COP31: NAFORé brings the voice of Mauritanian youth to Antalya
From November 9 to 14, 2026, NAFORé participated in four sessions at COP31 in Antalya (Türkiye). Covering green skills, urban resilience, green industry, and youth leadership, this was a week of rich and meaningful exchange.
This year, the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) has brought together decision-makers from around the globe in Antalya. NAFORé was there to listen, learn, and share the experiences of Mauritanian youth and communities.
Green industry: the private sector on the front lines
On November 9, at the Indonesian Pavilion, we attended a session on green industrialization. Indonesian companies demonstrated how the energy, industrial, and mining sectors can undergo a transformation while simultaneously protecting the natural environment—a valuable lesson for Mauritania, where the energy and mining sectors are currently booming.
From green schools to green jobs
On November 12, a side event titled “From Green Schools to Green Careers” highlighted a simple truth: the transition begins in the classroom. Education for sustainable development must support young people throughout their lives, all the way into the workforce.
More resilient cities
That same day, we took part in a high-level dialogue on urban resilience, organized by the UNFCCC and UN-Habitat. With challenges like floods and heatwaves, cities find themselves on the front lines—an issue of direct relevance to Nouakchott. Youth and women: engaged, yet not sufficiently heard
On November 14, at the Francophonie Pavilion, young leaders from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo shared their experiences—ranging from school-enterprise initiatives in protected areas and women-managed oyster farms to mangrove restoration and an African network of community-based marine areas. Their assessment mirrors our own: young people are taking action on the ground, yet they lack dedicated funding and a seat at the decision-making table.
What comes next?
These discussions reinforce the work being carried out by Naforé in the Lower Delta of Mauritania, where more than 120 hectares of mangrove have already been reforested in collaboration with local communities. Our next steps include hosting a side event on November 17 at 12:00 PM at the Mauritanian Pavilion, titled “Wetlands Under Climate Pressure: Protecting and Restoring, from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea.”
