YPARD Colombia Shines at the Global Earth Forum: Youth, Land, and Climate Justice in Focus

Ocaña and Bogotá, Colombia | June 12–19, 2025

Rosmery Báez Lizarazo, the Country Representative of YPARD Colombia, actively participated in the Global Earth Forum held in two phases: the Youth Pre-Forum in Ocaña, North Santander (June 12–14) and the main Global Earth Forum in Bogotá (June 16–19). Her participation spotlighted youth advocacy, agroecological action, and the collective call for land rights and climate justice.

Youth Pre-Forum – Ocaña, North Santander

This pre-forum served as a platform for youth empowerment and policy advocacy, where Rosmery engaged in multiple dynamic sessions, including:

• Stories That Transform the Territory
  The session centered on the Catatumbo region as a symbol of resilience and youth-led transformation. Discussions emphasized the importance of dialogue, participation, and community-driven narratives.
• Voices of the Earth Panel
  This panel reflected on the global condition of the Earth, showcasing how youth play a vital role in catalyzing change and promoting lifelong learning in climate and sustainability spheres.
• YPARD Incubator Experience
  Rosmery presented Colombia’s success story in the YPARD Incubator, highlighting AIGROU, a platform that blends artificial intelligence with local and expert knowledge to promote sustainable climate and agricultural practices.
• The Thunder Route I – Knowledge Exchange in Catatumbo
  Participants shared experiences on the role of civil society in land defense, connecting community stories to broader strategies for territorial protection.
• Online Youth Workshops – Political Influence and Access to Land
  These workshops uncovered the complex realities youth face in accessing land—hampered by inadequate policies, weak legal frameworks, and limited institutional support.
• Roundtable on Climate Justice and Youth Participation
  The roundtable addressed rural youth’s limited access to opportunities, emphasizing the importance of inclusive training and environmental stewardship at the grassroots level.

The culmination of the youth forum was the drafting of a Global Manifesto for Land Rights and Climate Justice, shaped by young voices from diverse regions. The document marked a collective declaration: “Youth for the Land, Land for Youth.”

Global Earth Forum – Bogotá

The main event in Bogotá brought together civil society actors at national and global levels. The forum served as a convergence point for movements protecting the earth and advocating for agroecological practices across youth, women, farmers, indigenous, and Afro-descendant populations.

Highlights included:

• From the Territory to COP30
  A youth-led panel featuring organizations like CLIMALAB, LA MEERJ, GYBN Colombia, the EU, and YPARD LAC explored strategies to expand youth participation in global climate platforms and prioritize climate education.
• Women’s Participation in Agriculture
  Led by the World Rural Forum, this discussion underscored the crucial visibility and leadership of women in agricultural systems, particularly in pre-COP processes such as those in Brazil.
• Agroecology and the Food System
  Carlos Magno from Brazil’s Sabiá Center stated, “Agroecology is not a recipe,” highlighting the importance of localized knowledge and quilombola community practices.
• Cultural Fair
  A celebration of cultural diversity and youth-led initiatives allowed participants to share their work and traditions.

As the Country Representative of YPARD Colombia, Rosmery focussed on three main pillars during the forum- environmental sustainability, climate action, and land protection. She was joined by YPARD representatives from Brazil, Mexico, and across Latin America, along with Javier Lautaro Medina Bernal from the National Organizing Committee (CINEP), for the official presentation of the Global Manifesto for Land Rights and Climate Justice. The collective call, “Youth for the land, land for youth,” resonated powerfully—bridging the dialogue from Ocaña to Bogotá.

Reflections and Key Takeaways

• The food paradox: Those who suffer from hunger are often the ones growing food.
• Land rights are fundamental to ensuring food sovereignty and climate resilience.
• Family farming is key to food security.
• Global solidarity inspires local action to protect the land.
• Governments must recognize local realities and make visible the security needs of land defenders.
• Colombia is assuming leadership on the global stage.
• Energy and socioeconomic transitions must be inclusive and built alongside the people.
• The food chain demands responsible stewardship and equitable logistics.
• Access to land and water are non-negotiable foundations for sustainable agri-food systems.

The presence of YPARD representatives from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and the YPARD LAC Coordinator, along with engagement from national entities like CINEP, underscored the collaborative momentum building across Latin America.

Rosmery’s participation reaffirmed YPARD Colombia’s commitment to youth empowerment, agroecology, and land rights, bringing local voices to global platforms and helping shape a more just and sustainable future.