Youth Took Conflict-Zone Climate Demands to COP31 — With No Adaptation Text to Carry Them

MENA youth closed RCOY 2026 in Oman demanding protection for climate workers in conflict zones and adaptation plans for conflict-affected states — six weeks before COP31 opens without agreed adaptation text.

3Bi Situation Report — Climate & Energy Desk | First edition | Information cut-off: 29 September 2026, 06:00 UTC

Headline Fact

The Regional Conference of Youth on Climate Change for the Middle East and North Africa (RCOY MENA 2026) closed on 20 September 2026 in Manah, Oman, with an outcome statement calling for protection of water infrastructure and climate workers in conflict zones, prioritised national adaptation plans for least developed and conflict-affected countries, and permanent regional mechanisms for transboundary water basins, according to the Oman Observer (20 September 2026). The statement is meant to feed the youth position for COP31, which opens in Antalya on 9 November — where adaptation negotiations will restart without an agreed text.

Timeline

• 24 July 2026: The conference call for applications is published, describing RCOY MENA as held under YOUNGO, the UNFCCC’s children and youth constituency, with three themes: community adaptation and resilience; fair transition and green economy; and climate finance and governance. Participants had to complete a regional youth policy survey feeding a youth statement for COP31 (Foras Khadra, 24 July 2026).
• 7 August 2026: Applications close (Foras Khadra).
• June 2026: At the Bonn climate talks (SB64), negotiators fail to agree text on the Global Goal on Adaptation, and references to the COP30 pledge to at least triple adaptation finance are left in brackets, according to Carbon Brief’s outcomes analysis (June 2026). The Global Goal on Adaptation goes to COP31 without agreed text.
• 20 September 2026: RCOY MENA 2026 closes at the Oman Across the Ages Museum in Manah, as part of Oman Climate Week 2026. The Oman Observer reports more than 500 young people from over 22 countries attended, organised by the Madad Youth Foundation and the Green Opportunities team.
• 20 September 2026: The outcome statement is read out. It calls for stronger youth participation in national climate pathways; adequate finance, technology transfer and capacity building on equity principles; protection of environmental and water infrastructure and of climate workers in conflict zones; prioritised national adaptation plans for least developed and conflict-affected countries; and permanent regional cooperation mechanisms on transboundary water basins (Oman Observer, 20 September 2026).

What We Know / What We Don’t

We know the conference took place, that it closed on 20 September, and that its stated outcome includes conflict-zone protections, adaptation planning for conflict-affected countries and permanent transboundary-water mechanisms. We know the call for applications opened the conference to youth from Arab countries; Sudan is an Arab League member, so Sudanese youth were eligible on that basis (our reading of the eligibility wording, not a confirmed attendance). We know COP31 runs 9–20 November 2026 in Antalya, with a Pre-COP on 5–8 October in the Pacific, according to the UNFCCC website. We know the Global Goal on Adaptation reached this point without agreed text.

We do not know whether Sudanese delegates took part: the Oman Observer report does not mention Sudan. We do not know how or whether the outcome statement will be formally delivered into COP31 — the report names no follow-up mechanism. We do not know whether the “conflict zones” language will survive into any negotiated text; youth statements carry no negotiating weight on their own.

Do-No-Harm Note

Reviewed per Section 7.3 of 3Bi’s writing guidelines: this report names no individual participant, delegate or community. It makes no claim about any Sudanese individual’s attendance, location or safety, and describes conflict-zone climate workers only in general terms, as the cited outcome statement does.

What to Watch

• 5–8 October 2026: Pre-COP31 in the Pacific (UNFCCC). Watch whether adaptation finance and the Global Goal on Adaptation appear on the ministerial agenda.
• Before 9 November 2026: Whether YOUNGO publishes a consolidated MENA youth statement, and whether it retains the conflict-zone and transboundary-water language.
• 9–20 November 2026: COP31, Antalya. Watch for bracketed adaptation-finance text and any reference to conflict-affected states.

Sourcing & Next Update

Sources: Oman Observer, “MENA youth urge greater role in climate action” (20 September 2026); Foras Khadra, RCOY MENA 2026 call for applications (24 July 2026); Carbon Brief, “Bonn climate talks: Key outcomes from the June 2026 UN climate conference” (June 2026); UNFCCC, COP31 page (accessed 29 September 2026). Next update expected after Pre-COP31 (5–8 October) or when a consolidated youth statement is published.

3Bi Research Team. This piece was produced through 3Bi’s automated daily publications workflow monitoring regional and international climate reporting.

This publication is produced with support from 3Bi’s institutional donors; see the full funder list at 3bisudan.org.