Communication | Connect4Climate

#DrivingAmbition: Youth Driving Ambition

Young people like you are, quite literally, the future of our planet.

Sections

Header

Local

Description

Driving action at the local level can take many different forms: climate clubs at school, community demonstrations, knowledge-sharing in social media groups. We're all authorities on our own hometowns—and when we stand up for climate at home, we all contribute to a global push toward a green future! Respecting local expertise while developing a global movement is the challenge of the international climate community, and this working group offers a unique chance to reckon with that challenge.

Goal: This working group will generate proposals to foster youth engagement with climate issues at the local level in regions all over the world.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiKCuhb5Kco" target="_blank">#Youth4ClimateLive Episode 9: Driving Local Action</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/theres-easy-way-national-governments-help-…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/theres-easy-way-national-governments-help-…; target="_blank">There’s an Easy Way for National Governments to Help Cities Act on Climate Change - Give Them Data</a><a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/theres-easy-way-national-governments-help-…; target="_blank">,"</a> an article from the World Resources Institute
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/08/19/why-kinshasa-could…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/08/19/why-kinshasa-could…; target="_blank">Why Kinshasa Could Be in the Vanguard of Megacities’ Climate Resilience,"</a> a World Bank Feature Story on a $500 million climate project driving sustainability and climate resiliency in one of the world's largest metropolises
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore <a href="https://www.c40.org/about" target="_blank">C40 Cities</a>, a network of megacities around the world committed to robust climate action
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Use the <a href="https://www.reachnotpreach.com/" target="_blank">Reach Not Preach</a><a href="https://www.reachnotpreach.com/forum" target="_blank"> Forum</a> to connect with other young people and put your heads together on driving climate action
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Header

National

Description

Often, contributing to climate action at the national level means linking up with many local groups online and planning larger-scale climate demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, etc. Taking every chance you get to learn more about the political processes in your country and form strategies to convey your concern on climate to policymakers is key—productive pressure on legislators is what leads to the kind of action we need to turn back the climate crisis. And when given the opportunity, youth should be unafraid to engage with policymakers directly on their Nationally Determined Contributions and other climate policies. But governments need to meaningfully include youth in their decision-making processes as a first step in order for these approaches to be viable: that's what this working group's all about!

Goal: This working group will produce guidelines and recommendations on how countries can enable youth to make their voices heard and shape climate policy at the national level.

<ul>
<li>
Watch <a href="http://Watch Episode 3: Driving Youth Action" target="_blank">Episode 3</a> of #Youth4ClimateLive, "Driving Youth Action"
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-…; target="_blank">Building Public and Political Will for Climate Change Action</a><a href="http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-…; target="_blank">,"</a> a helpful reference from Yale's School of the Environment
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Peruse the UNFCCC <a href="https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/engaging-private-sector…; style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Toolkit for Engaging the Private Sector in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)</a> 
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="https://ndcpartnership.org/news/roadmap-meaningful-youth-engagement-ndc…; target="_blank">"A Roadmap to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs,"</a> a helpful roadmap from the NDC Partnership on how young people can influence their countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the global fight against climate change
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Header

Multilateral

Description

Just as local organizations can come together to effect national change, national youth delegations can come together to effect global change! Your interest in multilateral collaboration is clear, and this working group offers a unique opportunity to brainstorm ways of expanding youth representation at the highest-level climate events.

Goal: This working group will generate proposals to better include youth in international fora and harness their unique knowledge to shape international climate policy.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://youth4climate.live/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Watch our #Youth4ClimateLive series</a> to see youth leaders in intergenerational conversations with decision makers
</li>
<li>
Read up on <a href="http://www.youngo.uno/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">YOUNGO</a> and the work it's doing to bring young perspectives to the highest levels of international policymaking
</li>
<li>
See what the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-grou…; style="text-decoration-line: none;">UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change</a> is doing to shape the global discourse around climate action
</li>
<li>
Discover the work of <a href="https://sdsnyouth.org/" target="_blank">SDSN Youth</a> to empower young people to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals at the highest levels
</li>
<li>
Browse this UN reference on its work with <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action" target="_blank">Youth in Action</a>
</li>
<li>
Connect with other young people using <a href="https://www.sparkblue.org/youth" target="_blank">SparkBlue</a>, a UN Development Programme online platform for coordinating global action
</li>
<li>
Look into the <a href="https://ukcoy16.org/" target="_blank">UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY)</a> happening in Glasgow, Scotland this November alongside COP26
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

#DrivingAmbition: A Climate-Conscious Society

This article is part of a series on topics to be explored at this year's #Youth4Climate: #DrivingAmbition event. Check back regularly for updated content!

Sections

Header

Showcasing Impacts and Solutions

Description

Sharing the human stories of those most deeply affected by an issue is one of the most powerful ways to galvanize a reponse to that issue. When showcasing impacts, it’s important to give voice to people of disparate identities and lived experiences and to call special attention to those disproportionately affected—often those from groups that have been historically disenfranchised and denied the means to bring about policy change.

