Youth – Knowledge Sharing Platform

Nine inspiring 2024 UN CC:Learn Champions shared their diverse climate stories during three engaging sessions, showcasing how individual actions drive collective change.

Read on to find out more.

Last week, the UN CC:Learn community came together for a series of events that brought climate stories to life. Over three dynamic sessions, held on 10 and 11 December in English and 12 December in French, nine of the 2024 UN CC:Learn Champions showcased their inspiring work in the field. With an audience of nearly 1,000 engaged alumni from around the globe, these 90-minute events showcased inspiring examples of climate action in different shapes and forms.

Each event followed an engaging structure that kept the energy high. The Champions—Afifa, Sagaitu, and Vathanak in Event 1; Alan, Hannah, and Varnessa in Event 2; and Jules, Souhayata, and Wadley in the French session—each had 10 minutes to share their unique climate stories. Their work painted a compelling picture of leadership in climate action, from reforestation projects to educational comic books. Following these presentations, an active and engaging Q&A followed. The Champions answered thought-provoking questions from the audience, sparking deeper dialogue about the challenges and successes of their climate actions. The conversations were rich and left participants inspired by the diverse ways individuals can make a difference.

The events closed with an insightful exercise. Participants were asked to submit a pledge answering the question, “What climate action do you pledge to carry out after being inspired by the UN CC:Learn Champions?” Participants bought into the idea and pledged several different things, from “increased community engagement through grassroots initiatives” and “more capacity building on climate change” to “scale up renewable energy” and “reduction carbon footprints,” to name a few.

These events highlighted how individual actions can motivate broader changes within larger groups. Building on this momentum, UN CC:Learn is planning similar events in 2025 featuring Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Champions.

Mastering International Climate Negotiations: All You Need to Know is an accessible and interactive guide to international climate negotiations. It empowers participants—especially youth—with essential knowledge for meaningful involvement in the UNFCCC process.

Enroll

Climate Change
Youth

Self-paced course

3.5 hours

English

Mastering International Climate Negotiations: All You Need to Know is a new e-course designed to guide participants through the intricate landscape of global climate negotiations as we approach COP29.

Created in collaboration with the UNFCCC Secretariat and the COP28 UAE Presidency Youth Climate Champion, it makes international climate negotiation principles more accessible, especially for newcomers and youth delegates.

With an emphasis on simplifying often complex themes, the course covers key topics within the UNFCCC framework, such as implementation mechanisms of the Paris Agreement and the Convention, which influence the policies and decisions shaping climate action worldwide.

“Mastering International Negotiations” is not just about learning but also about empowerment. It emphasizes youth empowerment in the negotiation process, supporting meaningful engagement on equal footing. Through 12 fun and engaging video-based lessons, participants will get critical insights into the UNFCCC process, gaining both the theoretical foundation and the practical knowledge to participate effectively in climate negotiations.

Young people have repeatedly raised that capacity building is a key priority for their meaningful participation during our global youth consultations. This partnership responds to that clearly identified need. COP28, UNFCCC, and UNITAR’s collaboration on climate education demonstrates our commitment to empower the younger generation and foster their active involvement in tackling the global climate crisis.“ – H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, COP28 Youth Climate Champion

UNFCCC is committed to fostering global climate literacy and empowering people everywhere to participate in climate policymaking and decision-making processes. Developed with the COP28 Presidency and UNITAR, this new the vital role of young people as agents of change in accelerating climate action at a time of spiraling climate harms for people of all ages, and massive climate costs for all economies. The course provides learners with essential knowledge about the intergovernmental climate change process. Join us in helping to nurture the skills and expertise needed to ensure impactful climate action, now and in the future.” — Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change

What will you learn?

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Describe the international climate negotiation process and institutional structure under the UNFCCC;
Discuss the rationale, key provisions and activities within the various thematic areas of negotiation under the UNFCCC;
Explain expected key issues and activities taking place at COP29
Identify how to engage in climate policymaking processes at national and international levels across different thematic areas;
Navigate the UNFCCC website and find information on specific UNFCCC processes.

Who is this course for?

The course is primarily designed to build capacities of delegates, particularly youth negotiators, youth-led and youth-focused organizations in the climate negotiation space as well as anyone else interested in learning more about the thematic areas in international climate negotiations.

