NEXT PLANET

The Climate Gap: Beyond the Promises of COP

Global climate summits produce ambitious targets and urgent promises, yet for the next generation, the impacts of climate change are already a lived reality. Rising temperatures, environmental degradation, and economic pressures continue to shape daily life, exposing a growing gap between international rhetoric and real-world results.

This session explores why commitments to address climate change may not always turn into concrete action, while also examining the factors and challenges that shape how these efforts are carried out in a wider context. The discussion highlights climate justice, adaptation, and resilience as essential pathways to credible action, moving beyond mere mitigation. By centring on local solutions and youth leadership, the session emphasises how cross-border cooperation can finally turn global pledges into meaningful, lasting change that protects both the planet and its people.

Discussion Themes:

• How do climate promises made at global summits translate into visible change on the ground?

• What power, funding, and governance barriers block real climate action?

• How can youth-led and community-based initiatives turn global goals into local solutions?

• What forms of accountability are needed to make climate commitments real, fair, and measurable?