Goal: This breakout group will brainstorm how best to achieve equity in climate action, drawing in particular on the invaluable perspectives of local communities, indigenous people, and women.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on strategies for <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/inclusive-engagement-amplifying…; target="_blank">amplifying marginalized voices</a> in this article from our Educational Toolkit.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Watch Youth4ClimateLive Episode 5, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjrdxpyvBqE" target="_blank">"Driving Empowerment: Protecting the Most Vulnerable"</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/meet-human-faces-climate-migrat…; target="_blank">"Meet the Human Faces of Climate Migration"</a> in this World Bank Group Groundswell Report
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Header

Education

Description

Education is the mainstay of democratic societies and an excellent way to give young people the courage and knowledge they need to make a tremendous impact on climate and other global issues. What this working group will ask is: How is the climate crisis currently being taught in schools around the world? Where are we lacking? And what are creative avenues for improvement?

Goal: This breakout group will brainstorm the most essential topics and standards that need to come across in climate education and help think up innovative strategies for bringing this content to students around the world.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Get the scoop on <a href="https://unfccc.int/topics/education-youth/the-big-picture/what-is-actio…; target="_blank">Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE)</a> from UN Climate Change
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore UNESCO's <a href="https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/cce" target="_blank">"Education for climate action"</a> hub
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Engage with Earth Day’s <a href="http://www.earthday.org/campaign/climate-environmental-literacy/" target="_blank">Climate & Environmental Literacy Campaign</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Peruse the UN's many <a href="https://unfccc.int/topics/education-and-outreach/resources/materials-on…; target="_blank">Education and Training Resources</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Header

Public Mobilization

Description

Driving climate literacy in communities and empowering the public to mobilize for climate action means communicating the latest climate research effectively and making climate policy more transparent. Sustained mutual engagement between individuals and governments is essential.

Goal: This breakout group will help develop innovative public and private outreach efforts to make the science of climate change accessible to all and promote climate advocacy and action at the community and individual levels.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Play the UN's interactive <a href="https://mission1point5.org/us" target="_blank">Mission 1.5</a> game
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Join the UN's <a href="https://www.un.org/en/actnow" target="_blank">Act Now</a> campaign
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on the creative climate outreach fostered by <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/congrats-our-youth4climate-new-…; target="_blank">Connect4Climate's partnership with the D&AD New Blood Awards</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Header

Media

Description

On TV and in newspapers, climate change is almost always framed as a clinical, environmental phenomenon. Yet the human impacts of climate change—and the larger climate crisis radiating out from it—are very real. In order to get more people invested in climate action, we have to think about evocative ways in which to reframe the issues in media.

Goal: This breakout group will generate proposals to improve climate narratives in media by recontextualizing them in terms of concrete human impact.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Browse <a href="https://www.sayitwithscience.org/" target="_blank">Say It With Science</a> for ideas on smart science communication
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Review publications from the <a href="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/" target="_blank">Yale Program on Climate Change Communication</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Look through the <a href="https://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/icecaps/research/media_coverage/summ…; target="_blank">Media and Climate Change Observatory</a>'s monthly summaries of international climate coverage
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore the resources available at <a href="https://coveringclimatenow.org/" target="_blank">Covering Climate Now</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read UNESCO's article <a href="https://en.unesco.org/news/media-and-information-literacy-prerequisite-…; target="_blank">"Media and information literacy: A prerequisite for stimulating climate change engagement"</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

The Youth Who Took Over #ClimateWeekLAC Look Back on Their Experiences

Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW) may be over, but it has left us with great messages that our #YouthTakeover team was able to capture throughout its soc

Want to Be a Part of a C4C #YouthTakeover? Here's How to Apply!

For the latest from #YouthTakeover, check out our teams' wrap-up articles on their experiences at

Read more

#All4Climate is Live! Join the Movement Today

By

This Earth Week, we at Connect4Climate are thrilled to announce the launch of All4Climate – Italy 2021, a rich calendar of events acros

Read more

5 Ways Young People Can Help Combat Climate Change

By

When I was a kid, winters were my favorite time of the year.

Read more

#TheLowdown on the Final Episode of #Youth4ClimateLive

By

The #Youth4ClimateLive Series aired its ninth and final episode on February 26, 2021.

Read more

Join Us Feb. 26 for “Driving Local Action,” the Final Episode of #Youth4ClimateLive

By

Since June 2020, #Youth4ClimateLive has brought the perspectives of young leaders from around the world to bear on some of the most pressing i

Read more

#TheLowdown on "Driving Adaptation and Resilience"

By

The eighth installment of the #Youth4ClimateLive series, which aired on January 22, 2021, provided a smorgasbord of calls to action and commitments to drive

Read more

Your Chance to Attend "Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition" in Milan, Italy

By

We may be closing in on the

Read more