ANTALYA, Türkiye — In less than a month, the world’s largest gathering of children and young people focused on climate change will open its doors in Antalya. This is an explainer: COY21, the 21st Conference of Children and Youth on Climate Change, takes place on 5–7 November 2026, immediately before the UN climate summit COP31, and is set to hand world leaders a youth-written climate agenda.
Organized by YOUNGO — the official Children and Youth Constituency of the UN climate convention (UNFCCC), established in 2009 — the conference brings together young people from every region to build skills, share local perspectives and prepare for the COP31 negotiations that begin in the same city on 9 November.
What the COY21 youth climate conference is
YOUNGO describes the Conference of Youth as the world’s largest and most significant gathering of children and young people focused on climate change. It is a volunteer-led movement, and its conferences are formally recognized as a preparatory space for young people ahead of the annual UN climate conference.
According to YOUNGO’s official COY platform, the gathering rests on five pillars: capacity building, skill-building workshops, drafting the Global Youth Statement, preparation for COP, and cultural exchange. The aim is that young people are not spectators at climate talks but active participants in shaping them.
Three days in Antalya before COP31
COY21 will run from 5 to 7 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye. Its timing is deliberate: COP31 — the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, hosted by Türkiye — opens in Antalya on 9 November, so the youth conference positions young people and their priorities at the heart of the international climate agenda from the very start.
Young climate volunteers planting trees. Youth-led action on the ground mirrors what COY21 seeks to bring into the negotiating rooms. (Illustrative image)
What will happen at COY21
Over three days, participants will take part in workshops, training sessions, discussions and advocacy activities designed to build the knowledge and skills needed to engage in international climate policy. Sessions are aligned with the negotiation process so young delegates can follow COP31 debates and intervene with confidence.
A cultural programme with a Turkish footprint
Alongside the formal sessions, COY21 will host a cultural programme under the theme “One Planet, Many Cultures, Shared Future” — music, art, storytelling and heritage displays that connect climate advocacy with identity and creativity. According to reporting on the programme, Turkish youth organizations including the Social Climate Association Coalition, the Youth Climate Envoys Platform and the Habitat Association are supporting the programme, alongside co-hosts from Australia.
The Global Youth Statement: youth’s message to COP31
The main outcome of COY21 will be the Global Youth Statement — a policy document consolidating the voices and demands of children and youth worldwide. It is built up over the year through local and regional youth conferences, and at COP it is formally presented to the COP Presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat, serving as the roadmap for youth advocacy throughout the negotiations.
Who can take part
Participation is open to young people under 35 with an interest in climate action, youth leadership or policy advocacy. Organizers asked applicants to commit to pre- and post-conference preparation and to arrange their own travel to Antalya. The expression-of-interest deadline for delegates was 5 September 2026, so young people now looking to follow the conference should watch official YOUNGO and COY21 announcements for participation updates.
FAKTA: COY21 at a glance
- What: COY21 — the 21st Conference of Children and Youth on Climate Change.
- When: 5–7 November 2026, immediately before COP31 (9–20 November 2026).
- Where: Antalya, Türkiye.
- Who: Organized by YOUNGO, the official Children and Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC.
- Outcome: The Global Youth Statement, presented to the COP31 Presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
- Plus: A cultural programme on the theme “One Planet, Many Cultures, Shared Future” with Turkish youth organizations.
For more on the road to the Antalya summit, see Watan News’ coverage of the COP31 presidency’s plans and the climate news section.
