History was made in Langkawi as youth from all 10 ASEAN nations stepped onto the regional stage, not just to speak, but to shape climate policy. At the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME), young delegates formally handed over the ASEAN Children & Youth Climate Declaration, known as the Langkawi Declaration. This is a turning point of a powerful shift from youth participation to youth influence in climate governance.
A Call to Action from the Next Generation
A young delegate from Sabah, Malaysia, stated,
“Standing in the AMME hall, I felt our voices and our generation’s hopes and fears were heard. The Langkawi Declaration is more than words, it’s a call to action. We are ready to work alongside our leaders to turn promises into action for every child, today and for the future.”
Celeste Chung, youth delegate from Sabah, Malaysia
Representing frontline communities across the region, youth delegates stressed that the Declaration embodies both urgent demands and concrete commitments. As Alexandra Nicole Eclarinal from the Philippines noted,
“Each word in this Declaration carries the voices of vulnerable communities living at the frontlines of the climate crisis, from coastal villages to urban neighbourhoods. It reflects not only what we ask of our leaders, but what we, young people are prepared to contribute through action, collaboration, and accountability.”
Alexandra Nicole Eclarinal from Bicol, Philippines
The Langkawi Declaration outlines seven urgent priorities, including:
- Meaningful youth participation in policymaking
- Climate justice
- Climate education
- Just energy transition
- Climate-resilient services
- Sustainable agriculture rooted in indigenous knowledge
- Stronger climate financing
Its recognition at AMME sets a historic precedent that youth voices are now embedded in ASEAN’s climate policy decisions.
Leaders and Partners Respond
Accepted by YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Chair of AMME and Malaysia’s Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, the Declaration cements youth perspectives into ASEAN’s climate governance. He acknowledged the clarity, urgency and commitment of ASEAN’s youth and reaffirmed the region’s commitment to integrate their perspectives in shaping a climate-resilient future.
UNICEF welcomed the milestone and called the Declaration ‘a moment of optimism’ that proves children’s rights and climate action are inseparable. As said by the UNICEF Representative to Malaysia,
“The Langkawi Declaration at AMME is a moment of optimism and we thank the Government of Malaysia and ASEAN ministers for recognising climate action is, at its core, about children’s rights. With the support of Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), the declaration will shape how youth priorities are reflected in ASEAN’s climate agenda, demonstrating that youth are not just participants, they are influencing policy.”
Robert Gass, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia, Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam, and UN Resident Coordinator a.i to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
From Summit to Blueprint for the Future
The Declaration is the result of the ASEAN Children & Youth Climate Summit (ACYCS) 2025. It is a three-day gathering in Langkawi where over 100 youth delegates, aged 15–25, co-created a shared vision for ASEAN’s climate future.
Co-organised by UNICEF and Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), the summit provided young leaders with a platform to transform ideas into a youth-led blueprint that places children’s rights at the heart of ASEAN’s climate agenda.
This Declaration is not just a document, but a vision to guide national efforts and position ASEAN ahead of COP30.
