Table of Contents
- Our Team
- Inclusivity
- Our Accomplishments
- Our Programme in 2024
- Why a Focus on Non-State Actors?
- Applicant Profile
- How do I Apply
- Schedule & Applications Timeline
- Past Speakers
- Testimonials
Overview
The Global Youth Climate Training Programme 2024 (GYCT) is a free capacity-building initiative designed to equip individuals aged 16-35 with the necessary knowledge and confidence to engage effectively in international climate policy. The program was launched in May 2023, having a key objective: trying to shed some light on the UNFCCC negotiation paths leading up to COP28. It gained some 10,000 applications for the first edition, indicating huge demand for delivery and proper youth capacity-building programs. Structured around such topics as Climate Finance, Loss & Damage, Adaptation & Resilience, and many others, it represents an ambitious endeavour.
This second phase of the program is made possible thanks to the ClimateWorks Foundation and will take place from September 3 to October 1, 2024, with a final session on November 1, 2024. Applications close August 10, 2024.
Our Team
The GYCT program targets global youth between the ages of 16 to 35 years who are actively working on climate work and would appreciate deeper knowledge on UNFCCC negotiations. We are a diverse team of changemakers from Ecuador, Chile, Egypt, Canada, Paraguay, Spain, Tanzania, and Bolivia, working in collaboration with researchers at the University of Oxford.
Inclusivity
The course places much emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity: all recordings are streamed on YouTube, and the course is completely free to all learners. Thanks to a collaboration with EcoInterpreters, the course comes in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic (new this year).
Thanks to the support of the ClimateWorks Foundation, we are now able to offer five bursaries to 2024 admitted applicants, for all related expenses of up to £3000 to participate in COP29 .
Our Achievements
The first training was very successful in delivering the broad overview of UNFCCC negotiations and establishing GYC collaboration with the University of Oxford. It has been showcased as a best practice example by the UN Youth Climate Champions team and admitted as the winner of the University of Oxford’s Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Environmental Sustainability.
In 2023 we received 10 000 applications from 177 countries with 64% of applicants coming from Most Affected People and Areas. As of February 2024, our recorded sessions have 66,000 views.
Our Programme in 2024
The 2024 Programme will continue to expand the UNFCCC system’s reach and zero in on the landscape of accountability for sub-state and non-state actors operating in the climate policy domain. Sessions will be held between 1-5pm UTC, at times accommodating the most appropriate time zones for the selected cohort.
Why a Focus on Non-State Actors?
Sub-state and non-state actors—in particular, cities, regional governments, businesses, financial institutions, and civil society groups—begin to mobilize increasing ambition at country level on climate change. This course will enable participants to critically assess the legitimacy of commitments by non-state actors, along with the identification of how these fit into state-level climate efforts more broadly. Namely, it situates interventions in broader contexts that include, among others, water, biodiversity, and social justice.
Applicant Profile
Age: 16-35
- Activism experience on climate issues, including campaigns, projects, community work
- Familiarity with the UNFCCC process and key outcomes
- Ability to advocate for change effectively
- Strong passion for climate action
- Preference for applicants from diverse regions and groups most impacted by climate change
How do I apply?
You can apply through our online application form until 10 August at 23:59 UTC. Applications will not be considered if sent via e-mail.
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Schedule & Applications Timeline
- Call for Applications open: July 22 – August 9
- Applicants Notified: On a rolling basis until August 23
- Programme dates: September 3 – October 1, with a final session on November 1
Past Speakers
Our programme has included several prominent speakers, including:
- Dr. Saleemul Huq, International Centre for Climate Change and Development
- Reetika Revathy Subramanian, PhD candidate at Cambridge and founder of Climate Brides podcast
- Dr. June Rubis, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Indigenous Environmental Studies
- Mirna Fernandez, Policy Coordinator at the Global Youth Biodiversity Network
Testimonials
“The training through Global Youth Climate has so been transformational in my life. Not only knowledgeable skills that equip me but also the confidence and motivation to contribute meaningfully to the global efforts on addressing climate change.”—2023 GYCT Participant
“I appreciate the inclusive nature of the training (both in terms of speakers and translations), and the ability to come together with other youth who are passionate about climate change.” – 2023 GYCT Participant
“I truly believe in ‘Knowledge is Power’, and so thank you for sharing it with us and equipping us with that power to change the world.” – 2023 GYCT Participant
