External resources

BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC)

BCCIC Climate Change is led by a group of committed youth under 25 years old, who are passionate about youth engagement and climate action. The BCCIC sends a youth delegation to each COP.

Canada Climate Action Network (CAN-Rac Canada)

Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada is a coalition of more than 100 organizations across the country that brings labour, development, faith-based, and Indigenous groups together with the key national, provincial, and territorial environmental organizations working on climate change. The network plays a critical role in helping Canadian organizations understand and respond to climate change impacts and policies, across Canada and around the world, to coordinate efforts for greatest impact. The international Climate Action Network issues the notorious “Fossil of the Day awards” at the negotiations, which all countries aim to avoid.

Carbon Brief

Carbon Brief is a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy. Recommended by several prior COP delegates, it provides useful daily analyses on COP negotiations on their website and via their newsletter during the event. 

Care About Climate 

The group Care About Climate created a free, self-paced, youth-focused International Climate Policy and Advocacy Course that prior UBC delegates found useful to prepare for and learn more about COP.

Earth Negotiations Bulletin, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Earth Negotiations Bulletin is a balanced, timely, and independent reporting service which provides daily coverage at sustainable development negotiations and events around the world, documenting global efforts to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable land use, safe chemicals management, deep sea mining, and other global challenges. See their UNFCCC page and sign up for the newsletter here.

Mock COP

In November 2020, over 330 youth delegates representing over 140 countries gathered online at the inaugural Mock COP, Mock COP26. The conference culminated with a treaty with 18 policies covering 6 themes (climate education, climate justice, climate-resilient livelihoods, physical and mental health, nationally determined contributions and biodiversity), which youth campaigned for their leaders to adopt. Since then, Mock COP has further amplified youth voice, such as during Mock COP at COP27. In 2023, Mock COP hosted a virtual Mock Education Ministers Summit (EMS) and mobilized youth and fostered momentum for bold education commitments for COP28 by bringing together national youth delegates worldwide to discuss climate education and to create an ask from education and environment ministers. 

Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) Constituency

RINGOs are one of nine NGO constituencies recognized by the UNFCCC, and the second largest, comprising 25% of the 2000 admitted NGOs. During COP, RINGOs organize daily meetings to discuss the developments of the negotiations and to share logistical information. UBC is a part of RINGO and because of this UBC COP observers can attend their morning meetings, which many UBC COP delegates have said is key to understanding the daily schedules and negotiations.

UN Climate Change Conference of Youth

The UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY) is an event under the banner of YOUNGO - the Official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference takes place right before COP, in the same host country as the COP. COY serves as a space for capacity building and policy training, in order to prepare young people for their participation at COP. There are also Local Conferences of Youth (LCOYs), which sometimes take place in Vancouver.

UNFCCC Information for COP Participants

The UNFCCC Information for COP Participants webpage includes logistical information for COP delegates as well as links to navigate to resources such as official COP28 documents.

World Resources Institute (WRI)

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. It provides insightful articles about COP events.