The meeting, which was held at the Directorate of Climate Change, focused on the pivotal role of youth in climate action and Türkiye’s vision for the upcoming COP31.
09 April 2026
The meeting, which was held at the Directorate of Climate Change, focused on the pivotal role of youth in climate action and Türkiye’s vision for the upcoming COP31. The Director of Climate Change, Prof. Halil Hasar, met with UNICEF Türkiye delegation. The meeting, which was held at the Directorate of Climate Change, focused on the pivotal role of youth in climate action and Türkiye’s vision for the upcoming COP31.
Welcoming UNICEF Türkiye Deputy Representative Malti Gandhi and her delegation, Director Hasar expressed his appreciation for the visit. He emphasized that the Directorate attaches immense importance to involving young people in climate diplomacy and is committed to integrating them into decision-making mechanism, which is mirrored in the implementation of the "Climate Envoys Movement."
Underlining the goal of presenting this initiative as a global benchmark, Director Hasar made the following remarks:
“Youth should be active actors in decision-making, not just listeners”
We prioritize shifting the role of young people from mere listeners to active actors within decision-making mechanisms. We place great weight on their participation and aim to present this as a model for others to follow. Our objective is to ensure they are actively engaged throughout the entire process. Our youth have already taken their places in negotiations at previous COP summits, which has allowed them to gain valuable experience in the culture of international negotiation. We now intend to expand our 'Local Youth Conference' beyond national borders, transforming it into a 'Global Youth Conference' that welcomes participants from across the world.
“The Climate Envoys Program should serve as a model for other nations”
Thanking Director Hasar for the reception, UNICEF Deputy Representative Gandhi praised the initiative's impact. "At UNICEF, we consider the Climate Envoys Program to be highly successful," she noted. You can look to UNICEF as a dedicated resource in this regard. We are eager to support you in showcasing this program as an exemplary model for other countries during the COP process, helping Türkiye serve as a global stage for youth-led climate action."
The meeting included UNICEF Türkiye Deputy Representative Malti Gandhi, Adaptation Specialist Chizuru Iwata, Adaptation Program Officer Nilgün Çavuşoğlu, and Adaptation Climate Assistant Kübra Dağtekin.