The world is home to 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 (16 percent of the global population). It’s a generation that will live with the consequences of today’s climate decisions1. It is also the generation with the biggest stake in the climate crisis. According to UNICEF, almost every child in the world is already exposed to at least one major climate hazard2, and nearly half face three or more overlapping hazards, from extreme heat to floods and droughts.
However, young people are not just on the front lines of climate change. They are among its most powerful agents of change, driving innovation, grassroots action and accountability. Yet they remain underrepresented in climate decision-making that will affect their future and often lack the skills, networks and finance to turn ambition into action. That is why UN CC:Learn, together with its partners, including the Government of Italy, works to equip young people everywhere with the knowledge and capacities they need to lead the transition to a green and climate-resilient future.
Dialogue Spaces
The UN CC:Learn Dialogue Spaces bring together a wide range of partners and interested stakeholders for regular, in-depth exchanges on highly relevant topics in climate change and the green transition. This initiative includes a dedicated space on Learning through Youth, which explores ways of strengthening young people’s capacity for climate action, and the Learning for Countries space, chaired by Dr. Roberta Ianna of the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.
As part of these focused exchanges, UN CC:Learn gathered key actors, including the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, the Green Climate Fund, IRENA and the Italy-supported Youth4Climate and Youth4Capacity initiatives, to identify the capacity-building gaps that keep young people from unlocking climate finance, and practical ways to close them. Read about the dialogue and discover the Dialogue Spaces.
Promoting Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) at SB60
At the 2024 Bonn Climate Conference (SB60), UN CC:Learn joined forces with UN Climate Change’s Youth4Capacity to co-organize a Climate Classroom on the Rio Conventions focused on youth engagement. The Climate Classroom is UN CC:Learn’s series of short, expert-led learning sessions held during major climate conferences such as the COPs and Bonn SB sessions, giving negotiators, delegates and professionals a fast, interactive introduction to key climate topics. Read more.
“Becoming a Climate Champion” E-Course
Developed by UN CC:Learn and UN Climate Change’s Youth4Capacity, with a contribution from the Government of Italy, this free, self-paced e-course, available to anyone interested, has equipped over 2,700 changemakers with skills in five key areas (leadership, project management, resource mobilization, leaving no one behind, and communications) to turn climate ambition into successful projects. Find out more about the course.
[1] United Nations, Youth – Global Issues.
[2] UNICEF, The Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026.