26/10/2025

ON SUNDAY October 26, 2025 theSunday Special V

only marching in the streets but sitting at the table where real decisions are made. “Young people worldwide are not just protesting. They’re being included in climate planning, in policy development, in national climate councils. In Malaysia, we’re still working towards that kind of participation and we’re hopeful,” she said. There are clear frameworks that show how it can be done. Internationally, there are guidance documents that outline VSHFL¿F SDWKZD\V IRU \RXWK LQFOXVLRQ LQ climate governance. These are not just aspirational ideals – they are practi cal tools that could be adapted here in Malaysia too. Young Malaysians have never lacked passion. What they are asking for now is structure – ways to engage meaning fully, sustainably and consistently. “We shouldn’t have to decode consultation papers or run our own education cam paigns just to participate. We’re ready. We just want the space,” she said. Yet even with these challenges, Aroe remains hopeful because RUUPIN has awakened something powerful. It is about moving beyond just demanding action to actually shaping what that action looks like. Sitting around and hoping the right policies will appear is not enough. Every one needs to be involved from the start. The young Malaysians of today are clearly looking forward to change and they are actively creating it. These young people need to become genuine partners in building the solutions instead of being the ones asking for them. Ultimately, Aroe and her peers show that youth climate activism and general DGYRFDF\ H̆ RUWV LQ 0DOD\VLD KDYH EHFRPH PRUH IRFXVHG RUJDQLVHG DQG H̆ HFWLYH ,W is no longer just about raising awareness or sounding the alarm – it is about clarity, FROODERUDWLRQ DQG WKH FRQ¿GHQFH WR FODLP space in a conversation that matters to everyone. With every coalition formed and every infographic shared, young Malaysians are demonstrating that they do not need permission to lead. They are already doing it with thoughtfulness, inclusivity and the quiet conviction that the future is not something they will inherit but something they are already helping to shape.

Young Malaysians are stepping up to translate climate policy into an accessible language for the public.

We’re not just activists. We’re part of a generation making public engagement easier for everyone.”

“There were gaps in protecting vulner able communities, especially Indigenous peoples who are often impacted by car bon credit projects. There was also little mention of gender perspectives or youth involvement and not enough focus on adaptation,” she explained. Rather than framing this as a fault, Aroe sees it as a call to action. It is an opportunity for more voices to be included and more perspectives to be heard, as the climate crisis does not occur in isolation. It intersects with Indigenous rights, gender equality and economic justice, among many other things. Real climate action must recognise these connections and incorporate them into the conversation. “One of the most encouraging out comes has been the spirit of collabora tion. Working with other organisations has taught me that effective advocacy requires coalition building, particularly in policy development. For RUUPIN, we collaborated with Indigenous groups, women’s rights organisations and other civil society networks because we know WKDW FOLPDWH OHJLVODWLRQ D̆ HFWV HYHU\RQH GL̆ HUHQWO\ ´ VKH VDLG This coalition-building revealed the strength of Malaysia’s advocacy ecosystem and also the need for better alignment. She UHFRJQLVHV WKDW SHRSOH RIWHQ ¿JKW WKHLU own battles separately, when they could be working together towards broader, systemic change. Malaysian youth activism around the globe Looking outward, Aroe draws inspiration from the global youth climate movement. Across borders, young people are not

Malaysia’s new generation of activists is reshaping how climate governance is discussed and understood.

KAMY is working towards RUUPIN to enhance youth engagement and inclusive policymaking.