The desire among youth to impact climate-related decision-making grows but is often hindered by lack of information or limited participation opportunities.
Published as part of the Climentines project, the scoping study explores young people’s opportunities to influence climate decision-making across the European Union and in the project partner countries including Greece, France, Austria, Poland, Finland, and Italy. The aim of the study is to provide youth workers and young leaders with information and tools to strengthen youth participation.
The study reviewed two EU-level initiatives as well as two initiatives from each partner country. These initiatives are examples of good practices that support, for example, youth climate advocacy and projects, provide financial support for youth engagement in climate action, and/or act as a link between young people and decision-makers.
Read more on the good practices from the scoping study or through the links below (links lead to websites in different languages):
- EU: EU Youth Dialogue
- EU: Youth Climate and Sustainability Round Tables
- France: Les eco-delegué.es (“Eco-Delegates”)
- France: Fondation pour la Nature et pour l’Homme – Génération Climat
- Italy: Citizens’ Assembly for Climate of Bologna
- Italy: The National Forum for Sustainable Development
- Greece: Arsinoe Youth Assemblies
- Greece: Local Conference of Youth (LCOY)
- Finland: Youth Nature and Climate Group
- Finland: Action Groups of the Finnish Nature Association
- Austria: Klimajugendrat (“Climate Youth Council”)
- Austria: Jugend-Umwelt-Plattform (”Youth Environmental Platform”)
- Poland: YouthKrakHack
- Poland: Młodzieżowa Rada Klimatyczna (”Youth Climate Council”)
Based on the examples from the scoping study, three challenges hindering youth climate action were identified, along with three enablers to promote it.
Challenges:
- Limited funding for youth-led initiatives and projects
- Insufficient political and/or legislative support
- Bureaucratic structures that restrict opportunities for participation
Enablers:
- Establishing mentoring and support networks
- Ensuring access to resources (funding, technology, infrastructure)
- Recognizing and validating young people’s contributions
In Finland, a generally strong civil society and diverse opportunities for civic engagement support youth participation in decision-making, but there is need to focus on strengthening the inclusion of marginalized groups and addressing regional disparities.
Providing tools and opportunities for participation, as well as listening to young voices in climate decision-making, is crucial, especially as the impacts of climate change will be significantly felt in the lives of young people in the coming decades.
Read the scoping study:
Climentines: Empowered Youth for Climate Action – Scoping Study
The Climentines project aims to enhance young people’s knowledge and skills and develop tools that increase their opportunities to participate in climate decision-making.
Read more about the project on its website climentines.eu.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.