GAZIPUR, Oct 6, 2026: The Regional Conference of Youth Asia-Pacific (RCOY APAC) 2026 concluded Tuesday with a field-based programme at the CCDB Climate Centre in Gazipur, with a Regional Youth Statement carrying the priorities of young people across the Asia-Pacific region set to be taken to COY21 and COP31.
Held from October 3 to 5, the conference brought together more than 500 young leaders from 28 countries, including about 100 international delegates. Discussions focused on climate justice, resilience, climate finance, just transition, regional cooperation and youth-led climate action.
Hosted in Bangladesh for the first time under YOUNGO, the official children and youth constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the event also brought together government and UN representatives, policymakers, researchers, academics, development partners and youth-led organisations.
Participants developed the Regional Youth Statement through dialogues, workshops, networking sessions, exhibitions and COP-style simulations. The statement will carry youth priorities and demands from across the region to COY21 and COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Chief guest AKM Sohel, UN Wing Chief at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, stressed that young people must have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their future.
“Every dollar we take as a loan, the youth have to pay back in the future. If you have the stake in the dollar, you should have the voice,” he said, stressing that climate and development decisions must be grounded in evidence, data and science.
Miguel Mateos Muñoz, Chief of Communication and Advocacy at UNICEF Bangladesh, urged delegates to ensure that the voices of vulnerable children and young people are represented at COP31.
Dr Ainun Nishat, Emeritus Professor and noted climate scientist, called on young people to strengthen their capacity, understand policy processes and make their advocacy evidence-based and data-driven.
The final-day field programme linked the conference discussions to practical climate action, allowing nearly 150 national and international delegates to explore how climate commitments, finance, transition and solutions can be translated into practice.
Held under the theme “From Mountains to Sea: United for Climate Justice,” RCOY APAC 2026 was jointly organised by youth-led organisations from across the Asia-Pacific region, with Seecto Bangladesh serving as the host-country organisation.
With the Regional Youth Statement now heading towards COY21 and COP31, participants are expected to carry the region’s youth priorities into the global climate negotiations.
