Action for Climate Empowerment Hub Youth Event

2024
2023

The Action for Climate Empowerment* Hub Youth Event was organized from 5 - 7 June as part of the ACE Hub, promoted by the German regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to foster education and public awareness, training, public access to information, and participation in climate change action.

Recognizing the importance of developing the diverse knowledge, values and skills necessary to address the climate crisis, the ACE Hub Youth Event aimed to achieve the following objectives: 1) Contribute to efforts to build the skills and strengthen competencies of youth to lead and participate in effective, equitable and just climate action at the local, national, regional and international levels; 2) Provide an opportunity for youth to collaborate on innovative climate solutions and initiatives; and 3) Connect and encourage exchange and networking among local and international youth.

This year's event focused on community-based climate advocacy, action and initiatives at the local and subnational level. Participants included 25 international youth and 25 youth from NRW who had the opportunity to participate in modules centered around skills development. Some aspects of a hackathon methodology such as interactive training sessions led by experts which foster leadership and encourage group collaboration and exchange were incorporated into the modules. Participants also had an opportunity to observe local climate action at the city level through an off-campus excursion to the City of Düsseldorf.

*Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to denote work under Article 6 of the Convention (1992) and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. The over-arching goal of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through the six ACE elements - climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues.

For more information on ACE, click here.

The Action for Climate Empowerment* Hub Youth Event was organized on 10, 12 and 13 June as part of the ACE Hub, promoted by the German regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to foster education and public awareness, training, public access to information, and participation in climate change action.

Recognizing the importance of developing the diverse knowledge, values and skills necessary to address the climate crisis, the ACE Hub Youth Event aimed to achieve the following objectives: 1) contribute to efforts to build the skills and strengthen competencies of youth to lead and participate in effective, equitable and just climate action at the local, national, regional and international levels; 2) provide an opportunity for youth to collaborate on innovative climate solutions and initiatives; and 3) connect and encourage exchange and networking among local and international youth.

The main theme of this year's event focused on leadership and youth entrepreneurship. Participants included 48 international and local youth from NRW. Youth had the opportunity for capacity building, collaboration and networking over a period of three days:

Day 1: The first day focused on exchange and skills building. Through multiple self-organized sessions led by fellow participants, participants had the opportunity to share their initiatives, campaigns, movements, businesses or similar activity as well as the challenge(s) they are currently facing. Participants also participated in a session led by experts to build effective communication and advocacy skills.
Day 2: The second day was dedicated to addressing the interrelations between colonialism and climate change, climate emotions and envisioning decolonized futures and rethinking climate action. An excursion to Stadtwerke Bonn was also organized where participants had the opportunity to engage with regional experts.
Day 3: The third day was dedicated to skills building sessions on youth entrepreneurship. Participants also participated in a hackathon where they were asked to come up with a proposal for solutions and way forward to the challenges discussed on Day 1. The event concluded with time for reflection.

For more information on ACE, click here.