Youth Communiqué to COP30 Demands Urgent Scale-Up of Adaptation Finance _Youth leaders from across Africa and 50 countries worldwide have delivered a powerful Pan-African Youth Communiqué on Climate Adaptation, urging global decision-makers at COP30 to dramatically scale up adaptation finance.
The communiqué, presented at the conclusion of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Youth Academy on Climate Adaptation and Leadership, underscores the urgent need to protect vulnerable communities from escalating climate impacts and ensure that adaptation keeps pace with the climate crisis.
The document was formally received by senior officials and partners, including Professor Nura Mohamed, Director General of the Kenya School of Government; Hon. Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, Cabinet Secretary, Kenyan State Department for Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management; Mr. Hans Olav Ibekk, Special Envoy for Climate and Security, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Dr. Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Director for Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems, Gates Foundation.
Training the Next Generation of Adaptation Leaders
The Youth Communiqué capped a month-long leadership journey under the GCA Youth Academy, a training-of-trainers program designed to equip young delegates with the skills to launch adaptation initiatives in their home countries. By preparing each participant to replicate national-level projects, the program aims to create a multiplying “ripple effect” of strengthened resilience across Africa and beyond.
Co-organized by GCA, the University of Nairobi, the University of Groningen, and the Kenya School of Government, the Academy brought together participants from 50 countries to exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge transnational networks of action.
“The Global Center on Adaptation is committed to strengthening the adaptive capacity of youth-led organizations across Africa,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of GCA. “The true success of this Academy will not be measured only in what is learned here—it will be measured in how this knowledge is carried forward. Each representative will return home ready to train thousands more, ensuring that the reach of this Academy extends far beyond these walls.”
A Call for Pan-African Solidarity
The Kenya School of Government played host to the Academy, with leaders emphasizing the importance of collective action in building a resilient continent.
“At the Kenya School of Government, we are committed to providing and supporting the highest quality education and training in Africa,” said Professor Nura Mohamed, Director General of KSG. “We are delighted to host the Global Center on Adaptation’s Youth Academy on Climate Adaptation and Leadership. It is an example of the importance of fostering Pan-Africanism in the face of climate change.”
From Nairobi to Belém: Youth Voices at COP30
Opening on 1 August, the Academy concluded on 5 September with the Pan-African Youth Adaptation Forum, where delegates consolidated their experiences, needs, and recommendations into the official communiqué for COP30.
With the global climate summit in Belém, Brazil, just weeks away, youth leaders are determined that their message will resonate at the highest levels of decision-making: scaling up adaptation finance is not a choice—it is a necessity for survival.
Youth Communiqué to COP30 Demands Urgent Scale-Up of Adaptation Finance
