It was launched in mid-2014 by high school learners and university student alumni of our third annual Young Leaders Conference. Through this committee, we build networks with other young people and youth organisations in Africa and around the world.
The YPC is at a new point of growth and is reaching more interested student and learner clubs, youth organisations, young activists and researchers across South Africa, to offer age-appropriate capacity-building that develops policy participation and negotiations skills.
There are several activities that the different working groups in the YPC are expected to undertake. This includes:
- Policy input and participation
- Site visits and fact-finding research
- Stakeholder meetings/forums
- Media and social media engagement
- Awareness-raising and implementation of work
If you would like to join the YPC, kindly complete this registration form.
To find out more, contact youth@saiia.org.za
South African Youth Statement to COP27
High schools, university groups, youth organisations, and youth leaders between the ages of 13 and 25 were invited to join the COP 27 Youth Statement Model Government process. Participants were asked to discuss their expectations for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference taking place from 6-18 November 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Delegates came prepared to advocate for youth and work together to propose practical solutions that speak to the climate aspirations of South Africa and the African continent. In-person hubs were arranged in Cape Town with WWF, Durban with WESSA, and Johannesburg with Youth@SAIIA. Young people outside of these areas were able to join in a special virtual committee for this hybrid event.
The session culminated in the development of a South African youth position to COP27.
This statement was created by the youth participants of the national COP 27 Youth Climate Statement National Model Government process. This process was convened by Youth@SAIIA, the Youth Policy Committee (YPC), CAAP co-founded by the European Union, and WESSA, with the support of UNICEF South Africa, UNDP South Africa, and the Embassy of Finland to South Africa. Over 200 young people representing over 80 organisations, schools and universities took part in the process. The statement was presented at the National Stakeholder Consultation to Minister Barbara Creecy of the Department of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs and Deputy Chairperson Valli Moose of the Presidential Climate Commission on 24 October 2022 in Midrand.
Youth@SAIIA working with young people across South Africa to address COVID-19 crisis
On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic. This global crisis is posing an existential threat to societies across the world as hundreds of thousands of lives are being lost to this deadly disease. As countries have tried to manage the pandemic, many existing social, economic, and environmental challenges have been exacerbated.
Our YPC is currently working remotely with young people across South Africa to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on the world and how it relates to the committee’s various working groups.
Over the coming weeks, we will share our statements and views of young people from our different thematic working groups.
Read their statements:
- Tackling gender-based violence during South Africa’s phases of lockdown.
- Hate Crimes against Members of the LGBTQIA+ Community in South Africa
- 2021 Women’s Day youth statement
Youth@SAIIA working with South African youth to tackle climate change for a just transition to a green economy
Youth leaders of the 2020 #Team Europe Climate Diplomacy Week and Youth Dialogue – drawn from the youth programmes at the South African Institute of International Affairs (Youth@SAIIA) and WESSA Young Reporters for the Environment – presented their ideas at the virtual High-Level Closing of Climate Diplomacy Week on 23 September 2020.
South African Youth Statement to COP26
The COP26 summit aims to bring parties together to accelerate action on climate change by addressing key issues related to climate finance, finalising the Paris Rulebook, prioritising adaptation and mitigation efforts, and raising ambition in line with achieving the global 1.5 degree goal. In the lead up to the summit, young people from across South Africa have come together to develop a South African Youth Statement to COP26. The statement draws from the South African Youth Climate Action Plan, and presents key recommendations that the South African delegation to COP26 should action in order for our country to transition to a low carbon, climate resilient society young people wish to live in.
The statement was presented at the virtual National Climate Change Stakeholder Dialogue to Minister Barbara Creecy of the Department of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa on 15 October 2021 held on zoom. For any queries, please do not hesitate to email youth@saiia.org.za.
Youth submissions and statements
The year 2022 has signalled a fresh and forward outlook for YPC. The YPC is now made up of four working areas, namely: Global Change, Inclusive Societies, Sustainable Communities and Socio-Economic Development. We are committed and dedicated to tackling important issues that face young people through our policy, research and awareness raising and capacity building work. The YPC continues to serve as an important platform for youth input on issues ranging from climate change, the just transition, gender based violence, unemployment, etc. Below are youth submissions and statements issues by the YPC.
Read their statements:
- South African Youth Comments on the Climate Change Bill
- Youth Statement on the Presidential Climate Commission’s Draft Framework for a Just Transition
UN Water Youth Statement
On 25 February 2023, high school learners, university groups, youth organisations, and youth leaders between the ages of 13 and 25 convened for a virtual National Youth Water Dialogue ahead of the upcoming UN Water Conference. Participants discussed their expectations for the upcoming conference taking place from 22-24 March 2023 in New York, United States of America (USA), as well their aspirations of developing sustainable solutions to the water crisis in South Africa and the African continent. The virtual session culminated in the development of a South African youth position to the UN 2023 Water Conference.
This statement was created by the youth participants of the National Youth Water Dialogue process. This process was convened by Youth@SAIIA and the Youth Policy Committee (YPC) with the support of the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa.