European Economic
and Social Committee
Meet the new EESC Youth Delegate to COP 2025-2026!
Originally from the island of Mayotte (France), Samira Ben Ali is a passionate climate justice advocate dedicated to amplifying the voices of communities most vulnerable to the climate crisis. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and Sustainability from Sciences Po Rennes, as well as a Master’s in International, European, and Environmental Law from Aix-Marseille University.
Samira works as a campaigner for World’s Youth for Climate Justice as well as an Ocean Project Assistant for Youth and Environment Europe. Additionally, Samira is a 2024 Public Policy New Voices Fellow at Salzburg Global and serves as an EU Climate Pact Ambassador. Through these roles, Samira champions ambitious, inclusive, and intersectional climate policies that reflect the concerns and aspirations of young people.
What do you expect from your new role as the EESC youth delegate to COP?
I would expect my role as the EESC Youth Delegate to COP to be a bridge between youth-led climate movements and institutional decision-making processes. I hope to be able to amplify the voices of young people, especially from vulnerable and frontline communities, including those in EU oversea territories whose concerns and solutions must be reflected in EU positions on climate issues.
I also see this role as an opportunity to stir up substantial youth involvement in the COP negotiations for ambitious policy inclusion in all negotiation tracks. I also hope that as a delegate I will bring experiences from the grassroots level to help in developing opinions and policies at the EESC in tune with the realities faced by those most impacted by climate change. This way, youth can both feed into the outcome of the COP while strengthening civil society within EU climate governance.
Finally, I hope that through this role, I will be able to encourage young people, no matter who they are, where they come from and how they look, to feel legitimate to advocate for climate justice.
You have been active on climate and biodiversity action back home, as well as on youth engagement. As EESC youth delegate to COP, what will you bring to the work of the EESC and its participation in the UNFCCC and CBD processes?
As an EESC youth delegate, I would bring a strong commitment to ensuring that climate and biodiversity actions are not only inclusive but also responsive to the realities of those most affected by the crisis. Drawing from my active engagement in both grassroots activism and institutional processes, I aim to help as much as possible to bridge the gap between policy discussions and the lived experiences of vulnerable communities.
For that, I hope to be able to effectively share the experience and knowledge I've gained from youth movements and advocacy to human rights, intergenerational equity, and diversity in climate spaces. I aim to listen and learn from as many young people as possible, collaborate closely with them, and ensure that everyone has space to voice their concerns.
What do you hope to be able to say at the end of your two-year mandate?
We are at a time where things at a global level feel extremely uncertain, when it comes to climate governance and our common future, and I hope that I will help fuel optimism in our ability to take action and make tangible change. At the end of my mandate I want to feel like I have been instrumental in shaping narratives that promote collaboration and inclusion in climate decision making spaces.
I also hope that by then more young people, especially those who do not see themselves represented in the climate movement while suffering from the consequences, will feel legitimate to participate in the conversation and most importantly share their solution.