AYFICE aims to increase youth engagement in government and international climate discussions
Our mission
AYFICE is a youth-led organization working to foster meaningful youth participation in national climate policy-making and international climate negotiation processes. As the decision-makers of tomorrow and those who will be disproportionately impacted by policy decisions made today, young Australians have a critical interest in national and international climate action. We have a focus to ensure that there is a diversity of voices involved - including young people from climate frontline communities, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pasifika youth.
What do we do?
We work to ensure the perspectives of Australian youth are represented in global forums such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and provide opportunities for interested young Australians to gain first-hand experience in international multilateral climate negotiations. We also strive to help translate what happens in these international climate spaces to young Australians who do not have the opportunity to attend conferences such as the annual Conference of Parties (COP) or the Bonn Intersessional, to ensure that they can still be a part of these discussions.
AYFICE aims to enable young Australians access to policymakers and stakeholders across Australia and the broader Oceania region. We also work to provide Australian youth with capacity building such that they can advocate for ambitious climate action within their local communities, to their local representative or members of the Australian Federal Government. Including youth in climate change discussions is an important step towards intergenerational climate justice and equity.
How did it all start?
Australian Youth for International Climate Engagement (AYFICE) was formed in 2020 following COP25 in Madrid, as a result of the observed need to bridge the gap between young people interested in international climate negotiations and the official government delegation.
Since then, AYFICE has morphed from a working group into an organisation. We continue to work to coordinate and bring together young people interested in climate from a range of backgrounds, build capacity and networks amongst these youth and provide an ongoing connection with the official Australian delegation.