COP29: Climate Adaptation and Freedom of Mobility through Mobilization of Young Generations
A conversation with John Paul Jose, an MSc student in Sustainable Development at KU Leuven, Belgium, and founder of Livelihood Trust.
John Paul Jose is a young environmental and climate activist from Kerala, India. Hailing from an agricultural family that relies on the Earth and nature to survive, John has experienced first-hand the impacts of the climate crisis and ecological destruction. Currently a project intern at the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Greece, he founded the NGO Livelihood Trust and has experience working with dozens of organizations, including Greenpeace, UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and The Energy Resources Institute in India.
December 11, 2024
COP29 (November 11-22, 2024) brought together over 66,000 individuals from 198 countries, uniting a diverse range of stakeholders committed to combating global climate change. Among the key priorities of this conference was ensuring that every country has the means to take much stronger climate action and building resilient communities. An important outcome was to increase the financial support to developing nations, with 23 countries pledging to allocate at least $300 billion annually by 2035(1).
In our conversation with John Paul Jose, we explored the importance of such funding programs in addressing disparities in climate adaptation between Global North and Global South countries. He emphasized how essential financial resources are for empowering developing nations to effectively tackle the impacts of climate change while safeguarding freedom of mobility as a vector for social development, particularly for agricultural and rural communities. He also emphasized the need to include younger generations in global climate discussions, noting that their active participation is essential for shaping innovative and inclusive solutions to the climate crisis.
Freedom of Mobility Forum (FOMF): What key commitments from COP29 do you believe will have the most impact, and how do you feel these align with the expectations of younger generations?
John Paul: The Loss and Damage Fund(2), launched at COP 27 in 2022 and operationalized at COP29, will have a significant impact on freedom of mobility. Young generations have been instrumental in pushing for this initiative, which now surpasses $730 million. The Fund focuses on addressing the consequences of climate change in areas already affected, and this is where mobility solutions play a crucial role in facilitating adaptation.
The Fund’s aim is to contribute to reducing the disparities between Global North and Global South countries. While wealthier countries have the financial and infrastructural capacity to mitigate climate impacts, developing nations often lack such resources. This imbalance underscores the Fund’s importance in supporting southern countries to rebuild livelihoods and cultures disrupted by climate change, helping them manage economic and non-economic loss and damage.
Such funding is vital since it mitigates climate impacts and reduces displacement of communities. While voluntary migration can sometimes be beneficial, massive up-rooting of populations can be traumatic for host countries lacking resources to support it and for migrants themselves. We should prevent entire populations from leaving their home environment only to struggle to survive in new settings.
Therefore, specific initiatives addressing mobility-related needs are key for helping people – especially farmers – to rebuild their territories and to reduce the impact of climate-related disruptions as they are powerful enablers for social and economic development.
To enhance and ensure accessible freedom of mobility, we must prioritize fostering positive mobility, such as work- or education-related relocation and skill-sharing, while addressing and mitigating the drivers of forced migration, particularly those caused by climate change.
FOMF: Moving a step further, how can young people actively hold governments accountable for their pledges, particularly those made at forums like COP29?
John Paul: Young people face significant barriers in influencing the system. These barriers are not due to a lack of capability or expertise but to limited access to decision-making platforms, such as government forums.
On a larger scale, youth movements, such as climate activism and advocacy campaigns, play a vital role in politics. A healthy mobilization is a powerful tool for demanding accountability from governments: when young people step into the public discussion on a large scale and set clear goals, such as calling for transparency, they can push governments to act. Framing these movements strategically is crucial: advocacy should highlight the interconnections between climate change, migration, and social equity rather than treating them as isolated topics. By fostering collaboration and uniting under shared goals, youth movements can amplify their impact.
Through these movements, young people can monitor the commitments made by governments. For instance, they can track whether pledges made at forums like COP are being translated into action at the national level. Young generations can provide input to negotiators, shaping the agenda in meaningful ways. This ensures their voices contribute to shaping international dialogue.
As an example, I joined a youth group in Belgium working with climate negotiators, where young participants offer recommendations on what topics to prioritize for COP discussions. Scaling this model globally could introduce diverse, innovative ideas and amplify the perspectives and insights of younger generations, which are crucial for shaping future global policies.
Another relevant approach to ensuring that government commitments are upheld is to work from within the system, for example by running for office, taking on advisory roles, or influencing policy through businesses. Daily habits, including voting or electing governments that prioritize accountability and societal well-being, can also shift the trajectory of national and international policies.
However, disparities often arise when mobilizing populations, particularly among younger generations. Climate movements tend to be more prominent in the Global North, where government-supported education and climate awareness foster greater activism. In contrast, many young people in the Global South face economic pressures that require them to work and support their families, thereby limiting their capacity for sustained involvement in such movements.
Despite these challenges, young generations from the Global South have developed tangible initiatives, working on education, raising awareness, and addressing local challenges through innovation and restoration projects. They are also largely contributing to international efforts, sharing their perspectives on platforms such as the Conference of Youth(3), held annually before each COP. These conferences play a crucial role in unifying diverse voices into collective youth statements, representing the concerns and aspirations of young people worldwide.
FOMF: Following COP29, what do you think are the most effective ways to integrate freedom of mobility into climate adaptation strategies?
John Paul: One of the most effective ways to address this challenge is through stakeholder consultations. Whereas adaptation strategies are often framed unilaterally, including the voices of those most affected, such as farmers or fishing communities, is crucial to ensure that adaptation and mobility strategies are truly reflective of their needs and experiences. Adopting bottom-up consultations is key to developing solutions that address the real impacts of climate change.
For example, populations in climate-impacted regions such as coastal and hilly areas possess useful knowledge of local landscape and climate realities, which can contribute to implementing effective adaptation and mitigation plans. Information should then be used to inform high-level discussions, ensuring that policies are rooted in the lived experiences of affected communities.
Where populations are compelled to move due to environmental pressure, adaptation strategies should provide support in limiting unwanted mobility, improving resilience and reducing forced displacement. In addition, addressing climate change effectively requires a balanced focus on adaptation and mitigation, as the latter is also essential to prevent devastating impacts from climate change.
Focusing on mitigation and adaptation together would help create sustainable pathways that allow people to access freedom of movement, thereby reducing the pressures leading to forced migration and improving the overall resilience of communities.
(1) United Nations. (2024, November). COP29 climate talks end with $300 billion annual pledge, Guterres calls deal a ‘base to build on’. United Nations News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157416
(2) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. https://unfccc.int/loss-and-damage-fund-joint-interim-secretariat
(3) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Conference of Youth (COY). https://unfccc.int/topics/education-and-youth/youngo/coy