Diverse decision makers required to progress climate negotiations

Today we celebrate World Earth Day, in response to growing concern of the impact of climate change on our planet.  Since then we have seen slow progress in global negotiations to affect change.  Why is that?  Part of the reason is that participation in events like the recent COP26 in Glasgow is not as diverse and inclusive as it could be.

For example, a case study from COP25 confirmed that whilst men made up half of the registered delegates, more men were actively appearing in plenaries and discussions.  Also, there is an inter-generational challenge, whilst making up two thirds of the world's population, young people only accounted for 25% of the negotiators present at COP25.

Delivering climate change is obviously a complex issue requiring significant inter-governmental collaboration, but it is clear that adopting a more diverse and inclusive approach to negotiations and decision making will certainly help to move the issue forward.