Youth at the Table: Lessons from IPBES12

Guest blog by Hafsah Abdi, CYMG to UNEP Delegation to IPBES 12: Hafsah is an MA Development Studies student at York University, Toronto, Canada.                        

“Every business depends on biodiversity, and every business impacts biodiversity.”

This was the final message read after a very intense week attending the 12th Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). From 3-8 February 2026, five CYMG delegates joined over 150 member governments, scientists, Indigenous peoples, and civil society actors in the industrial city of Manchester, United Kingdom, to negotiate and approve key scientific outputs. This marked the first time a Children and Youth Major Group to the United Nations Environment Programme (CYMG to UNEP) delegation participated in an IPBES forum after obtaining accreditation in November 2025. 

Often called the biodiversity equivalent of the IPCC, IPBES is the leading intergovernmental body bridging science and policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Its assessments synthesize the best available knowledge to inform decision-makers on the state of nature, drivers of biodiversity loss, and options for sustainable pathways. The Business and Biodiversity Report, also referred to as the B&B, is an important step in aligning private sector activities with biodiversity goals. The Report was prepared over three years by 79 experts from 35 countries, drawing on both scientific and Indigenous knowledge. The Report lays out what its authors call "a science-based roadmap for system change," offering over 100 specific actions for businesses, governments, and financial actors to measure and manage their relationships with nature. 

The SPM Negotiations 

The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) offers specific actions for businesses, governments, and financial actors to measure and manage their impacts and dependencies on nature. The approval of the SPM was a highly intensive process. Over the course of six days, negotiations often extended late into the evening, sometimes past 10 or 11 PM, far later than the scheduled 6 PM finish. Negotiators examined the document line by line, often pausing to debate the precise wording of a sentence or a single term. As youth delegates, we found ourselves petitioning friendly state negotiators to advocate for youth perspectives in a masterclass on diplomacy and persistence. On Sunday, 8 February, consensus was finally reached in what delegates called a "spirit of collaboration and cooperation."

Youth Language and Equity

However, what caught our delegation's attention during SPM negotiations was the proposed addition of "youth, women and girls," supported by several states. While "Women and girls" was approved in two sentences of the final text, "children and youth" was not. Experts explained that the phrasing did not appear in the underlying report, and the SPM must reflect the science rather than introduce new language. While youth attendees understood the reasoning, it was disappointing. Women, girls, and youth are equity-seeking groups who often feel gatekept from environmental negotiations. Across the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, women's and youth's roles in advocacy and leadership are essential, recognized in both SDG 5 and SDG 13. 

 Delegate Highlights, Looking Forward

As the first-ever CYMG delegation, we made the most of this unique opportunity with advocacy, negotiation, and networking. Across the week, our delegation worked to make an impact at the conference. Gulnaz, from Azerbaijan, completed facilitator training at the Biodiversity Collage Workshop. Charlotte, from the UK, organized a bilateral meeting with Defra alongside GYBN to discuss barriers to youth participation. We enjoyed a dynamic youth meet-up at the University of Manchester Student Union, connecting with GYBN UK, Young Ecosystem Services Specialists (YESS), Future Earth, and students from King's College London and the University of Oxford.

Lastly, as youth delegates, we noted significant barriers to attending intergovernmental processes, particularly regarding funding for youth delegations from the Global South. Despite this, the young people most impacted by biodiversity loss are living in these regions. Reducing barriers to entry, including visas and funding for Global South youth, would allow for the greater diversity of participants and perspectives. This is integral to equitable, intergenerational, and impactful environmental governance. As IPBES prepares for its next assessment, supporting youth participation, especially from underrepresented regions, will be essential not only for fairness but for the quality of decisions affecting biodiversity worldwide. Platforms like IPBES thrive when science-policy and equity meet, and youth are a crucial part of that process.