In the context of the World Environment Day, the European Youth Foundation shows its appreciation to the incredible efforts young people and youth organisations are making on climate action.

The European Youth Foundation is funding many projects which have enabled young people across Europe to explore issues around the environment and climate change.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of current or past projects on this topic:

• Annual work plan “Building Blocks toward Youth Climate Action in Europe”

implemented by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Europe (WAGGGS)

This annual work plan will allow WAGGGS to address the urgent need for environmental awareness and action among young people, specifically within their Member Organisations. The activities include an international training for youth workers, conducting research that leads to production of a toolkit, that will eventually support multipliers to conduct youth-led climate actions locally. Through its phases, this work plan will foster a deeper understanding of climate change, promote sustainable practices, and empower youth to advocate for environmental justice.

• Local project “Voices of Climate Actions”

project implemented by "Yeghvard" youth ecological NGO (Armenia)

This project aims to empower and raise awareness about climate change among the youth workers and city councils in regions of Armenia, introducing possible measures for climate change adaptation, mitigation and encourage engagement of young people in environmental decision-making processes in Armenia. During a youth gathering of five days, 30 youth workers and local elected representatives will explore the climate crisis, the Council of Europe’s “Recommendation (2024)6 on Young People and Climate Action,” and ways to advocate for a healthy environment at the local level. A board game on climate change and an advocacy action plan for local authorities will be developed by the participants to sustain the results of the meeting and further raise awareness about the topic.

• Annual work plan “Understanding the triple planetary crisis through the lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment”

implemented by the Youth and Environment Europe (YEE)

This project aims at raising awareness and building capacity among youth on the climate crisis; enhancing international cooperation and knowledge-sharing among similar organisations and strengthening participation of youth in environmental and climate decision-making processes. The annual work plan, through its three phases, will encompass the cross-border geographic and social considerations relating to youth into the concept of the right to a healthy environment and create tools for further multiplication or advocacy actions.

To follow the achievements of this work plan, check their website here: https://yeenet.eu/project/understanding-the-triple-planetary-crisis/

• International project “Deaf youth be green!”

project implemented by the European Union of Deaf Youth (EUDY)

This project aimed to tackle limited access, opportunities and awareness of climate change and environmental activism among deaf youth. During a youth gathering of nine days, 45 deaf young people improved their awareness about the challenges of climate change. They have also identified ways to strengthen green activism and increase awareness of environmental issues within the deaf youth community.

• International project “Superheroes of climate change”

project implemented by the international network Youth for Exchange and Understanding (YEU)

During this one-year project, YEU aimed to empower young people to lead the green agenda and be the front runners of behavioural change. The project included three international youth gatherings, each focusing on an aspect: creating a core, telling a story and making a change. Participants from 10 countries also developed local awareness raising campaign, policy recommendations and a resourceful project website. Nine local campaigns were carried out to raise the importance of acting now against climate change. The policy recommendations addressed the topics of consumerism, ignorance and lack of education among European youth, less use of plastic and fast fashion. These were presented to European level decision makers. You can find more about the project at https://superheroesofclimatechange.com/

• International project: Extremism – a danger for climate justice?

project implemented by the International Youth Nature Friends network (IYNF)

“How is it possible that climate change denial and scepticism related to human influence on climate change remain common opinions when evidence has become so clear?” (quote from the project description) With this project, IYNF supported young people to recognise destructive speech patterns defined as anti-climate action or anti-environmentalism, to learn techniques of assertiveness on how to counter populist statements, to make young people’s voices heard, and to deepen young people’s knowledge about climate change and trends in environmental protection. Throughout 2023, IYNF has organised four international youth gatherings to bring change in these topics. The project produced a podcast addressing contradictory truths in the climate movement, which can be found at IYNF website www.iynf.org

Going further

• Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)20 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on human rights and the protection of the environment
• COMPASS – The Council of Europe manual on human rights education with young people, www.coe.int/compass This manual has a chapter dedicated to human rights and the environment including activities which support young people to explore climate change and human rights.
• Toolkit 13 on sustainability and youth work, produced by the EU – Council of Europe youth partnership, is a specific resource on how to address environmental sustainability issues with young people, https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/youth-partnership/
• Greening the youth sector: a sustainability checklist, produced by the EU – Council of Europe youth partnership, explores how youth work can be more environmentally friendly, https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/youth-partnership/
• Resources from the EYF-supported projects, with toolkits or publications covering the topic of climate change: Publications - European Youth Foundation