Rising with the Tide: A Pacific Youth’s Voice in Regional and Global Climate Forums

By Luna Rossa Lomitusi

Attending the Pacific NDC 3.0 Forum in Samoa in August 2024 was a pivotal moment in my journey as a Pacific youth climate advocate. Supported by YECAP and the UNFCCC RCC Asia Pacific, my participation opened new pathways for engagement, learning and meaningful contribution to regional climate action.

When I walked into the room full of climate professionals, I felt a sense of hope, it was a space where the voices of youths truly mattered, where our perspectives deserved to be heard and valued. The Forum was not just about learning technical terms or policies, it was about finding where I, as a young Pacific Islander, fit into the bigger picture of regional climate action. It equipped me with

a clearer understanding of how Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) guide our countries' climate priorities and how we as youth can meaningfully contribute to achieving these national and global climate goals. One of the most valuable insights I gained was how to align my work with Samoa’s NDCs, particularly in nature-based solutions and youth empowerment, knowing that these connections would shape the way I approached my climate efforts moving forward.

The experience directly shaped how I approached my successful funding proposal for COP29. With the Forum's insights in mind, I was able to articulate how my participation would contribute to both national and regional climate priorities while also increasing Pacific Island representation on these global platforms. Insights from the NDC Forum helped me refine this approach, particularly in framing our work through the lens of Samoa’s NDCs and highlighting how our Atamai Siosiomaga Project directly supports national adaptation and mitigation goals in reaching youth. We also applied the

Forum’s emphasis on outcomes-based storytelling in our proposal, outlining tangible post-COP actions like local workshops, youth training sessions and engagement in national policy dialogues.

At COP29, I have been actively advocating for more equitable and inclusive youth participation from the Pacific, such as our youth delegates’ inclusion on key consultations by relevant negotiating group like AOSIS, emphasizing the urgent need for transparent and consistent communication to ensure fair representation for all. It’s crucial that no youth voice is left out of these processes, as our collective perspectives are important in shaping the future of our climate and communities. Our team also amplified the lived realities of Pacific youths, where climate action is deeply intertwined with cultural preservation, food security and equitable access to clean energy. We advocated for stronger, more sustainable support systems for young climate leaders in Samoa, who are not just the leaders of tomorrow but the implementers of real solutions today. It’s about giving us the tools and platforms we need to lead effectively and meaningfully.

Forums like the NDC 3.0 are crucial in this journey, they don’t just create dialogue, they build the foundation for youths to access the tools, partnerships and platforms we need to lead and participate effectively and meaningfully. They remind us that youths are not merely participants in climate conversations but essential drivers of change. YECAP’s and UNFCCC’s mission to empower young people in climate decision-making is something I feel connected to, as their belief in inclusive, action-oriented youth leadership is exactly what we need to tackle the climate crisis in our communities.