Future uncertainty has grown as a result of climate change. One thing has become certain as its effects worsen over time: We will bequeath the Earth to the children and young people of today and to future generations. The largest generation of youth in history, there are 1.8 billion young people in the globe between the ages of 10 and 24. Young people are becoming more conscious of the risks and difficulties posed by the climate crisis as well as the chance for sustainable development provided by a solution to the problem. The unprecedented global mobilization of young people demonstrates the enormous power they have to hold policymakers responsible.

1. YouthandClimateChange
Ms. Leneka Rhoden, Immediate-Past Coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network

2. Commonwealth Day
2023
“Role of Youth in the
Commonwealth: forging a
sustainable future through
education and climate action’.”

3. Youthand
ClimateChange
How do we reimagine our
approach?

4. Climate Change: Impact
on Youth
Human activities, such as the use of fossil fuels,
deforestation and unsustainable agriculture contribute
to climate change, which decreases the availability of
nutritious food and clean water, and destroys
ecosystems and secure living environments.
This leads to malnutrition, ill health and migration,
rendering youth particularly vulnerable.
At the same time, youth constitute the majority of the
population in many countries and have an increasingly
strong social and environmental awareness, which has
the power to transform societies towards a low-carbon
and climate resilient future.

5. Youth and Capacity Development
Reimagine qualifications and experience: encouraging youth to take
advantage of new and innovative training pathways.
Pushing active youth for international opportunities and exposure.
Encouraging youth to develop COMPETENT BRANDS with a mindset of
lifelong learning.
Considerable efforts are needed in strengthening the adaptive
capability and resilience of youth in rural communities in developing
countries.

6. Youth and Climate Action
The work undertaken with and by youth is crucial to
raise ambition of governments to come to an
agreement on a new climate change regime.
Tackling climate change requires concerted
coordinated government action as well as
conscious and informed efforts by individuals.
Partnerships should be developed between
governments, intergovernmental, non-
governmental and youth organizations for joint
environmental initiatives.

7. Youth
and
Climate
Finance
Is there a shortage of Climate Funding
Opportunities?
If the problem is access to Climate Finance?
What hinders access?
Formalizing, Structuring and Partnering
Upskilling Youth and Expanding
Collaborating to create platforms of information sharing.

8. Youth and Green Jobs
– More efforts must be made to ensure that youth are ready to
take advantage of new environment-oriented employment
opportunities.
– Green jobs not only provide much-needed employment
opportunities for youth, they also give youth an outlet to
contribute directly to the fight against climate change by
adopting green behaviours in the workplace as well as in their
private lives.
– Youth can make any job GREEN!