Young leaders secure $2 million investment for climate solutions

SAN FRANCISCO – October 24, 2024 – To uplift youth voices and strengthen the broader climate justice movement, ClimateWorks Foundation announced a $2 million investment in youth-led climate solutions and a resilient climate network built through a new engagement cohort. In recognition of the lack of funding in the youth climate justice movement, this funding will create a space to support and bring nine implementing partners together: Black Girl Environmentalist, Climate Vanguard, Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Latin American Youth Climate Scholarship, Youth4Nature, Youth Climate Justice Fund, Youth on Root, UNFCCC Presidency Youth Climate Champions, and the Urban Movement Innovation Fund.

The global youth movement has been calling and organizing for a just and sustainable future for many years, yet their efforts remain severely underfunded. Despite being at the forefront of climate action, youth-led climate justice initiatives receive less than 1% of total climate mitigation funding. This lack of support hinders their ability to influence the structural changes needed to build resilient and thriving economies for all.  

ClimateWorks will provide core funding to support a network of youth climate organizations that they can use to support the pivotal work they do in their drive for change and climate justice. With increased support, youth leaders working at the intersections of climate can build and deepen the infrastructure for an impactful global network. 

Over the next two years, the cohort will develop a coordinated network of actors with youth climate leaders from around the world. The nine implementing partners will work with their communities to drive a just transition to a Paris-aligned future through resource sharing, capacity building, and skills development. 

Youth participation in global climate action and negotiations has played a critical role in driving increased ambition from both countries and non-state actors. With a record-breaking number of Youth Climate Delegates at COP28, an estimated 7.5 million people at the Fridays for Future climate marches, and work at the global and national level leading ambitious climate action to tackle the climate crisis, young leaders are increasingly recognized for shaping the climate agenda. Strengthening youth climate movements will, in turn, strengthen our global capacity for a just, equitable, and thriving future.

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“As a demographic disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis yet systematically left excluded from climate leadership, it’s crucial that the next generation of young climate leaders be well-positioned to lead on climate solutions – and sustainably doing this requires sustainable funding. This ClimateWorks cohort sets an important precedent for philanthropy for how to intentionally support the youth climate ecosystem,” said Wawa Gatheru, Founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist.

“Organised youth have long been at the forefront of progressive social and political transformation. The youth climate movement follows in this tradition, demonstrating its transformative capacity over the last few years, and still, we know that it is systematically undersupported. This ClimateWorks program is a necessary and important contribution towards empowering the youth climate movement, setting the standard for how to support young organisers to become the most effective change agents possible,” said Climate Vanguard.

“If youth-led climate justice movements remain underfunded, so will our future. Therefore, more funding and expanded opportunities for learning and capacity building can help multiply the wins younger generations have already achieved with limited resources,” said Makeeba Browne, Chief of Equity, Justice, and Culture at ClimateWorks Foundation.

“Philanthropy can learn from and support the generation of youth activists who are dedicated to bold climate action. At ClimateWorks Foundation, we’re thrilled to be funding this cohort of young climate leaders as they work together to shape their future and create a sustainable economy for generations to come, benefitting both people and the planet. We hope that other funders will also be inspired to support their game-changing work,” said Helen Mountford, President and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation.

“The global youth community has unrecognized potential. The energy to reach collective goals is already there, and even without sufficient funding support, we continue stepping up and showcasing results through cutting-edge projects. Imagine a world where youth are empowered to execute these ambitious ideas without limits. ClimateWorks Foundation and this cohort are game changers, making this vision possible. We are proud to be part of this journey that promises to reshape the future for generations to come,” said Agustin Ocaña Escobar, Founder and Chairperson of the Global Youth Coalition.  

“Giving a voice to young leaders requires equipping these folks with the skills and capacity to engage in a highly technical landscape. Institutions like the University of Oxford have an important role to play in leveraging their expertise and connections to upskill the next generation of climate leaders,” said Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.

“The participation of BIPOC youth in international processes is crucial to connect climate commitments, such as the NDCs, with the realities of those most affected. To omit their presence is to miss an essential perspective that could make a difference in the effectiveness and equity of solutions,” said Ati Viviam Villafaña, Indigenous youth from the Arhuaco People and Founder of the Latin American Youth Climate Scholarships.

“Youth are more willing to work outside the status quo of systems that have led us into this crisis in the first place. Direct funding, like the one led by ClimateWorks Foundation, gives us the autonomy to decide how and where resources are spent, allowing us to deliver for our community, building trust and empowerment in our movement,” said Youth4Nature.

“Young grassroots organizers have been behind many of the defining landmarks in climate justice and environmental protection over the past few years. Despite their proven impact, less than one percent of climate philanthropy goes toward funding youth-led solutions. With nearly half of the world’s population under the age of 30, supporting young leaders isn’t just a responsibility – it’s a strategic opportunity. We’re grateful that the ClimateWorks Foundation is stepping up to champion and resource youth-led solutions and organization,” said Joshua Amponsem, Co-Director of the Youth Climate Justice Fund.

“When it comes to creating climate solutions that actually last, we must turn to the experts. And who are the experts? Youth on the frontlines of environmental justice,” said Rachael Meyers, Executive Director of Youth on Root.

“The solutions to the climate crisis exist already in the creativity, resilience and intergenerational knowledge of communities across the majority world. Youth leaders and youth-led organisations bring these solutions to life with their innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and drive. Investing in and partnering with youth leaders is an essential step for fast, just climate transitions,” said Robin Oakley, Executive Director of the Urban Movement Innovation Fund.

“Supporting youth leaders and youth-led organisations working on climate action is an investment in our collective future. They bring an urgency that matches the scale of the climate crisis. At UMI, it’s not just about empowering them for the future— it is about co-creating with them as they shape the solutions today,” said Kudzayi Ngwerume, Youth Climate Lead at the Urban Movement Innovation Fund.

H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui COP 28 Youth Climate Champion, stated: “Young people have always found their way to delivering extraordinary climate achievements even with limited resources, imagine what they can achieve when properly funded. We applaud ClimateWorks for directly financing this cohort of youth-led initiatives with solutions ready to deploy at scale.”

Leyla Hasanova, COP 29 Youth Climate Champion added: “This support from ClimateWorks will contribute to establishing the Presidency Youth Climate Champion role, which will create a comprehensive institutional structure of core support across the UN system and with global governments to further unlock opportunities and financing to place youth at the centre of climate action, as well as decision-making from the local to national to international levels.”

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About ClimateWorks Foundation

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and scale high-impact climate solutions that benefit people and the planet. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress for a more sustainable and equitable future. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1.8 billion to more than 850 grantees in over 50 countries.