustainable transport for all.
4
Commits to funding climate adaptations and research for oceans & rising seas with the Pacific.
5
Invests in youth education programs focused on climate literacy, adaptation to future impacts and climate mental health.
6
Commits to embedding Pacific and First Nations voices in ongoing climate decision-making, and invests in enforcing these commitments.
7
Centres its discussions on the actual human impacts of climate change inaction and prioritises outcomes over vague promises.
8
Mandates national governments to implement and monitor carbon taxes on heavy polluters and dedicating the funds raised equitably to building sustainable communities.
9
Commits to redirecting fossil fuel subsidies into equitable climate solutions and adaptation, ensuring communities can self-determine action.
These messages were shared with the room and with City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece, who spoke to why they matter: “This Town Hall COP is for your messages to be heard and taken seriously.” Town Hall COPs are an ICLEI initiative that connects local priorities with global climate action through community-led summits. In the Lord Mayor’s words, local-government-led events where we gather, communicate and collaborate demonstrate “the power of cities and the power of global networks that we are part of.”
Taking local messages to the global stage
“Powered by hope and driven by youth – that’s how local action becomes global change.”
Ariel Dekovic, LGMA Constituency Focal Point and Head of Global Communications and Engagement, ICLEI World Secretariat
This event was co-hosted by ICLEI Oceania, City of Melbourne and United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria Division), in collaboration with the LGMA Constituency and C40 Cities.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of MCs Orit Novak, Youth Ambassador Oceania, Caribbean Climate Alliance, and World Food Forum Australia Youth Chapter, Culture & Creative lead, Carlisle Richardson, UNAA Australia, former Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations, Sam Hinkman from DCCEEW Youth Advisory Council on International Climate Change, and Paul Stark, C40 Cities Adviser.
