T
he North American Youth Adaptation Forum contributed to the review of the Global Goal on Adaptation and brought together young people, youth organizations, policy makers and global experts with the overall objective of elevating youth voices and increasing the power of influence of young people worldwide in the adaptation agenda.
North America is projected to experience a multiplicity of climate change impacts across all regions. Average temperatures are expected to increase significantly, particularly in northern sub-regions, and fire weather is projected to increase. Sea levels are expected to continue to rise, leading to coastal flooding and erosion. In addition, the continent is already facing extreme weather events. In June 2021, Canada faced an unprecedented and deadly heat wave, with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius. Adaptation efforts are crucial to avert the worst climate change impacts.
The GCA North American Youth Adaptation Forum aimed to:
- Identify youth priorities and recommendations regarding the achievement and implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation
- Elevate youth voices across the globe through GCA’s platform allowing young people, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable communities, to shape the international adaptation agenda
- Showcase youth-led climate-resilient solutions to accelerate adaptation action