Introduction

Climate change affects every aspect of human life and environment. The impacts of climate change in combination with human dependence on the environment have created a number of challenges to people, their health, and their livelihoods. Like other aspects of human lives, food systems around the world are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Changes in weather patterns, extreme weather events, and slow-onset processes negatively impact the productive capacity of crops and can ultimately impact food security and nutrition.

Youth play an important role in acting toward intergenerational justice, equity, and resilience, especially in the face of widespread climate change that threatens their future. However, youth face a number of challenges in engaging with climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, including a lack of awareness and access to relevant institutions and processes, youth inclusion in policies and plans, and knowledge and capacities. Creating awareness, developing innovative solutions, influencing youth engagement for transforming food systems and enhancing resilience to climate impacts is significant to address the upcoming challenge of food insecurity. The role of youth in transforming food systems into resilient food systems and enhancing resilience to climate impacts is significant. Climate action can be more inclusive, participatory and multi-stakeholder driven by including and recognising youth engagement in Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans. Youth by becoming a part of climate action can help shape policies, plans and strategies related to climate adaptation and resilient food systems.

SLYCAN Trust works with youth and other key stakeholders to identify gaps and needs for enhancing youth engagement in climate processes, including NDCs and NAPs. This year International Youth Day focuses on transforming food systems through youth innovation for human and planetary health. To commemorate the International Youth Day, SLYCAN Trust with contributing organisations and experts is organising an Independent Dialogue on Youth Engagement for Climate Action and Resilient Food Systems.

Objectives

• Enhance the understanding of youth engagement in climate action and resilient food systems

• Contribute to discussion and finding of solutions under all five action tracks of the United Nations Food Systems Summit

• Identify opportunities for youth to engage in the Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans in order to ensure the process is inclusive and participatory, particularly in the lead-up to UNFCCC COP26

• Discuss and identify challenges, opportunities, and potential synergies which relate to the transforming food systems, youth innovation for human and planetary health, independent food systems for youth

• Contribute to the development of a strategy for youth for climate action and resilient food systems.

• Identify avenues for integration of innovative actions to the scoping of projects developed as part of the Global Youth Forum on Climate Change 2020 - 2021

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  Just transition in the energy sector
  - Key elements to ensure just transition in the energy sector
  - Gaps and challenges faced in integrating aspects and strategies of just transition in the energy sector
  - Institutional structures and role of actors in achieving just transition in the energy sector
  - Entry points and opportunities for integrating just transition into climate policy initiatives and actions
  - Success stories, best practices, and experience sharing on initiatives

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  Ensuring just transition in the food sector
  - Key elements of just transition and their relation to global and local food systems
  - Gaps and challenges faced in integrating aspects and strategies of just transition in the food sector
  - Institutional structures and role of actors in achieving just transition in the food sector
  - Entry points and opportunities for integrating just transition into climate policy initiatives and actions
  - Success stories, best practices, and experience sharing on initiatives

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  Gender, inclusion, social protection, and cross-cutting aspects related to just transition
  - Key cross-cutting aspects related to just transition
  - Interlinks for integration of just transition with climate action and into different climate policy and action processes
  - Impacts of COVID-19 and the role of recovery actions in contributing toward just transition
  - Success stories, best practices, and experience sharing on initiatives