A Youth Call for Climate Finance Action at COP29
World Vision's Advocacy Ambassadors are delivering more than 2,000 postcards to Parliament on November 20th 2024, during COP29, from Aotearoa’s tamariki and rangatahi calling for urgent climate action.
The ambassadors, who support the work of World Vision, have collected the postcards from young people across Aotearoa, all sharing why taking action on climate change is important to them.
On November 20th, the team of 11 ambassadors are heading to Parliament to hand the postcards to our politicians with a clear message: ensure New Zealand contributes its fair share to climate finance in the next climate finance allocation.
Ambassador Connor Thompson, an 18-year-old University of Auckland student, says: “The climate crisis is not a distant threat; it is a reality impacting millions of lives today, and it is children and young people who are paying the highest price. We have a responsibility to provide climate finance to countries who have not contributed to climate change but bear the brunt of the consequences.”
Postcard written by Talia, Tauranga
“In Aotearoa and around the world, the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is a crisis for our generation. As young people, our voices must be heard. We have inherited a planet facing unprecedented challenges, and we are determined to be part of the solution. Aotearoa’s youth are calling on our government to take bold, decisive action on climate finance at COP29,” Thompson says.
The team of Advocacy ambassadors representing World Vision
The ambassadors say that decisions made regarding climate finance now will determine our future in years to come, and our government must listen to us ahead of deciding on climate finance allocation.
Climate finance refers to the funding that helps low-income countries adapt to climate change, reduce emissions, and recover from climate-induced disasters. Higher-income nations like New Zealand have a responsibility to contribute their fair share of climate finance, as they have historically contributed more to the problem and have more resources to address it.
World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa have been advocating for our government to do its part in contributing its fair share to climate finance — estimated to be between $558 million and $953 million annually. Currently, New Zealand is falling short, contributing only a fraction of that amount.
As young people, we support World Vision’s call for New Zealand to commit to its full share of climate finance.
“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. We believe that together, we are powerful. Through our collective action, we can ensure that New Zealand steps up at COP29 and becomes a leader in addressing climate finance. Our planet is at a tipping point, and the decisions made now will shape the lives of future generations,” Thompson says.
What do we hope to see from COP29? We want to see the government advocate for a New Collective Quantified Goal that meets the real needs of those on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Then, when it turns to review its own climate finance commitment, we want New Zealand to increase its climate finance contribution in step with the new global goal, ensuring that at least 50% goes toward adaptation in lower-income communities, particularly in the Pacific.
Young people in Aotearoa have the passion, creativity, and drive to create change. We call on our leaders to recognise that our voices matter. By listening to us and taking action on climate finance, we can build a future that is not defined by crisis but by hope and resilience.
The ambassadors, who support the work of World Vision, have collected the postcards from young people across Aotearoa, all sharing why taking action on climate change is important to them.
On November 20th, the team of 11 ambassadors are heading to Parliament to hand the postcards to our politicians with a clear message: ensure New Zealand contributes its fair share to climate finance in the next climate finance allocation.
Ambassador Connor Thompson, an 18-year-old University of Auckland student, says: “The climate crisis is not a distant threat; it is a reality impacting millions of lives today, and it is children and young people who are paying the highest price. We have a responsibility to provide climate finance to countries who have not contributed to climate change but bear the brunt of the consequences.”
Postcard written by Talia, Tauranga
“In Aotearoa and around the world, the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is a crisis for our generation. As young people, our voices must be heard. We have inherited a planet facing unprecedented challenges, and we are determined to be part of the solution. Aotearoa’s youth are calling on our government to take bold, decisive action on climate finance at COP29,” Thompson says.
The team of Advocacy ambassadors representing World Vision
The ambassadors say that decisions made regarding climate finance now will determine our future in years to come, and our government must listen to us ahead of deciding on climate finance allocation.
Climate finance refers to the funding that helps low-income countries adapt to climate change, reduce emissions, and recover from climate-induced disasters. Higher-income nations like New Zealand have a responsibility to contribute their fair share of climate finance, as they have historically contributed more to the problem and have more resources to address it.
World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa have been advocating for our government to do its part in contributing its fair share to climate finance — estimated to be between $558 million and $953 million annually. Currently, New Zealand is falling short, contributing only a fraction of that amount.
As young people, we support World Vision’s call for New Zealand to commit to its full share of climate finance.
“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. We believe that together, we are powerful. Through our collective action, we can ensure that New Zealand steps up at COP29 and becomes a leader in addressing climate finance. Our planet is at a tipping point, and the decisions made now will shape the lives of future generations,” Thompson says.
What do we hope to see from COP29? We want to see the government advocate for a New Collective Quantified Goal that meets the real needs of those on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Then, when it turns to review its own climate finance commitment, we want New Zealand to increase its climate finance contribution in step with the new global goal, ensuring that at least 50% goes toward adaptation in lower-income communities, particularly in the Pacific.
Young people in Aotearoa have the passion, creativity, and drive to create change. We call on our leaders to recognise that our voices matter. By listening to us and taking action on climate finance, we can build a future that is not defined by crisis but by hope and resilience.