Youth Engagement in Policy & Politics - The speaker advocates for the inclusion of youth in political and policy discussions, arguing that their perspectives are often overlooked despite their active participation in society and online spaces [2][4][5][6] - The speaker highlights the discrepancy between trusting teenagers with responsibilities like babysitting and sidelining them in political discussions [3][4] - The speaker emphasizes that young people are not just the future but also part of the present, urging adults to listen to their voices and collaborate with them [25][31] - The speaker points out the underrepresentation of young people in politics, with only 3% of Australian parliamentarians being under 30, while the average age of parliamentarians globally is 53, compared to a median population age of 30 [22][23] Youth Perspectives & Readiness - A 2022 UNICEF report indicates that 9 in 10 young people aged 15 to 24 use social media to engage with social justice issues, creating original content [6] - A recent survey reveals that 76% of young people aged 18 to 29 believe they have the power to change the country, and 77% want to get involved, but only 40% feel qualified [12] - The speaker shares a personal experience in Youth Parliament, highlighting the potential for young people to influence policy when given a platform [17][18][19][20][21] Examples of Youth Inclusion & Impact - The speaker cites Austria and Scotland, where the voting age is 16, as examples of countries with higher youth voter turnout, with 75% turnout in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum among 16-17 year olds [14][15] - The speaker mentions the EU Youth Dialogue and youth councils in Finland and Norway as models where young people co-develop national policies [16] - The speaker notes that youth participation at forums like COP 27 led to the establishment of a loss and damage fund and increased pledges to the adaptation fund [26]