Highlighting over a decade of active youth engagement in the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Youth Conference on Biodiversity (IYCB) will be held in August 2024 in Yokohama City, Japan, in a collaboration between the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), the Ministry of Environment of Japan, the City of Yokohama, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Japan Biodiversity Fund.

IYCB will take place from 25 to 31 August 2024 in Yokohama, Japan, and will bring together more than 100 youths from all over the world to connect, collaborate, and share experiences about their work and interest in biodiversity. (Please note that arrivals and departures from/to Yokohama will be arranged on August 24 and September 1, 2024). 

The one-week programme will highlight the role of young people as agents of change for the benefit of biodiversity. It will provide young people with an opportunity to develop bonds and networks with other national and regional participants from diverse sectors, and create a movement to drive transformative change for the success of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in particular, its targets 22 and 23, and Section C (n) on intergenerational equity.

Through music, art, culture, discussions and workshops, the young leaders will engage in creative sessions and develop projects to amplify their voices, spark innovation, and drive meaningful action for a sustainable future, in harmony with nature.

IYCB participants and their partners will get hands-on experience at working in a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. The gathering will also support the implementation of the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity (2023–2030)

The goals of the 2024 International Youth Conference on Biodiversity are:

1. Empower the global youth community to actively share their insights on biodiversity within diverse programs and sectors that will drive transformative change through a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach.

2. Encourage young people to rally around the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and CBD objectives

3. Facilitate the creation of projects that strengthen their national, regional and global community's ability to support biodiversity towards achieving the 2030 targets and following National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in their national contexts.

GYBN hopes that IYCB will help to further mobilize, empower and coordinate young people and youth organizations that are working for Biodiversity.

The deadline for applications is  MARCH 30 at 23:59 UTC (Universal Central Time).