O impacto de transnational advocacy networks de juventude na construção de um regime internacional de mudanças climáticas

Abstract

The participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in international climate change negotiations has grown exponentially over the years. In this context, youth organizations have emerged as key actors, advocating for intergenerational justice, as highlighted in the preamble of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 1992), which acknowledges the importance of protecting the climate system for present and future generations. As they are directly affected by the climate crisis and the decisions made, young activists and youth NGOs have intensified their engagement by monitoring state behavior and pushing for more ambitious climate policies. Characterized as a Transnational Advocacy Network, the UNFCCC’s Children and Youth Constituency (YOUNGO) is methodologically analyzed based on its mechanisms of action and strategies employed during the Paris Agreement negotiations in 2015. Considering its capacity to influence the international climate change regime, we identify that YOUNGO has driven discursive changes, contributed to modifications in institutional procedures, and influenced policy. However, it has not achieved significant results in altering state behavior, highlighting the challenges and limitations of civil society participation in international decision-making processes.