International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August, is a global celebration of the contributions, aspirations, and potential of young people around the world. It is a day of significance at The Diana Award, and to celebrate this year, we asked two young people from across our programmes to talk about a topic close to their hearts. This article, written by Iola Nkau, Co-producer on The Diana Award Young Changemakers Programme, highlights the difficulty young people have in finding and accessing GP services. The second article, written by Centre for Social Action Co-Designer, Obinna Emmanuel Ezeani, highlights the need for youth inclusion and diverse representation in decision-making processes.
“Young people are not only victims of climate change; they are also valuable contributors to climate action.” - UN, Youth in Action.
International Youth Day is an annual celebration to highlight youth issues and bring them to the attention of the international community. It is also an opportunity to showcase the innovative contributions of young people to sustainability and climate action, where young people are driving innovation. Young people are increasingly aware of the challenges and risks presented by the climate crisis and the opportunity to achieve sustainable development through innovative climate solutions. They possess massive power to hold decision-makers accountable, as shown by their unprecedented mobilisation around the world (1).
The Unique Perspective and Impact of Young People on Climate Action
Young people often bring fresh and innovative ideas to the table, such as new strategies, technologies, and creative solutions for climate action, which can significantly impact health outcomes by reducing pollution and promoting sustainable practices. At COP28, young people served as youth climate champions, promoting climate action through strategic initiatives such as enhancing youth participation in climate action, facilitating capacity building by hosting climate change campaigns and events, and much more. (2). According to the report on the Global Youth Statement from COP28, which brings together voices of young people from 150 countries around the world, young people emphasised that they are the last generation that can take decisive action to keep a global warming of 1.5C within reach and keep the planet in a safe, equitable state for current and future generations (3).
To achieve this, they made several demands, including the need to promote holistic food system transformations, improve access to affordable, sustainable, and healthy foods, address the impacts of climate change on mental health and well-being, and support robust climate-resilient healthcare systems.
The Power of Youth Activism and Barriers to Youth Participation
Systems thinking is a holistic approach to understanding the world by examining systems as wholes and relationships, rather than breaking them down into parts. There is a strong need to apply system-thinking to foster robust climate-resilient systems, as it allows decision-makers to see the big picture and understand how practices impact the environment, helping them make more sustainable choices (4).
Young people in different sectors are already using systems thinking to facilitate intergenerational initiatives to drive climate action and highlight issues of importance to them. For instance, FridaysForFuture, an initiative that has involved over 14 million people in 7,500 cities, raises global awareness and pushes for stronger climate policies, and Plant-for-the-Planet, an organisation that trains young people in climate advocacy for reforestation and ecosystem restoration, thereby influencing environmental policies globally (5). Despite the progress made, barriers such as lack of representation, ageism, and limited access to platforms for advocacy still effect young people trying to get their voice heard by decision-makers.
Benefits of Youth Involvement in Policymaking
To address these barriers, there is a need to ensure inclusion of young people in policymaking beyond just consultations. Young people challenge the status quo and think outside the box, which can lead to innovative solutions for climate change and health issues (6). When young people collaborate with experienced decision-makers, it creates a powerful intergenerational synergy that can drive effective policy changes (7). Including young voices ensures that policies are more representative and effective, as they reflect the concerns and ideas of a significant portion of the population who will be most affected by climate change and health issues. More importantly, policies shaped with the input of young people are more likely to be sustainable and have a long-term impact, as they consider the future needs and aspirations of the younger generation (8).
Next Steps: Actionable Strategies for Youth Inclusion
Decision-makers at all levels can take the following actionable strategies to promote youth inclusion in policymaking for climate action globally:
Conclusion
As future leaders of tomorrow, young people aren’t just victims of climate change; they are also valuable contributors to climate action. They bring fresh perspectives and ideas that challenge the status quo and address systemic barriers to climate action and youth health. Now is your chance to drive youth involvement in policymaking and celebrate International Youth Day by supporting youth-led initiatives in climate action.
READ IOLA'S INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY ARTICLE HERE
References
International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August, is a global celebration of the contributions, aspirations, and potential of young people around the world. It is a day of significance at The Diana Award, and to celebrate this year, we asked two young people from across our programmes to talk about a topic close to their hearts. This article, written by Iola Nkau, Co-producer on The Diana Award Young Changemakers Programme, highlights the difficulty young people have in finding and accessing GP services. The second article, written by Centre for Social Action Co-Designer, Obinna Emmanuel Ezeani, highlights the need for youth inclusion and diverse representation in decision-making processes.
The Young Changemakers Programme is a collaboration between UK Youth, Centre for Mental Health, and The Diana Award, funded by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. In June, our Co-Producers came together for a residential at Avon Tyrell to reimagine mental health services with the aim to better understand what young people from Black and Black mixed-race heritage in the UK think is working in our current mental health system, what needs to change, and how these changes should be implemented. This blog explores the challenges faced by young people of Black and Black mixed-race heritage in the UK regarding mental health services and highlights the need for cultural competence, accessibility, and representation in mental health support.
World Refugee Day, taking place annually on 20 June, honours those who have been forced to flee so we can come together and champion their right to seek safety, build support for their economic and social inclusion, and advocate for solutions to their plight. This year, Diana Award Recipient Bree Yagana shares the story of her refugee family and, as the world grapples with escalating displacement, underscores the importance of commemorating World Refugee Day.
