Visualising future, sustainable cities: Insights from participatory workshops at the COP28 climate conference

Climate change significantly impacts urban youth, yet they are rarely invited to contribute to sustainable urban-planning. To address this, four workshops were held during the 28th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai. These workshops gathered insights into the experiences of urban children and youth in cities affected by climate change through discussions with youth and other stakeholders present at COP28. Opportunities for creating healthier and more sustainable youth-focused cities were identified using a participatory approach. Youth facilitators led discussions between participants and an expert panel, and participants shared their experiences and perspectives of growing up in cities and their hopes for future youth-focused cities amidst a changing climate. Narrative was collected through an online collaboration tool, which was fed into an artificial intelligence tool to generate images, which served as triggers for further discussion. The thematic analysis of the narratives was conducted by a team of early-career researchers. Three themes were identified: the effects of climate change on urban youth, visions for healthier and more sustainable cities prioritising youth, and principles guiding action. The findings emphasize the importance of involving young people and representing children's needs in research and decision-making. • Climate change impacts the physical, mental, and emotional health of urban youth. • Cities designed for children and youth promote health and sustainability. • Inclusive urban policy and planning integrate multiple generations and disciplines. • Incorporating youth in research enriches findings and supports career development. • Digital tools and AI enhance youth-participatory research methods.