The Conference of Youth (COY) is YOUNGO’s flagship annual climate conference for children and young people, co-organised with youth-led groups from the COP host country. It usually runs about three days in the COP city the week before the summit; the UNFCCC hosts this page but the event is independent of it.
Participants build skills, plan for the negotiations and shape the Global Youth Statement, which goes to the COP Presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat. COY21 is set for early November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Benefits & funding
- The UNFCCC page lists no fee, travel grant or stipend; plan to cover your own travel and stay.
- About three days of capacity building, networking and strategy sessions before COP.
- A voice in the Global Youth Statement, used for youth advocacy during COP and through the year.
Eligibility
- Children and young people under 35; the UNFCCC page sets no nationality, residence or degree bar.
- Attendance is in person in the COP host city, and the page warns logistics may limit places.
- The criteria YOUNGO sets early each year are for host-country co-host organisations, not delegates.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Age requirement
≤ 34 yrs
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Application process
- 1Follow YOUNGO’s COY information document, linked from the UNFCCC page, for the year’s call.
- 2Submit YOUNGO’s delegate expression-of-interest form while it is open; the COY21 form has closed.
Program timeline
COY21 delegate expression of interest (now closed)
Aug–Sep 2026
COY21, Antalya, Türkiye (exact dates not yet on the UNFCCC page)
Early November 2026
next delegate call
Aug–Sep 2027 (expected)