UN Türkiye Gathers Youth in Ankara for Secretary-General’s Climate Address

The UN Resident Coordinator hosted a special event at Türkiye UN premises in Ankara bringing twenty-five members of the Capital Youth Assembly to live streaming with the UN in New York, in which they listened to a “Special Address on Climate Action: A Moment of Opportunity”, made by Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General.

In his speech, the Secretary-General delivered a powerful message: the era of fossil fuels is drawing to a close, and the world has reached the point of no return in its shift toward clean energy.

“Now we are on the cusp of a new era. Fossil fuels are running out of road. The sun is rising on a clean energy age”, Guterres declared.

The Secretary-General highlighted a number of transformational developments:

• In 2024, $2 trillion was invested in clean energy, $800 billion more than fossil fuels.
• Solar energy is now 41 per cent cheaper and offshore wind 53  per cent cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.
• He emphasized that renewables provide “real energy sovereignty.”
• He urged G20 nations to align their new national climate plans with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
• And he outlined six key opportunity areas for accelerating action: raising ambition in national climate plans, modernizing power grids, promoting sustainable demand, ensuring a just transition, reforming trade, and increasing financing for emerging markets.

Following the live address, an open dialogue was moderated by ILO Türkiye Director Yasser Ahmed Hassan. Youth participants engaged with UN representatives on how Türkiye is impacted by climate change, how to address the challenges, and how the youths can contribute to a more sustainable future by taking part in local and global climate action.

“Youth have helped to reshape climate debate globally, and they must continue to be part of doing so at national levels”.

“Youth need better access to quality education, skills and opportunities”.   “We need to move away from traditional models of development, which is based on excessive production and consumption, and which prioritizes profit and growth at the expense of nature, planet and people,” said ILO Director Yasser Hassan. “Today, it is possible to pursue development while also protecting the planet and addressing climate risks. But it requires a truly transformative approach—and that needs an inclusive process involving relevant stakeholders including young people.”

Representatives from FAO, UNDP, UNFPA UNICEF and UNIDO shared insights on their agencies' approaches to tackling the climate crisis, emphasizing the critical role of young people in shaping climate action and sustainability efforts.

Yıldız Yapar from the UNFPA Türkiye Office underscored the importance of youth engagement:
“UNFPA is committed to realizing the full potential of young people. We advocate for evidence-based policies and programmes, and support youth empowerment and engagement in addressing the global challenges due to the Climate Crisis which disproportionately affects women, girls and young people. A fair, inclusive, and sustainable future is only possible when we fully recognize and support the crucial role of youth as a driving force for change.”

FAO’s Erdoğan Özevren stressed the need for a mindset shift in humanity’s relationship with the environment:
“In order to combat environmental problems, especially climate change, we need to change our way of life. The human generation must realize that it is no longer the manager of the ecosystem, but a part of it.”

Nilgin Çavuşoğlu from UNICEF emphasized the need for equipping youth with the right tools to engage meaningfully in climate processes: “UNICEF highlights the importance of providing young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions to climate processes.”

Key messages highlighted the importance of data and research, inclusive policy-making, and ensuring young people are equipped to confront the impacts of climate change—through stronger education systems, life-long learning opportunities, and practical skills development.

While the UN Secretary-General Special Address has inspired a group of Turkish young people, it inspired the dynamic exchange by them and senior UN representatives, , which  highlighted the youth’s strong commitment to climate action, their interest to contribute to solutions and their expectations from the national mechanisms as well as the multilateral system in this respect. The event underscored the vital role of young people in climate leadership and the importance of inclusive engagement to ensure climate solutions are effective and equitable for all.

Read more: UN News: Special Address on Climate