Locations“Youth are not just the changemakers of tomorrow, they're also the changemakers of today” – An interview with Denmark’s Youth Delegates to the UN
March 12, 2025
Denmark's Youth Delegates to the UN Mette Lundgaard (left) and Sigurd Seindal Krabbe (right) at FAO during COP16 in Rome, 2025.
With 1.9 billion young people worldwide – the largest generation in history – young people are at the forefront of climate action, not only as future leaders but also as those who will implement today’s decisions. As the world is heading towards a temperature increase of 2.5-2.9°C, the role and voices of youth need to be more recognized, and in Denmark, this realization has led to greater inclusion of youth in decision-making at both the national and international levels. Denmark aspires to be a frontrunner in global climate action and the green transition. To ensure a strong Danish youth voice in international forums, Denmark’s Youth Delegates to the UN on Climate and Environment serve as official representatives of Danish youth in UN and multilateral delegations.
In close collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities and other Ministries working on climate and environment, the work of the Denmark's Youth Delegates to the UN involves communicating and representing youth voices and perspectives on global climate and biodiversity agendas. During negotiations and conferences, they participate in daily briefings with the Danish Delegation, coordinate with EU counterparts, and actively engage in global negotiations to ensure that youth perspectives shape climate and energy policies worldwide.
UNDP strongly supports efforts made to promote and offer spaces for young people’s participation in climate governance. To raise climate ambition, youth must be meaningfully included in climate negotiations, policymaking and implementation. Supporting their capacity development, education and youth-led initiatives and solutions, while creating environments that empower them, is crucial to ensure their voices are integrated into climate policies and decisions.
During COP16 in Rome, we had the privilege of meeting with Mette Lundgaard and Sigurd Seindal Krabbe, the two Denmark Youth Delegates to the UN for Climate and Environment. We sat down with them to talk about their work and thoughts on the role of youth in tackling the climate crisis.
1- Can you describe your role as Denmark’s Youth Delegate to the UN on Climate and Environment, including how you engage during COPs and negotiations? What does a typical day in this role look like?
Sigurd: As one of Denmark’s Youth Delegates, I represent Danish youth and their interests in UN negotiations when we meet and talk about climate, biodiversity and plastics.
Mette: Our work stands on two pillars. First, we aim to improve access for youth worldwide to decision-making spaces within UN negotiations, enabling them to contribute and make their voices heard. The second pillar is representing Danish youth in these negotiations.
This also means that there is no typical day for a Denmark Youth Delegate to the UN. Our work ranges from meeting with NGOs, young people and the private sector to gather input for our work and make sure that youth are being heard. We meet with the Danish delegation and make sure that they know the priorities of Danish youth and youth around the world. We follow the negotiations to identify the best opportunities for input and how we can best affect the negotiations. We also coordinate with other youth delegates around Europe to strengthen our efforts.
Sigurd attending negotiations during COP16 in Rome.
2- You are participating on behalf of the UN to represent the voices of Danish youth in global negotiations, such as COP16 here in Rome, INC and the upcoming COP30. How do you ensure that youth voices are heard in negotiations and that their perspectives shape global climate and energy policies?
Mette: We seek influence through different channels. First, we build strong collaboration amongst youth delegates across Europe to ensure coordination and maximize our influence. We also communicate with our own delegation to make sure they are aware of youth priorities.
Finally, we follow the negotiations ourselves to identify key moments when we make an impact, provide our inputs and work effectively.
3- Can you share a scenario that had a significant impact on you and demonstrated the value of your work? How did this experience shape what drives you in your daily work as a UN youth delegate?
Sigurd: Over time, the youth delegates on climate have become increasingly integrated into their national delegations and with the EU. A year ago, we discussed with both the Polish and Hungarian delegations the idea of appointing a youth delegate before COP. They both followed through, which showed their commitment to youth engagement. Seeing our discussions lead to real change was incredibly rewarding, and witnessing this progress firsthand reinforces the significance of our work. Although sometimes it can be difficult, we have to fight for these changes because the stakes are so high. There are youth from all around the world that are actively fighting for the issues we discuss in the UN forum. That’s why, even though it can be difficult, we have to keep going.
4- What inspired you to work on climate and environment?
Mette: When I was 19 years old, I went on a trip to Kenya where I lived in Nanyuki, a little town in Kenya, for three months. There, I met many inspiring young people, but I also saw firsthand how much of the poverty in the area was directly caused by climate change. This inspired me to work harder for a better future.
Mette at the FAO headquarters in Rome during COP16.
5- What do you think is the most important role of the UN when it comes to climate change and biodiversity?
Mette: The UN aligns all countries in the world on matters where they often stand very far from each other. When the world reaches a consensus, it sends a strong diplomatic signal to all countries, urging them to meet the commitments outlined in the convention that has gone through. Therefore, it is crucial to fight for an ambitious convention, even when it seems difficult, because in the end, it affects the world and the work of all countries.
6- UNDP Rome Centre’s Youth4Climate initiative supports youth-led, inclusive solutions to environmental and climate challenges by offering funding and capacity development for innovative, impactful action. What do you think the world, including leaders and the UN, could do better to support and include young people in climate action?
Sigurd: Youth are not just the changemakers of tomorrow, they're also the changemakers of today. And as young people are going to live with the decisions we take today, we need to include them and make sure that their voices are heard, so we can build a future worth living in. Youth need to be acknowledged as a key partner by all stakeholders, and Youth4Climate is working towards this through an integration process that brings together young people, governments and the private sector, while giving youth the strength and knowledge to lead the way.
7- What are your hopes for the future, and what message would you like to share with young people around the world?
Mette: My hope for the future is that, despite the challenging and ever-evolving geopolitical situation, countries will still come together and find a path forward on climate and environment, because it's one of the biggest crises facing our generation.
Sigurd: Some people are going to tell you “you are the change of tomorrow, we trust in you, we are hoping that you'll do better than we did”. But we need to do something today. We need to take action and also tell those responsible for this crisis that we will not be better off unless they change the behavior that caused it. So go out there, raise your voice, and show that youth are ready to take action.
Youth4Climate (Y4C) is a global initiative, launched in May 2022, co-led by the Government of Italy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative has its Secretariat at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition.
Y4C brings together existing and new online and offline resources, tools, capacities, partnerships, networks and movements led by and designed for youth, with a strong focus on the implementation of solutions, for a more sustained impact on climate on the ground. It aims to foster an inclusive, safe and enabling environment for youth to lead and partner with other stakeholders on climate action.
For more information about the initiative, visit the Youth4Climate platform.
Follow Youth4Climate on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
Learn more broadly about UNDP’s work on, with and for youth here and on inclusion here.