“It’s not about embracing or bleaching precious, politically correct dreams.

“Net zero, blah, blah, blah. Climate neutrality, blah, blah, blah. This is what we hear from our so-called leaders – words, words are best, but yet no work is hope. Dreams and promises.”

Dunberg spoke at the Youth4 Climate Forum two days before dozens of ministers gathered in Milan for the final summit ahead of the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in November. COP26 President Alok Sharma was present in the youth program and he presided over the ministerial meeting.

Young participants will bring a list of recommendations for ministers to consider later this week. Ministers are expected to try to realign their positions on the Glasgow agenda, including setting coal use deadlines and those that should help move the global south to a low-carbon economy.

Vanessa Naked, a Ugandan activist, said developing countries were still waiting for rich countries to deliver on their climate finance promises.

Decades ago, heads of state and governments of industrialized countries agreed to transfer money to developing countries to reduce their CO2 emissions. That promise was reaffirmed in Paris in 2015 when leaders agreed to return $100 billion annually to the Global South 2020, at least half of which should go toward adjustment. That deadline was missed last year.

“There is little evidence that US$100 billion annually is promised to meet this challenge for climate-threatening countries. Pollution is at its lowest, but it is at the forefront of the climate crisis.

“The cultures, traditions and histories you have lost cannot be replaced. Hunger cannot be accepted. It is time for the leaders at the heart of the climate dialogue to inflict loss and damage.”