IN AN EXCITING development for local representation on the global stage, Denise, a current student at Warwick University, and Tom Maidment, a Coventry resident, have been appointed as the UK’s Youth Delegates to the 2024 G20 Summit.
The G20, an intergovernmental organisation comprising 19 of the world’s largest economies along with the African Union and the European Union, provides an annual forum to tackle major global challenges.
This year’s summit is scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November, with the youth component, known as the Y20, occurring earlier in August.
As youth delegates, Denise and Tom are entrusted with the crucial task of representing the voice of young people to the G20, ensuring their perspectives and concerns are included in high-level negotiations.
The G20 focuses on five key policy tracks, each represented by a dedicated delegate:
– Global Governance Reform
– Innovation and the Future of Work
– Diversity and Inclusion (represented by Denise)
– Climate Change, Energy Transition, and Sustainable Development (represented by Tom Maidment)
– The Fight Against Hunger, Poverty, and Inequality
Tom, who will represent the UK on climate change issues, said: “In a world that can feel increasingly uncertain, young people often feel like their voices aren’t being heard, despite being the group hardest hit, particularly on the international stage.
“Representing the UK on climate change, this is something I feel acutely.
“Rio is a particularly poignant place to be hosting, 32 years after the first international climate talks were held there as part of the Earth Summit.
“We are the first generation who have never known a stable climate, but our leaders have not made the progress required to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
“The success of Fridays for Future and other movements have shown that greater youth representation can push our politicians toward a better outcome.”
Denise will be focusing on diversity and inclusion, echoed the sentiment of making a meaningful impact.
