100 cities get Bloomberg funding for youth climate efforts

A survey in the Lancet finds more than 60 per cent of young people believe that government is not doing enough to avoid climate catastrophe or taking their concerns seriously enough, but few city halls have the organisational capacity, capabilities, and confidence to unleash youth energy on solution-building.

Bloomberg Philanthropies reckons Youth Climate Action Fund will provide the cities with the tools, techniques, and supports to leverage innovation approaches that invite and foster robust youth collaboration in climate problem-solving and policymaking.

“Climate change is an all-hands-on-deck challenge, and it’s critical that young people – who have the most at stake – help lead the way”

The programme will be delivered by United Cities and Local Governments in partnership with the Bloomberg Centre for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy will also collaborate as learning partners.

“United Cities and Local Governments is thrilled to join Bloomberg Philanthropies in celebrating the cities around the world that are joining the Youth Climate Action Fund – and partnering with the organisation on this work,” said Emilia Sáiz, secretary general for United Cities and Local Governments.

“Youth today are the guardians of our future, and in bringing them together with local governments through this ground-breaking initiative, we will see cities reach newfound progress in shaping more resilient and regenerative communities that can act on the climate emergency in entirely new ways.”

Ambitious climate efforts

Through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund, the intention is for mayors to launch open calls in their cities for new and ambitious climate efforts led by young people. These ideas may include:

• Youth-led awareness, education, research, and development initiatives, including: youth-led climate education programmes; youth climate hackathons; youth-developed climate surveys and research; youth-informed clubs or curriculum; and youth-designed public art and awareness campaigns
• Youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects, including: youth-led community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, and urban farming campaigns; youth-managed recycling and waste reduction programmes; and youth-produced climate resilience workshops and disaster preparedness programmes
• Co-governed youth climate action plans, including: partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy ideas, decisions, or actions or the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards.

For more information on the programme and the cities involved, go to: Youth Climate Action Fund.