UAE Parliamentary Division joins IPU virtual briefing on youth involvement in COP28

Members of the UAE Parliamentary Division of the Federal National Council (FNC) participated in a virtual briefing organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on youth involvement in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

The division was represented by Sarah Mohammed Falkinaz, Deputy Chairperson of the Group and Representative of the Arab Group in the Youth Forum Office, as well as FNC members Mira Sultan Al Suwaidi and Marwan Obaid Al Muhairi.

During her intervention, Falkinaz highlighted the importance of raising youth awareness of climate change issues to enable their effective participation in the COP28 climate negotiations, as well as the UAE's efforts to actively involve the youth in the conference through various activities, programmes and accompanying events.

Falkinaz also presented the FNC’s efforts to transition into a green parliament, noting the appointment of Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, as a youth pioneer at the climate conference, which will create a platform for youth participation.

As the rapporteur of the outcomes of an IPU meeting that will be held on the sidelines of COP28, Al Suwaidi said that the UAE, through organising COP28, aims to highlight the key role of the youth in combatting climate change and the significance of showcasing their ideas and initiatives, to involve them in shaping their future, as well as the future of the coming generations.

The briefing is part of the IPU’s empowerment programme for young parliamentarians, which aims to enable the youth to enhance their political knowledge, experiences and skills through training sessions, workshops and dialogues involving local and global leaders and experts.

The programme also aims to strengthen leadership practices within parliaments and elevate youth contributions to policy-making at both the national and international levels.