19/10/2026
Last Thursday evening, with our partners City of Melbourne and ICLEI Oceania, we came together for the Town Hall COP: Powered by hope, driven by youth, at Melbourne Town Hall.
Orit Novak (WFFAYC) kicked off the evening welcoming up to 100 young people who were attending to create Melbourne’s youth message to COP31.
Young people came from all over Melbourne, some representing youth organisations, including those with a specific focus on climate, and others came along as interested citizens with something to say about climate action.
Attendees spent the first part of the evening working together to explore climate priorities and perspectives of our Pacific neighbours. This mini model UN COP taster: Pacific edition was facilitated by Carlisle Richardson, UNAAV, former Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations and participants gained an inkling of the complexities of reaching agreement on global climate action.
Moving from the global to the local, guests then stepped back into the shoes of citizens of Melbourne and facilitators, Sam Hickman from DCCEEW Youth Advisory Council on International Climate Change and Paul Stark, C40 Cities Adviser, asked one question: What would COP31 need to achieve for you to feel more hopeful about the future?
Setting the scene to contemplate that question, Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, City of Melbourne and Ariel Dekovic, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency addressed the participants to emphasise the importance of bold and ambitious input for the sake of the wellbeing of the planet for present and future generations. What an engaged and vibrant discussion proceeded.
The outcomes from the evening are now being incorporated into Melbourne’s youth climate messages that will travel to COP31, including through ICLEIs engagement with COP31 via the LGMA Constituency. Stay tuned for updates!
A huge thank you to everyone who came along and shaped the youth message from Melbourne and to everyone who made this evening happen.
