Your ideas can change the world through the 2024 Youth4Climate Call.

This is why the the Italian Government in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other partners, is launching the 2024 Call for innovative solutions through the Youth4Climate initiative.

Through this innovation challenge, the Youth4Climate Call for innovative ideas will identify, support and scale  youth-led climate breakthrough solutions across five thematic areas:

Youth4Climate Thematic Areas

  • Climate and Environment Literacy – This area addresses the critical importance of education and literacy in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis. It achieves this by equipping individuals, communities, and societies with the essential knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Solutions include a range of strategies, from formal education provided by public and private institutions to non-formal and informal learning opportunities within workplaces, and local communities. The goal here being the fostering of lifelong learning.
  • Sustainable Energy – Despite progress in achieving global sustainable energy goals, millions still lack access to clean electricity and rely on polluting fuels. This initiative seeks innovative solutions encompassing clean cooking, transportation, and energy efficiency to accelerate a clean energy transition in line with UN SDG
  • Food and Agriculture – Food systems and agriculture play a crucial role in addressing climate change. Agriculture and other land uses contribute nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, while a third of global produce intended for human consumption is lost or wasted. Climate change exacerbates food insecurity as food systems grapple with erratic weather patterns and growing demand. This, therefore necessitates solutions such as regenerative farming practices and improvements in food processing, distribution, and consumption to mitigate these challenges.
  • Nature Assets – Healthy ecosystems, such as forests and oceans, serve as vital life support systems for our planet, absorbing carbon dioxide emissions, protecting coastlines, and providing invaluable services, yet they are rapidly declining due to human activities, necessitating conservation and restoration efforts to safeguard these crucial natural assets.
  • Sustainable Consumption and Production – Achieving a successful shift to a circular economy involves reducing waste and pollution, prolonging the use of materials at their highest value, and restoring natural systems. Solutions should encompass the entire lifecycle of economic activities and products, including electronics, plastics, and textiles, alongside enhancements in resource efficiency and the creation of long-lasting, repairable, and recyclable products.

Youth4Climate Prize

The initiative recognizes the roles  young people as key players – negotiators, innovators, and entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas. To this end, successful applicants will get;

  • Up to $30,000 to support the development of their ideas,
  • Expert mentorship and technical support
  • A platform to share their story to inspire others

Application Guideline

Proposals in English, French, or Spanish are welcome with implementation lasting no longer than 24 months.

  1. Get started by visiting the call for solutions 2024 guideline page on the Youth4Climate Platform to register and gain access.
  2. Download and carefully review the programme guidelines to get all the information eligibility, requirements, and deadlines.
  3. Download and complete the budget and workplan template. Create a 3-minute video proposing your solution following the directions in the Call For Solutions Guidelines.
  4. Complete your application and send in your proposal through the application platform.

Youth4Climate Application Deadline

Deadline for application is May 26, 2024

Application Support Webinar

To assist with proposal preparation, UNDP and the Government of Italy, in collaboration with other partners, will host a webinar series from February 27 to March 8, 2024 to provide more information on the intiative. The recordings will be available on the Youth4Climate Platform.

Working on your 2024 goals yet? Don’t forget to download our free pdf goal plannerÂ