A Bermudian environmental activist took her place in the international spotlight when she was featured in several news reports during the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Noelle Young said that she had the honour of being part of a live interview with France 24, an international news station, while the event was held this month.

She was also featured in an article by the International National Trusts Organisation, which looks to conserve heritage sites across the globe.

Ms Young told the organisation: “I speak out because I believe that safeguarding our environment is about honouring those who came before us and protecting what we’ll pass down to future generations.

“It’s a responsibility to ensure that the communities that have depended on these ecosystems for centuries can continue to thrive.

“This is more than environmental work; it’s preserving our legacy.”

The 29th annual conference of the parties, known as COP29, is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, where representatives from around the world are discussing climate action.

Ms Young, who was the only Bermudian representative during the event’s first week, told The Royal Gazette that one of the key topics was use of the term “subnational island jurisdictions” for places like Bermuda.

The phrase refers to islands that are “administrative subdivisions” under larger states, such as Overseas Territories of Britain or the US.

These are similar to small island developing states, or Sids, which often receive financial backing to assist with environmental protections.

Ms Young said that Bermuda did not qualify for many of the support programmes because it did not meet criteria.

However, she added that recent talks at COP29 suggested a shift in finance policies to include SNIJs.

Ms Young said: “If this change is adopted, Bermuda could gain access to international climate financing instead of relying solely on privatised funding.

“This inclusion could be transformative for our island's climate justice and sustainability efforts.”

Ms Young explained that island states were particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their proximity to sea level, reliance on the ocean and sensitivity to environmental and economic extremes.

She added: “For context, the devastating impact of climate events on islands was underscored when Hurricane Beryl struck Grenada, wiping out a third of its GDP.

“This exemplifies the urgency of expanding support to all vulnerable island jurisdictions.”