COPs (Conference of the Parties) are the decision-making bodies of international conventions and act as binding agreements between countries. In 1992, more than 190 Member States of the United Nations joined an international treaty, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), designed to agree on a global strategy to combat climate change.Countries meet annually under the UN climate process to negotiate what happens next on global climate action. The UN Climate meetings serve as the formal meeting of the UNFCCC parties—the Conference of the Parties (COP). The first Conference of the Parties (COP1) was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995. COP31 will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9–20 November 2026. Türkiye will host the COP and Australia will serve as President of Negotiations, leading the negotiations and working to build consensus between countries.

Why does COP31 matter to Australia and the Pacific?

COP31 gives Australia and other Pacific countries an unusual opportunity to influence the international climate agenda. Australia is President of Negotiations, while Pacific voices and priorities will also have a prominent role through the Pacific Pre-COP and COP31 program.

COP31 is preceded by the PreCOP, hosted by Fiji with a leaders' event in Tuvalu (5–8 October 2026), where Australia will support its Pacific neighbours. This is a defining moment for Australia and the Pacific: shaping global climate discussions before, during, and beyond these events.

What is a Town Hall COP

Town Hall COPs are an ICLEI-led climate dialogue designed to bring global climate goals home and connect climate action at every level. Through ICLEI's role as focal point for the Local Government and Municipal Authority (LGMA) Constituency, these grassroots conversations can be elevated into the international UNFCCC COP process – together with Town Hall COPs happening the world over.

Melbourne Town Hall COP: POWERED BY HOPE, DRIVEN BY YOUTH

Name: Melbourne Town Hall COP: POWERED BY HOPE, DRIVEN BY YOUTH
Start: 2026-10-15T17:00:00+1100
End: 2026-10-15T20:00:00+1100
Location: Melbourne Town Hall

Thu, 15 Oct, 5pm - 8pm AEDT

Melbourne Town Hall

Melbourne VIC, Australia

UNAA Victoria and City of Melbourne

150 followers · Contact host

Description

POWERED BY HOPE, DRIVEN BY YOUTH

What would COP31 need to deliver to give you hope for the future?

DESCRIPTION

Your voice. Pacific perspectives. Melbourne's youth message to the UN Climate Change Conference, COP31.

The City of Melbourne, United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria), and ICLEI Oceania are bringing a taste of the global climate negotiations to Melbourne Town Hall.

Thursday October 15
5.00pm arrival for a 5.30pm sharp start - finish 8pm

Powered by hope and driven by youth, this is your chance to step inside a climate negotiation, explore the climate priorities of our Pacific neighbours, meet other young people who care about the future, and help shape Melbourne's message to COP31.

We're asking Melbourne's young people one big question:

What would COP31 need to achieve for you to feel more hopeful about your future?

We'll explore it in two parts.

Part 1 | Step into the negotiation | Mini COP taster: Pacific edition

MC Orit Novak Youth Ambassador Oceania Caribbean Climate Alliance and World Food Forum Australia Youth Chapter, Culture & Creative lead. Facilitated by Carlisle Richardson, UNAA Australia, former Ambassador of St Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations

Step into the shoes of our Pacific neighbours and explore different climate priorities and perspectives. Working together, you'll negotiate, listen, challenge assumptions and experience the complexities of reaching agreement on global climate action.

Part 2 | Bring it home | Melbourne's message to COP31

Facilitated by Sam Hinkman from DEECCW Youth Advisory Council on International Climate Change and Paul Stark, C40 Cities Adviser and featuring Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, City of Melbourne and Ariel Dekovic, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency

Then we'll turn the question to you: what would meaningful progress at COP31 look like for Melbourne's young people?

Together, we'll complete one statement:

"Melbourne's young people will be more hopeful about their future if COP31..."

How that statement ends is up to you.

Your ideas will help shape Melbourne's climate messages heading into COP31, including through ICLEI's engagement with COP31 via the LGMA Constituency.

Why your voice matters

Young people will live with the consequences of today's climate decisions for decades to come, yet they remain underrepresented in many of the formal spaces where those decisions are negotiated.

We want to help close that gap.

