Call for Applications: Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue

The Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue (APYCD) 2026 is a three-day regional climate event in Fiji that brings together young people aged 14–29 from Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations to discuss climate change and develop youth priorities ahead of COP31. Organized by UNICEF with regional partners, the event provides a platform for youth voices to influence climate policy discussions and strengthen youth leadership in climate action.

Selected participants will receive support covering travel, accommodation, meals, and participation costs, while contributing recommendations that may inform upcoming climate negotiations.

Overview of the Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue

The Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue (APYCD) is a regional youth climate engagement platform designed to amplify the voices of young people in climate policy discussions before the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31).

The three-day event will bring together more than 60 youth participants from:

Australia
New Zealand
Pacific Island countries

The Dialogue will take place in:

Location: Nadi, Fiji
Dates: 1–3 October 2026

The event will occur immediately before the Pacific Pre-COP31 meeting, allowing youth recommendations and priorities to contribute to broader climate discussions.

Purpose of the Youth Climate Dialogue

The main purpose of APYCD is to create an inclusive platform where young people can:

Share experiences related to climate change
Develop youth-led climate recommendations
Strengthen leadership and advocacy skills
Participate in climate policy discussions
Build regional networks for climate action

The programme recognizes that young people are key stakeholders in addressing climate change and should have meaningful participation in decision-making processes.

Key Objectives

The Dialogue aims to:

Increase youth participation in climate governance
Support youth leadership in climate advocacy
Encourage collaboration between young people across the Pacific region
Identify youth priorities ahead of COP31
Strengthen skills in negotiation, communication, and climate policy
Ensure diverse youth perspectives are represented

Event Details

Event Name

Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue (APYCD)

Date

1–3 October 2026

Location

Nadi, Fiji

Organizer

The event is organized by UNICEF in partnership with:

Government of Fiji
Government of Australia
Regional organizations and partners

Participants

More than 60 young climate leaders from Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations will participate.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Age Requirement

Applicants must be:

Between 14 and 29 years old

Location Requirement

Applicants must be residents of:

Australia
New Zealand
Eligible Pacific Island countries

Availability Requirement

Applicants must:

Be available to attend the event physically in Fiji
Participate throughout the three-day programme

Communication Requirement

Applicants should be able to communicate in:

English
Sign language

Who Are They Looking For?

The programme seeks young people who demonstrate:

Active involvement in climate action
Leadership experience
Interest in climate policy and advocacy
Ability to represent broader youth perspectives
Commitment to collaboration and community engagement

Applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged.

Priority may be given to:

Indigenous youth
Young women
Youth with disabilities
LGBTQI+ youth
Young people from remote or underserved communities

Why This Event Matters

Climate change has a significant impact on Pacific communities, especially young people who will experience long-term environmental and social consequences.

The Dialogue helps ensure that youth perspectives are included in climate discussions by:

Creating space for youth voices in climate negotiations
Supporting inclusive climate leadership
Connecting young climate advocates across countries
Encouraging youth-led solutions
Strengthening regional cooperation

Benefits for Selected Participants

Selected participants will receive support for participation, including:

International and regional travel support
Accommodation
Meals during the event
Event participation costs

For participants under 18 years old:

Chaperone support will also be covered

Costs Not Covered

Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for:

Personal travel insurance

Travel insurance is not provided by the organizers.

Programme Activities

Participants will take part in activities such as:

Climate Discussions

Regional climate conversations
Youth priority-setting sessions
Discussions on climate challenges and solutions

Leadership Development

Climate advocacy training
Negotiation skill development
Youth leadership activities

Networking Opportunities

Participants will:

Connect with other young climate leaders
Engage with stakeholders
Build long-term climate action networks

Recommendation Development

Youth participants will work together to create recommendations that can support climate discussions ahead of COP31.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Confirm that you:

Meet the age requirement
Live in an eligible country
Can attend the event in Fiji
Have interest or experience in climate action

Step 2: Prepare Your Application

Applicants should highlight:

Climate-related activities they have participated in
Leadership experience
Community involvement
Motivation for joining the Dialogue
How they represent youth perspectives

Step 3: Demonstrate Your Climate Engagement

Strong applications should show:

Commitment to addressing climate change
Experience working with communities
Ability to collaborate with diverse groups

Step 4: Submit the Application

Applicants must complete and submit the official application process according to the programme guidelines.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

Commitment to Climate Action

Applicants should demonstrate genuine involvement in climate-related activities.

Leadership Capacity

Selection will consider:

Leadership skills
Advocacy experience
Ability to inspire others

Representation and Diversity

Applicants should be able to represent wider youth perspectives, especially those from underrepresented communities.

Collaboration Skills

Applicants should demonstrate:

Teamwork ability
Openness to different perspectives
Interest in regional cooperation

Participation Requirements

Selected participants must:

Attend the full three-day event
Follow the participant Code of Conduct
Attend a mandatory safeguarding briefing before participation
Follow UNICEF safeguarding requirements

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their applications by:

Clearly explaining their climate action experience
Sharing examples of community involvement
Describing how climate change affects their region
Showing leadership and teamwork skills
Explaining how they will represent other young people

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Providing unclear examples of climate involvement
Focusing only on personal interests without community impact
Ignoring diversity and inclusion themes
Failing to explain leadership experiences
Submitting incomplete application information

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue?

It is a regional youth climate event in Fiji that brings together young people from Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island countries to discuss climate change and develop youth priorities before COP31.

Who can participate in the Dialogue?

Young people aged 14–29 who live in Australia, New Zealand, or eligible Pacific Island countries can apply.

Where and when will the event take place?

The event will take place in Nadi, Fiji, from 1–3 October 2026.

Are participation costs covered?

Yes. UNICEF will cover travel, accommodation, meals, and participation costs for selected participants.

Do participants need to pay for anything?

Participants must arrange and pay for their own travel insurance.

What qualities are organizers looking for?

Organizers are looking for young people with climate engagement experience, leadership skills, collaboration ability, and commitment to representing youth voices.

Why is this event connected to COP31?

The Dialogue allows young people to develop recommendations and priorities that can contribute to climate discussions before COP31 negotiations.

Conclusion

The Pre-COP31 Australia & Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue 2026 provides an important opportunity for young people across Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations to influence climate conversations and strengthen youth leadership.

By bringing together diverse youth voices in Fiji, the programme supports inclusive climate action, regional collaboration, and meaningful participation of young people in global climate discussions ahead of COP31.