Youth X Climate Innovation
Even though young people may lack the years of wisdom that older generations have, we have a wealth of fresh ideas that are fuelled by our hope for a better world. Because we have the freedom to see the world from new, untainted perspectives, we’re also able to solve problems in new, innovative ways. Given the right resources or enough of a reason to make an impact , we can- and will- create new solutions that have the power to shape our world.
The Youth Climate Lab (YCL) is doing exactly that. The global organization is shaking things up and helping young people come up with new, unique solutions to the climate crisis.
Meet the Youth Climate Lab
YCL is a “youth-for-youth lab dedicated to creating innovative projects for climate action”. Active since May of 2017, the YCL now has over 30 partners in 35 different countries and has reached thousands of youth through the climate projects that they have helped design, pilot, and scale.
The organization has a heavy focus on building the skills of youth and creating opportunities for them to innovate and create with local partners. To date, YCL has launched projects like FutureXChange and Y-Next Climate Diplomacy, where youth have been provided with the chance to meaningfully engage in international climate policy processes.
YCL also runs Policy Jams all across Canada (and other parts of North America!) At these jams, youth are brought together to brainstorm solutions to pressing climate policy challenges in a fun and collaborative way.
In September, YCL held a policy jam at the Youth Climate Action Summit in New York, the findings of which were shared at a High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development at the United Nations by YCL Cofounder Dominique Souris.
To stay up to date with YCL’s work, check out their website: https://www.youthclimatelab.org/ or follow them on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/youthclimatelab/