This is a chance to understand the realities of international climate negotiations, learn from Pacific perspectives, challenge your thinking and articulate the ambition you want to see from global leaders.

It's also a chance to meet other driven, curious and climate-engaged young people from across Melbourne and beyond.

Who should come?

Already involved in climate action, sustainability, COP, the UN, international affairs or youth advocacy? Bring your knowledge, challenge the conversation and help others join in.

New to all of this? You belong here too. Bring your ideas, your curiosity and a willingness to get involved.

Come ready to negotiate, listen, connect and help decide what progress looks like for your generation.

Important details for the night.

Doors open at 5:00pm for registration, with the event starting promptly at 5:30pm. * It takes time to get from the Town Hall entrance to the room so please allow for that. Staff will be there to show you the way.
Melbourne Town Hall main public entrance is located at 90-130 Swanston St. You’ll see a portico red carpeted entrance to the town hall towards the Collins Street end of the building.
We will be taking photos and video footage for event documentation and promotional purposes. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please make yourself known to our photographers/videographers when you arrive.
Light refreshments and snacks will be provided

Your key event partners

This event forms part of the United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria) and City of Melbourne's 2026 Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) event series: In recognition of Australia's position in the global climate agenda, UNAA Victoria and the City of Melbourne are partnering to deliver a series of seven events highlighting climate action and the localisation of the United Nations' 17 SDGs.

UNAA Victoria is dedicated to engaging local communities in advancing the SDGs, including those related to human rights and climate change.

The City of Melbourne is a global leader on climate action and sustainability, and a strong advocate and facilitator for youth led climate action.

They are joined for this Town Hall COP special event by ICLEI Oceania, the regional secretariat for ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a global network of local and subnational governments committed to sustainable urban development. Town Hall COPs are an ICLEI-led climate dialogue designed to bring global climate goals home and connect climate action at every level. ICLEI Oceania works with a member network across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

This event is also in collaboration with C40 Cities and the LGMA Constituency.

We are grateful to the following youth networks for their involvement and support:

UNAA Victoria - Future Leaders Network, UN Youth (Victoria), UNICEF Australia Young Ambassadors, World Food Forum Australian Youth Chapter , Global Voices, Climate for Change, Planning Institute of Australia Vic Emerging Planners, Climate Catch Lab (WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate & Health), UN Global Compact Network Australia YPs, Persephone Network, AIIA YPs, Red Cross Vic YPs, WELA, Young Australians in International Affairs, DCCEEW Youth Advisory Council, City of Melbourne Youth Climate Action Grant Recipients, Girls Run the World, Melbourne Zoo.

Stay tuned for more information on future events in December (Post COP31).

FAQs

What is COP31?

COPs (Conference of the Parties) are the decision-making bodies of international conventions and act as binding agreements between countries.
In 1992, more than 190 Member States of the United Nations joined an international treaty, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), designed to agree on a global strategy to combat climate change.
Countries meet annually under the UN climate process to negotiate what happens next on global climate action. The UN Climate meetings serve as the formal meeting of the UNFCCC parties—the Conference of the Parties (COP).
The first Conference of the Parties (COP1) was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995.
COP31 will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9–20 November 2026. Türkiye will host the COP and Australia will serve as President of Negotiations, leading the negotiations and working to build consensus between countries.
Why does COP31 matter to Australia and the Pacific?

COP31 gives Australia and other Pacific countries an unusual opportunity to influence the international climate agenda.
Australia is President of Negotiations, while Pacific voices and priorities will also have a prominent role through the Pacific Pre-COP and COP31 program.
What is the Pre-COP?

COP31 is preceded by the PreCOP, hosted by Fiji with a leaders' event in Tuvalu (5–8 October 2026), where Australia will support its Pacific neighbours.
This is a defining moment for Australia and the Pacific: shaping global climate discussions before, during, and beyond these events.
What is a Town Hall COP

Town Hall COPs are an ICLEI-led climate dialogue designed to bring global climate goals home and connect climate action at every level.
Through ICLEI's role as focal point for the Local Government and Municipal Authority (LGMA) Constituency, these grassroots conversations can be elevated into the international UNFCCC COP process – together with Town Hall COPs happening the world over.