Amy Thompson is the Head of Policy Programmes and Communications at the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR). She attended COP29 to present ActNowFilm: Youth Climate Leaders as Agents of Change. ActNowFilm is an international youth voices in climate change project, run by the IPR and Cambridge Zero, that calls for the integration of young people into national climate negotiating teams and global climate decision-making processes.
This week, I returned from COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. As of today, 22 November, the climate summit is in its final official hours, but sadly, no consensus has yet been reached on two critical issues: climate finance and the urgent transition away from fossil fuels.
Hopes for a breakthrough at these deadlocked UN climate talks are currently at the point of a proposed $250 billion a year, which has seen a response by some developing countries as an insult, as this is considerably less than they have been demanding.
Even more troubling, a key commitment made last year at COP28—to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’—has seemingly disappeared from the latest draft treaty.
Amid these disappointments, some of the world’s most respected climate advocates have questioned whether the COP process is still fit for purpose. I can’t help but agree. The current climate COP system is struggling to address the climate emergency with the urgency it demands. Imagine a COP led by those calling for radical change—a summit driven by action, not negotiation gridlock.
Baku: A City of Contrasts
Baku, the host city of COP29, is steeped in the history of fossil fuels. It was the first city to be founded on oil, with the first oil wells drilled back in the 1840s. Now, known as the ‘City of Winds’ for the icy gusts that sweep across the Caspian Sea, Baku is a fascinating mix of old and new.
Modern skyscrapers, often shaped like flames or drops of oil, stand alongside ancient city walls enclosing a historic old town. The city boasts immaculate streets maintained by an army of street cleaners, with littering strictly penalised. Six-lane highways hum with continuous traffic, while bustling business districts and shopping centres showcase Baku’s eye-watering, high-end prosperity.
But beneath the polished surface, Baku still bears the mark of its oil-driven beginnings. The air often hangs heavy with the scent of oil and petrol fumes. And the gap between the mega-wealthy and the rest of the population is vast.
For COP29, President Ilham Aliyev took extraordinary steps to accommodate the approximately 67,000 delegates. Schools and universities were shut, and residents were ordered to leave the city for their villages to ease congestion. For two weeks, Baku became a surreal version of itself—with the rhythmn of the climate delegates filling its streets in place of its actual residents.
Presenting ActNowFilm at COP29
I attended COP29 to present ActNowFilm: Youth Climate Leaders as Agents of Change, a collaborative project with Cambridge Zero and the IPR which is now in its fourth year. The film highlights the critical role of young people in tackling the climate crisis. It combines insights from global climate experts with personal stories and direct actions from youth climate leaders around the world.
The film’s message is clear: youth climate leaders are not just advocates—they are experts and agents of change. Their creativity, innovation, and passion are essential to addressing the climate crisis. Yet, they remain, in most cases, excluded from their national climate teams and international decision-making processes.
During COP29, the ActNowFilm project hosted six events to amplify the voices and actions of youth climate leaders:
- Decoding UNFCCC Language, Blue Zone
- The Role of Youth Action in the SDGs, SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone
- Panel Discussion and Q&A, Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, Green Zone
- Film Premiere, Capacity-Building Hub, Blue Zone
- Integration of Youth in Climate Negotiations, Extreme Hangout, Green Zone
- Developing Young People’s Green Skills for a Net Zero Transition, British Council, Youth House, Green Zone.
This year’s film highlights the interconnected nature of the climate crisis, from extreme weather events and biodiversity loss to food system disruptions and threats to human health. It showcases eight extraordinary youth climate leaders, selected from a global pool of applicants. Their stories are both inspiring and sobering—a testament to the resilience and determination of young people who are already living with the harsh realities of climate change.
The Urgent Need for Youth Inclusion
Recent months have brought devastating climate impacts and extreme weather events across the globe: flooding in Valencia, Central Europe, and Sudan; hurricanes in the Southeastern U.S.; and typhoons in Southeast Asia, to name a few. But the climate crisis is more than these headline-grabbing disasters.
Rising sea levels threaten island nations, saltwater intrusion affects crops, and Indigenous knowledge and traditions are being lost. The impacts on mental and physical health are mounting. Amid this, youth climate leaders are stepping up with innovative solutions and bold action.
Now is the time to formally integrate young people into national climate teams and global negotiations. Young people bring a unique perspective, born of both lived experience and a deep stake in the future. They are already driving change at local, national, and international levels. But to truly harness their potential, we must provide robust training and development opportunities to empower their engagement in critical decision-making processes.
A Call for Bold Leadership
As we reflect on COP29, it’s clear that the system needs reform. Alongside calls for better processes, we must demand the inclusion of youth voices in national and global climate policy. This is not a drill—the climate crisis is real, and it requires action at every level.
Finally, let’s take a moment to reimagine leadership. President Aliyev, who once called oil a ‘gift from God,’presides over a city now known as the City of Winds. Imagine if he embraced that identity, transforming Baku into a beacon of renewable energy as the world’s first city powered entirely by wind.
The world needs leaders who are ready to act—not just for the present, but for the generations to come. As this project and the actions of youth so clearly show, young people should be part of this leadership, as they are the generations to come.
All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of the IPR, nor of the University of Bath.
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