The course at a glance

1. Introduction to the course

2. Mitigation

3. Adaptation

4. Transparency

5. Climate Finance

6. Technology Mechanism

7. Capacity Building and Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE)

8. Just Transition

9. Agriculture and Food Security

10. Gender

11. The Ocean

12. In Practice: How to Navigate the UNFCCC Website and App

Final Quiz

Will you get a certificate?

The course contains knowledge checks within each lesson to strengthen the learner’s understanding of the content.

A final assessment will be available at the end of the course. A certificate of completion is awarded to learners who complete:

All videos, interactive lessons, and activities;
Final quiz with a 70% or higher score within three attempts;

Once these conditions are met, the certificate will automatically become available for participants to download on the platform in the “certification” tab.

The “Becoming a Climate Champion” e-course strives to empower you to put in place or ramp up your climate initiatives by enhancing your skills in five key areas: leadership, project management, resource mobilization, leave no one behind and communications.

Enroll

Youth
Climate Change

Self-paced course

3 hours

English

Are you ready to drive impactful climate action?

“Becoming a Climate Champion” is an interactive online course designed to equip you with essential skills for excelling in climate action in five key areas: leadership, project management, resource mobilization, leave no one behind and communications.

You will learn from high-level experts how to apply these skills to your climate and environmental projects, transforming your initiatives into successful, meaningful contributions to a sustainable future. Whether you are an entrepreneur, student, government official or NGO worker, this course empowers you to take your work to the next level and ramp up action against climate change.

“Becoming a Climate Champion” was developed by UN CC:Learn and UN Climate Change’s Youth4Capacity.

Enrol today to take the first step to becoming a Climate Champion!

What will you learn?

The e-course aims to build people’s capacities in five key areas – leadership, project management, resource mobilization, leave no one behind and communications – to support them in climate-related projects.

After completing the course, you will be able to:

Devise an inclusive climate action project or initiative that contributes to global efforts to tackle climate change.
Outline a brief communications plan to promote climate-friendly projects and initiatives.
Identify the resources needed to successfully implement a climate project or initiative.
Describe key elements to consider when conceptualizing and implementing inclusive and gender-responsive climate projects and initiatives.
Make use of different leadership styles in climate action projects and initiatives.

Who is this e-course for?

This course caters for everyone who wishes to learn more about leadership, project management, resource mobilization, leave no one behind and communications. However, it will be particularly useful to:

Young people, such as students, entrepreneurs and professionals, who are acting, or intend to act, on climate change and would like to start or enhance their projects and initiatives.
UN CC:Learn alumni and Youth4Capacity beneficiaries who are already taking or wish to take concrete steps to act on climate change.
Everyone interested in playing an active role in addressing climate change and would like to benefit from these skills in their projects and initiatives.

The course at a glance

The course is self-paced and takes around three hours to complete.

The course has five interactive and engaging modules, one for each of the areas it covers. The course features video lessons, interactive online lessons, a final quiz and various additional resources.

Module 1: Leadership
Module 2: Project Management
Module 3: Resource Mobilization
Module 4: Leave No One Behind
Module 5: Communications
Final Quiz & Project Idea Submission

Get your Certificate

Upon completing the five modules, participants will be asked to complete a final quiz covering the content of all the modules. A certificate of completion is awarded to learners who complete:

All videos, interactive lessons and activities.
The final quiz with a score of 70 per cent or higher.

The certificate will be available upon completion of the course. Once conditions are met, the certificate will automatically become available for download.

CYNP participants at COP29. Aerial view.

In 2024, UN CC:Learn and the Future Leaders Network trained young negotiators through the Climate and Land Youth Negotiator Programmes. These initiatives prepared youth for key roles at COP29 (UNFCCC) and COP16 (UNCCD), equipping them with essential skills and knowledge.

Read on to find out more.

2024 was a remarkable year for UN CC:Learn’s partnership with the Future Leaders Network to deliver two unique and dedicated training programmes for young negotiators around the world. The Climate training programme focusing on negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ran for its third year with UN CC:Learn as a partner. We welcomed the pilot Land Youth Negotiator Programme that focused on negotiations under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in collaboration with the UNCCD Secretariat.

Both the Climate and Land training programmes ran in parallel from June – November/December 2024 and offered a unique opportunity to explore the synergies between 2 of the 3 Rio Conventions and build the skills of young negotiators to navigate the complex and fast-evolving multilateral landscape, with a vision to enhance the critical role that the youth play in the decision-making process at a global level. The aim was to prepare young negotiators with mandates within their national delegation for the upcoming negotiations at the 29^thUNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku and the 16^th UNCCD Conference of Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, combining an intensive and engaging programme with pre-learning courses, expert online workshops, community building sessions and knowledge repository in the UN CC:e-learn platform.

Youth Negotiators at COP29. Photo credit: Future Leaders Networks

This year’s Climate Youth Negotiator Programme (CYN) saw 257 young negotiators take part across the fundamental and Advanced training tracks, with 111 of them being integral members of their official negotiating teams at COP29. The first-ever Land Youth Negotiator Programme (LYNP) also engaged young negotiators from 35 countries in the Fundamental training track, and several took part in the COP16 negotiations.

With a growing number of well-equipped young negotiators, there is no doubt that the time to invest in our youth is to build intergenerational climate justice through dedicated training programmes like the CYNP and LYNP to secure our combined futures.

Photos can be found on the social channels here.

Climate Youth Negotiator Participants at COP29, in front of COP29 sign.

Climate Youth Negotiator Participants at COP29. Photo credit: Future Leaders Network.

“Becoming a Climate Champion” is a free e-course designed by UN CC:Learn and UNFCCC’s Youth for Capacity to empower young people and aspiring changemakers with five essential skills: Leadership, Project Management, Resource Mobilization, Inclusivity, and Communications.

Read on to find out more.

The world is facing a climate crisis of unprecedented proportions, with global temperatures on track to rise well beyond the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement. As the impacts of climate change intensify, the need for bold, innovative, and inclusive solutions has never been more urgent. Young people are at the forefront of this challenge, demonstrating their potential as leaders and changemakers in communities worldwide. To empower this next generation of climate leaders with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful action, UN CC:Learn and UNFCCC’s Youth4Capacity, with support from the Governments of Switzerland and Italy, have developed the “Becoming a Climate Champion” e-course.

This groundbreaking collaboration between UN CC:Learn and UNFCCC’s Youth4Capacity Programme builds on years of experience of the two organizations working with youth to address climate challenges. The course leverages insights from experts and practitioners to provide a comprehensive yet accessible learning experience. It is tailored to equip young people with five critical skills: Leadership, Project Management, Resource Mobilization, Leave No One Behind (inclusivity), and Communications. Together, these skills form the foundation for designing and implementing transformative climate projects that are effective, inclusive, and sustainable.

Collage - Module 4 on Inclusivity (Leave No One Behind).

Accessible in just 3 to 3.5 hours, the course features five modules, each divided into multiple lessons, and includes videos, interactive content, further resources, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning. A final quiz allows participants to test their knowledge, and learners can submit their own climate project ideas upon completion. Designed with youth in mind but open to all, the course equips participants with practical tools to turn their passion for the planet into impactful action. With its engaging content and focus on real-world application, “Becoming a Climate Champion” is a call to action for the next wave of climate leaders.

Read on to find out more about the course.

What will you learn?

After completing the course, you will be able to:

Devise an inclusive climate action project or initiative that contributes to global efforts to tackle climate change.
Outline a brief communications plan to promote climate-friendly projects and initiatives.
Identify the resources needed to successfully implement a climate project or initiative.
Describe key elements to consider when conceptualizing and implementing inclusive and gender-responsive climate projects and initiatives.
Make use of different leadership styles in climate action projects and initiatives.

Who is this course for?

Young people, such as students, entrepreneurs and professionals, who are acting, or intend to act, on climate change and would like to start or enhance their projects and initiatives.
UN CC:Learn alumni and Youth4Capacity beneficiaries who are already taking or wish to take concrete steps to act on climate change.
Everyone interested in playing an active role in addressing climate change and would like to benefit from these skills in their projects and initiatives.

Will you get a certificate?

Upon completing the five modules, participants will be asked to complete a final quiz covering the content of all the modules. A certificate of completion is awarded to learners who complete:

All videos, interactive lessons and activities.
The final quiz with a score of 70 per cent or higher.

Take the course today!

Collage - Module 5 - Communications

Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton’s journey as a 13 years old environmental advocate began in the bustling streets of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where her deep connection to nature was evident from an early age. At just 10 years old, she penned her first book, Amama, which highlighted the importance of saving wildlife and addressing deforestation. This early literary effort was the start of a lifelong passion for environmental advocacy. As Varnessa grew, her awareness of environmental issues deepened. She was moved by the struggles of the Ogoni people, who faced pollution and environmental degradation due to oil spills. Witnessing the daily pollution and harsh living conditions in her country, she was inspired to fight for the basic environmental rights of vulnerable children.

Every day on my way to school with my family, I would look out the car window and see a world filled with pollution and children living in squalor. Overwhelmed, I asked myself, are we neglecting the basic rights of these children when it comes to the environment?

This passion led her to advocate for change. To further equip herself for this mission, Varnessa enrolled in UN CC:Learn’s course on climate change greatly expanded her understanding of climate change and environmental policies, honing her problem-solving and diplomacy skills. Empowered by this knowledge, Varnessa took bold actions, including launching her Children4Climate Initiative, a project aimed at educating young minds about climate change and environmental stewardship. Through creative animations and ecofiction stories, she has reached over 23,000 individuals, emphasizing her belief that: gen alpha can still make a change.

I refuse to stand idly while the lives and futures of young people are jeopardized by the neglect of those in power. I channeled my passion into action, raising awareness, advocating for change, and inspiring others to join me. It was the relentless drive that motivated me to create a better world for future generations.

In addition, Varnessa initiated TreeTrek, an effort to restore the greenery of Nigeria’s Port Harcourt through tree planting. She also advocated for climate education in schools by writing an open letter to the Nigerian government and organizing school workshops that taught children about deforestation. Her commitment to environmental storytelling continued with the launch of the RISECT Podcast, where she discusses environmental threats. Recognized as a UNICEF Nigeria Young Influencer, she also earned a fellowship with RippLED Africa, both badges of honor she wears proudly. Beyond her advocacy, Varnessa’s interests extend into ecofiction writing and animation, allowing her to communicate important messages about the planet in creative and impactful ways. Varnessa remains a fierce advocate for children’s rights in the fight against climate change, continuing to inspire others to take action for a more sustainable future.

Start your learning journey:

Join Varnessa and hundreds of students and start learning today:

*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

Hannah Townley has always had a unique blend of passions and expertise, seamlessly integrating her background as an academic feminist security researcher and environmental justice organizer. Now, working as a contractor at NASA, she supports the Earth Data Office’s mission to maximize the use and benefit of NASA earth science data for both science and society. Her journey, however, reveals a story of intersecting interests and unwavering dedication to sustainable development and gender equity. Hannah’s climate story begins in rural Florida, where her love for the outdoors and her family’s farming instilled in her a deep connection to nature. During college, she became a fervent advocate for immigrants’ rights, organizing and researching for farmworkers’ rights.

This experience highlighted to me the critical link between climate action and environmental justice, underscoring the necessity for intersectional research that combines science with community experiences to create comprehensive models for sustainability.”

As she delved deeper into feminist security studies, Hannah enjoyed her work but hadn’t yet fully explored the overlap between gender and climate action in advancing sustainable development goals. Her transition to NASA as a contractor and project coordinator for the Earth Science Data Systems seemed like a move toward climate security, temporarily sidelining her gender-focused work. That changed when she discovered the UN CC:Learn platform and its courses on integrating a gender perspective into climate action.

These courses were transformative for me, helping me articulate the importance of a gender perspective in my work, especially in identifying data inequities.”

NASA’s Earth Science Data System Team visits NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of their work on transforming Earth data from satellite collections to the actionable insights used by communities. (Hannah is second from right)

Working with environmental data, Hannah recognized the need to understand not only earth science impacts but also their socioeconomic consequences. By adopting a data-feminist approach, she could better grasp how crises, such as those caused by climate change, affect different genders differently and create gender-sensitive solutions. This approach became pivotal in her role at NASA and her volunteer work with the Surfrider Foundation, where she continued her activism for climate and environmental justice. This fall, Hannah began a Master’s of Public Policy with a concentration in human security policy. She aims to center human rights discussions in a field often focused on “grand strategy,” driving policy solutions that meet Sustainable Development Goals. Her graduate research will revisit and expand upon her undergraduate thesis, which modeled how violence against women contributed to democratic backsliding in Mexico. She now seeks to study how climate crises exacerbate gendered violence and democratic backsliding, emphasizing climate change mitigation policy as a multiplier for sustainable development across multiple sectors. Through her academic pursuits and continued community organizing, Hannah Townley aspires to be a force for good in the sustainability policy sector.

I believe that to address the climate crisis effectively, our approach must be truly interdisciplinary.”

Her journey from rural Florida to NASA, and now to graduate school, showcases her commitment to integrating gender and climate perspectives in addressing global challenges. Her work exemplifies the power of intersectional research and advocacy in creating resilient, equitable, and sustainable futures for all.

Start your learning journey:

Join Hannah and hundreds of students and start learning today:

*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations, NASA or any of its affiliated organizations.

Alan’s climate story began around 2015 when climate change became a prominent topic in mainstream news, especially during the lead-up to COP21. At the time, he was working in a conservation role in the tropical Andes. Conversations with local farmers revealed their struggles with unusual weather events, such as flash floods and prolonged droughts, which were devastating their livelihoods. These events were effects of climate change, a subject Alan realized he knew little about. Seizing the opportunity, he used professional development funds to attend a two-week training course on climate change. This marked the beginning of his transformation into a source of climate knowledge within his team. Simultaneously, Alan’s publisher challenged him to create his next graphic novel. Inspired by his new understanding of climate change, he created “The Adventures of Captain Polo.” This ongoing series of graphic novels explores various aspects of climate change, including its causes, effects, and solutions in the form of mitigation and adaptation. The main character, Captain Polo the polar bear, travels the world, documenting diverse and often underappreciated facets of climate change in a travelogue format that balances information with adventure, humor, and accurate geographical and cultural depictions.

Each book in the series is meticulously researched, with dialogues, narratives, footnotes, and technical sections at the back of the books reflecting thorough research. The series has garnered endorsements from top-level climate scientists and policymakers.

Book cover

The success of his books spurred Alan to expand Captain Polo’s reach beyond the two-dimensional realm, creating the Captain Polo Academy. From this platform, Alan engages with diverse stakeholders worldwide, including schools, NGOs, think tanks, and individuals, collaborating to promote climate literacy.

A year ago, I created an online Module using Captain Polo animations aiming at teaching children in the 6 to 12-year range some basic concepts about climate science, causes, consequences of global warming, and some high-level solutions.

He continued,

All of this requires keeping pace with evolving climate change knowledge and practice, which is why I am constantly educating myself on this subject. Hence my having completed the UNCC Learn course.

He has taken the e-course Climate Change: From Learning to Action offered by UNCC Learn, to stay abreast of fast-moving developments in climate-related thinking, policy, and practice. This knowledge has also allowed him to write a couple of climate education articles in the Environmental Education Journal (Vol. 134, Spring 2024), and has been instrumental in helping him accurately craft the narratives in his series of Captain Polo books. Additionally, he is in the final stages of creating the fifth comic book in this series. This latest edition, titled Polo in Brazil, is dedicated to documenting climate challenges and solutions in that country.

Ambassador for the Center for Climate Literacy at Minnesota University and a Partner of the climate education open source portal Subject To Climate, Alan through the Captain Polo Academy delivers climate-themed workshops and projects to schools, furthering his mission of climate education. While he remains a conservation biologist, Alan is committed to taking the Captain Polo Academy to new heights, making climate education his life mission moving forward.

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*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

With a robust educational foundation in Architectural Engineering Vathanak Soeun’s journey in architecture, urban planning, community development, and environmental sustainability has spanned over eight years across Cambodia, Australia, and the United States. This diverse experience has equipped him with a unique perspective on the intersection of urban development and environmental sustainability. In 2021, Vathanak took a pivotal step by participating in the Cities and Climate Change e-course offered by UN CC:Learn.

This concise yet insightful course shed light on the profound impacts of climate change on urban areas and provided strategic approaches for urban adaptation.”

Inspired by the course, he felt a compelling urge to share this newfound knowledge with Southeast Asian youth. This led to the creation of his youth community’s social media platform, Sustainable Design 11 (SD11), aimed at educating and empowering the younger generation on climate resilience and sustainable urban development.

The course I learned from UN CC:Learn is a prime example of how digital platforms can globally impact climate change awareness. This knowledge has broadened my understanding of climate action and its broader implications.

After completing his master’s degree, Vathanak gained invaluable experience working on a future green urban project with Gehl Architects. He also worked as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator at Conservation International for the Central Cardamom Mountain Landscape Program. These roles allowed him to apply his expertise in sustainable urban planning and community engagement to create climate-resilient communities.

He has been contributing as a university instructor, teaching urban planning and design, architecture, land management, interior design, and research methodology at both private and public universities in Cambodia, including the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. These academic roles further strengthened his commitment to fostering sustainable development and climate resilience through the next generations of architects and urbanists.

Students graduated from Climate Actions class with Cambodian youths

Vathanak’s passion for building a sustainable future extends beyond his professional roles. He has actively participated in various impactful volunteer roles, including serving as a Youth Jury member for AIPH’s World Green City Awards 2024, promoting biodiversity as a Young Biodiversity Leader for ACB’s ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Program, and advocating for climate action as a Climate Ambassador for the Global Youth Climate Network. These roles have honed his analytical, communication, and operational skills while deepening his understanding of environmental and climate change issues, biodiversity planning, and urban and rural development.

Driven by a passion for working with young people to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Vathanak has initiated and participated in numerous youth projects. These include Future Climate Heroes, the Sustainable Cities and Communities Leadership Program, Xploratory Lab for Future Cities, Eco-Inspire-Ers, Borapoit Project, and Sustainable Design Academy. Collectively, these initiatives have directly reached over 1,000 Cambodian youths.

Study Tour about Mangrove Forest for Climate Actions

A prime example of Vathanak’s project implementation is the Future Climate Heroes initiative, launched in 2022 and ongoing. This project received the prestigious Generation Future’s Grant from UNICEF Cambodia. In collaboration with the Global Youth Climate Network and FXB Climate Advocates, they empowered 20 Cambodian youths (aged 18-35) as Future Climate Heroes through three training sessions held in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The project’s impact extends beyond these heroes. They have delivered climate change education to 385 high school students in Kampot Province and spearheaded six impactful social media campaigns covering various climate action topics. These campaigns have garnered over one million social media engagements. Additionally, their site visit activities have resulted in the planting of 500 trees across Cambodia, including 50 mangrove trees, 200 houseplants, and 250 native trees.

Further amplifying their project’s reach, they showcased the Future Climate Heroes initiative at the 2024 World Wildlife Day Regional Youth Symposium in Singapore. This engagement allowed them to connect with over 300 attendees from national and international organizations and communities, furthering their mission of climate education and action.

I firmly believe that climate education is a fundamental tool for creating a more sustainable, livable, and inclusive community. Through our personal and community climate actions, we’ve seen firsthand the power of knowledge in driving positive change.

Start your learning journey:

Join Vathanak and hundreds of students and start learning today:

*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

Meet Reuben Sapetulu, a 29-year-old Zambian human rights defender and climate activist. As the first young leader to organize the Youth Climate Dialogue between students from Zambia and China, Reuben inspires youth around the world to engage in climate action. His message is clear: young people must come together, amplify their voices, and join forces to tackle the global climate crisis.

Coming from a country rich in natural resources located in the heart of Southern Africa, Reuben Sapetulu, a 29-year-old Zambian human rights defender and champion for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is the first young leader to organize the Youth Climate Dialogue program involving students from Zambia and China to discuss climate change. His country has been experiencing significant climatic variability, such as droughts, seasonal and flash floods, extreme temperatures, and prolonged dry spells. These climatic events have become more frequent, intense, and severe, impacting the country’s physical and biological systems, and placing considerable stress on vulnerable sectors, especially agriculture. Reuben has already been impacted by climate change and he decided to take a step further to support his country in mitigating the impacts of climate change.

In 2019, he had the opportunity to organize the Youth Climate Dialogue (YCD) between students from Zambia and China. This experience was a milestone in his academic and professional journey and a profound personal enlightenment. As a student leader who was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology of Education with Civic Education from the University of Zambia with a passion in advocacy for democratic governance, Reuben’s role involved coordinating and engaging students in collaboration with MIET Africa to participate in the climate dialogue with university students in China. This exchange allowed them to share their experiences and insights on how climate change was impacting their respective countries and what they were doing as key stakeholders to strengthen efforts to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Through this exchange, he came to understand that what he often perceived as natural disasters were, in many cases, consequences of climate change. This realization was pivotal for him, as it highlighted the intersectionality between climate change and human rights, deepening his commitment to addressing these issues.

One of the significant outcomes of his leadership at the YCD program was the launch of a platform for young people to engage in dialogue around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as the Youth Dialogue Program on SDGs, with a particular focus on climate change. This platform brought together an average of 80 students per day, facilitating in-person discussions and exchanges of innovative solutions while empowering and inspiring young people to take the lead in driving sustainable development goals as key stakeholders rather than being passive recipients. It was open to anyone interested in participating and played a crucial role in shaping youth declarations at the local and global level.

Youth dialogue program on SDGs

In addition, his engagement with policymakers began as a youth representative who actively contributed to the National Climate Change Learning Strategy for Zambia from its inception to launch and picked it up to raise awareness to enable young people to play a key role in its implementation. He further continued as a technical lead for what is being called today as Zambia Climate Change Youth Task Force in charge of the Policy and Programming with him playing crucial roles during the Local Conference of Youth on Climate in Zambia from 2022 to 2023.

Reuben participants in the climate change learning strategy from inception to the launch

Reuben participated in the climate change learning strategy from inception to the launch

Reuben engaging his fellow young people to raise awareness about the climate change learning strategy

Reuben also participated in the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties (COP28) as a young negotiator accompanying and supporting the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators during COP28. Through these experiences, he strengthened his knowledge and engagement with policy processes, making numerous national parliamentary submissions to influence parliamentary decisions and build capacity among young people.

Reuben Sapetulu making Parliamentary Submissions together with the Zambia Climate Change Network for consideration in the 2024 National Budget

He said,

The YCD program was a profound learning experience for me, it is where I first learnt about Climate Change and the need to take meaningful action to shape the future we want to see. It spanned several weeks of intensive training through online courses on the UNCC Learn platform, where I developed new skills as well as public speaking (through the YCD) and navigating technical jargon. These skills were crucial as I continued with my advocacy journey as well as my role as a learning and impact coordinator for ActionAid Zambia stationed at Global Platform Zambia as well as my current role as a communications and Youth engagement assistant for UNICEF-Zambia, focusing on empowering young people and strengthening their role as key stakeholders in driving social change.

Inspired by the YCD program, he has also taken several climate actions at the personal level. He adopted climate-smart innovations at home, such as reducing plastic use and utilizing renewable energy sources.

After his Bachelors, we went further to pursue a Master’s in human Rights, Governance and Development from the University of Zambia a course which harmonized his passion for democratic governance, Climate Justice and human rights. He further plans to pursue further education and obtain a Ph.D., focusing on statelessness, human rights, and the impact of climate change on mobility and internally displaced persons. His advocacy work has continued as he strives to build climate change champions at the local level and strengthen their understanding of advocacy, ensuring the sustained impact of their efforts.

To young people concerned about climate change, his advice is simple:

We cannot afford to leave our planet in a worse state due to our inaction. It is essential to move from being passive recipients of information and services to active drivers of climate action through our innovation and ability to revolutionize our national and global development in a way that is climate smart as well as redefine the climate narrative with young people taking the center stage as key stakeholders, because we as young people have the power and the ability to drive change and shape the future in the way that we envision it.

He believes that the demand for youth participation in climate action is growing and cannot be overlooked. It is therefore crucial for more platforms that facilitate meaningful engagement with national and local policymakers to be created and strengthened, for this will enable us to break down barriers and ensure that youth voices are heard in decision-making processes.

This is crucial not only to bridge the gap between young people and technical experts but also reactivate the role of young people as key stakeholders while reaffirming to our commitment to empower them to drive climate action because the future depends on young people’s ability to innovate and take meaningful climate action while enabling them to influence these decisions and sustain the cause for climate action.

The YCD program not only equipped me with the skills and knowledge to make a difference but has also ignited a passion for continued advocacy and leadership in the fight against climate change.

Reuben Participating in the Be Relevant Conference to push a demand for Youth Climate Action

Keeping 1.5°C Alive: UN CC:Learn Champions Inspire Action

Mastering International Climate Negotiations: All You Need to Know

What will you learn?

Who is this course for?

The course at a glance

Will you get a certificate?

Becoming a Climate Champion

What will you learn?

Who is this e-course for?

The course at a glance

Get your Certificate

Empowering Young Negotiators: Building Skills for Climate and Land Solutions

Get the skills you need to get your climate project off the ground with the new Becoming a Climate Champion e-course.

What will you learn?

Who is this course for?

Will you get a certificate?

Gen Alpha can still make a change: A call to the new generations

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How One Advocate Brings Gender and Climate Justice to NASA’s Earth Data Mission

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Drawing Solutions: A Cartoonist’s Journey in Climate Education

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Youth-Driven Urban Sustainability: Bridging Climate Change and Urban Development

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‘We must shift from engaging youth as passive recipients to key stakeholders actively driving climate action.’ – Meet Reuben Sapetulu, the first young leader of the Youth Climate Dialogue Program

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