Youth4Climate

Youth4Climate (Y4C) is a global initiative that supports the implementation of youth-led and youth-inclusive solutions to environmental and climate challenges, both financially and through capacity development.

Young people are increasingly acknowledged as vital contributors to global transformative climate action, playing roles such as negotiators, innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs and agents of change. However, they face a significant shortfall in essential technical, financial and political resources and often lack the support needed to fulfill their aspirations.

In response, the Government of Italy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with a range of knowledge partners and youth constituencies, have set out to identify, support and scale up youth-led climate breakthroughs through the global Youth4Climate initiative.

The initiative brings together existing and new online and offline resources, tools, capacities, partnerships, networks and movements designed by and for youth, with a strong focus on the implementation of solutions, for a more sustained impact on the ground. It aims to foster an inclusive, safe and enabling environment for youth to lead and partner with other stakeholders on climate action.

The Youth4Climate initiative works to achieve its goals through a range of actions. The Youth4Climate Call for Solutions is an innovation challenge that aims to support the work of young people and youth-led organizations in tackling climate change through funding and mentorship support. The first Youth4Climate Call for Solutions sourced more than 1,100 youth-led solutions from more than 120 countries. In 2023, 50 projects across 39 countries were allocated resources to power their vision. A new call was issued in 2024 seeking to provide additional support for youth-led solutions in five areas: climate and environmental literacy, sustainable energy, food and agriculture, natural assets, and sustainable production and consumption.