From Hatay to COP31: Advancing Youth Participation and Climate-Resilient Cities
The road to COP31 is already taking shape, and some of the conversations that will influence the next United Nations Climate Change Conference are happening far from the negotiation rooms.
Recently, a representative from The Future is Climate, part of the ScienceUs community, travelled to Turkey to take part in a series of discussions linked to the preparations for COP31. Over several days, meetings and exchanges brought together policymakers, journalists, activists and international stakeholders to reflect on the challenges ahead and the kind of climate action needed in an increasingly complex world.
What emerged from these conversations was a shared understanding that climate action cannot succeed without people. Whether discussing youth participation, resilient cities or post-disaster reconstruction, the focus repeatedly returned to inclusion, collaboration and the importance of connecting global ambitions with local realities.
Moving from Youth Representation to Youth Participation
One of the strongest messages from the visit came during a high-level meeting with a government minister.
The discussion centred on the role of young people in climate governance and the need to move beyond simply inviting youth representatives to international events. Young people are already experiencing the consequences of climate change and are actively developing solutions within their communities. Their participation should therefore extend beyond symbolic representation and become a meaningful part of decision-making processes.
Throughout the conversations, it became clear that participation is not only about having a seat at the table. It is about creating spaces where experiences, evidence and ideas can genuinely influence policies and priorities.
The same principle applies to civil society more broadly. Community organisations, citizen groups, researchers and journalists all bring valuable perspectives that can help shape more effective and responsive climate policies. Strengthening these connections between institutions and society is essential if climate action is to reflect the realities people face every day.
For ScienceUs, this message resonates strongly. Citizen science is built on the belief that knowledge is not produced by researchers alone. Communities also generate valuable insights that can contribute to understanding and addressing societal challenges.
Climate Action Cannot Be Separated from Global Crises
The discussions in Turkey unfolded against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, conflicts and uncertainty.
In many conversations, participants reflected on how climate change intersects with a wide range of global challenges. Climate impacts are closely linked to issues such as public health, migration, food security, social inequality and human rights. Communities already facing economic hardship, instability or displacement are often among those most vulnerable to environmental risks.
Rather than treating climate change as a separate issue, participants emphasised the need for integrated approaches that recognise these connections. Building resilience means more than reducing emissions. It also involves strengthening communities, protecting rights and ensuring that climate policies respond to the realities of those most affected.
These reflections served as a reminder that climate action is ultimately about people and their ability to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The Hatay Declaration and the Future of Resilient Cities
A particularly significant moment of the visit was the discussion around the Hatay Declaration and the future of resilient urban development.
Hatay carries a powerful story. The region was among the areas most severely affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey in February 2023. Today, reconstruction efforts are creating an opportunity not only to rebuild what was lost, but also to rethink how cities can become safer, greener and more resilient in the face of future challenges.
Walking through these discussions, it was impossible to ignore the connection between recovery and climate adaptation. Rebuilding infrastructure is only one part of the process. Equally important is ensuring that cities are prepared for future environmental risks while remaining inclusive and accessible for the communities that live there.
The priorities highlighted during the discussions reflected this broader vision:
- achieving measurable reductions in urban greenhouse-gas emissions;
- accelerating the transition towards energy-efficient buildings powered by renewable energy;
- strengthening climate and blended-finance mechanisms for sustainable urban development;
- reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based infrastructure;
- investing in infrastructure capable of withstanding climate-related hazards;
- expanding nature-based solutions within urban planning; and
- integrating resilience, accessibility and community needs into reconstruction processes.
Together, these priorities paint a picture of resilience that goes beyond engineering solutions. They point towards cities that are designed with people, sustainability and long-term wellbeing at their core.
Why Citizen Science Matters for Resilient Urban Development
As conversations turned towards implementation, the role of citizen science became increasingly relevant.
Many of the challenges cities face are experienced first by residents themselves. People notice when neighbourhoods become hotter during summer heatwaves. They witness flooding after heavy rainfall, observe changes in local biodiversity and experience the impacts of poor air quality.
These everyday observations can become valuable sources of evidence when collected through well-designed citizen science initiatives. Community-generated data can complement official monitoring systems and provide detailed insights into local conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Citizen science also helps reveal inequalities within urban environments. Climate risks are rarely distributed evenly. Some neighbourhoods face greater exposure to environmental hazards while having fewer resources to adapt. By involving communities directly in research and monitoring, these realities become more visible and can inform more equitable policies.
At its best, citizen science is not simply about gathering data. It is about creating partnerships between researchers, institutions and communities. It recognises citizens as contributors whose knowledge and experiences matter.
This approach aligns closely with the broader themes that emerged throughout the visit: participation, inclusion and the importance of ensuring that those affected by climate challenges have a voice in shaping solutions.
Building International Connections on the Road to COP31
Beyond the formal meetings, the visit also created opportunities for dialogue and exchange.
Conversations with journalists, activists, experts and institutional representatives revealed many shared concerns, but also many shared ambitions. Participants exchanged experiences from different countries, reflected on common challenges and explored possibilities for future collaboration.
These connections are particularly valuable as preparations for COP31 continue. Climate change does not respect borders, and neither can the solutions. Progress depends on cooperation across sectors, disciplines and countries.
For ScienceUs, such exchanges reinforce the importance of connecting citizen science initiatives across Europe and beyond. When communities share experiences and learn from one another, local knowledge can contribute to broader conversations and help inform decision-making at multiple levels.
From International Commitments to Local Action
COP31 will take place in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 to 20 November 2026. While the conference itself is still ahead, the journey towards it is already generating important conversations about the future we want to build.
The experience in Hatay offered a powerful example of how global climate priorities are rooted in local realities. Discussions about emissions, resilience and adaptation ultimately connect to neighbourhoods being rebuilt, infrastructure being redesigned and communities imagining what a safer future could look like.
For citizen science and civil society, the road to COP31 presents an opportunity to contribute not only evidence, but also perspectives grounded in lived experience. It is a chance to advocate for climate policies that are inclusive, equitable and responsive to the needs of communities.
As the conversations in Turkey demonstrated, meaningful climate action happens when people are not simply consulted, but actively involved. Through initiatives such as ScienceUs, citizens, researchers and organisations can work together to ensure that climate adaptation is developed alongside communities, helping turn international commitments into action on the ground.
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”