Ashley Lashley, a prominent youth advocate from Barbados, recently made her international debut as one of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisors on Climate Change at the prestigious International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. The event, held every four years, serves as a global platform for setting conservation and sustainable development priorities. This year’s congress attracted over 1,400 participants, including government officials, civil society organizations, Indigenous representatives, and corporate leaders. Lashley’s participation was hailed as a significant milestone, as she actively contributed to high-level discussions aimed at accelerating global climate action and conservation efforts. She was a key speaker in the Special Session titled “Nature’s Promise for Climate & People — A Call and Commitment from the Conservation Community to Belém and Beyond,” which focused on enhancing nature preservation, climate resilience, and human well-being. Additionally, Lashley participated in the session “Alliances Fit for the Post-2030 Era – Driving the Next Wave of Multilateralism,” exploring innovative partnerships to sustain environmental initiatives beyond 2030. Drawing from her experience as a former recipient of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), Lashley emphasized the critical role of youth-led organizations in developing scalable environmental solutions. She also highlighted the interconnectedness of human health, biodiversity, and ecosystems in the high-level session “One Health: The Only Healthy Future for People, Animals, and Ecosystems.” Lashley candidly addressed the tension between capitalism and environmental sustainability, advocating for economic models that support sustainable communities and healthy ecosystems. Her participation underscored the importance of youth voices in shaping global climate and conservation policies, particularly from the Caribbean region.
UN youth advisor from Barbados represents Caribbean at Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi
