Youth For Climate | Youth Driving Ambition

Youth 4 Climate Manifesto

💬 Why This Manifesto?

Young people are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, but their voices remain underrepresented. This manifesto reflects youth visions, demands, and solutions for ambitious and just climate action at local, regional, and global levels.

ACCESS THE WHOLE MANIFESTO

You can access the whole manifesto by clicking the link below
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YHmxlCtS5XMRzDnCrEY_uZBz66khTZ8/view?usp=drive_link

🔹 1. Youth Driving Ambition

Placing young people at the heart of climate decision-making.

Meaningful Participation

• Governments must guarantee youth representation in climate negotiations and national climate councils.

• Create permanent youth advisory roles in climate ministries and county governments.

• Ensure youth inclusion is not tokenistic but influential in shaping policy outcomes.

Capacity-Building

• Provide formal and informal training on climate science, leadership, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.

• Expand mentorship and peer-to-peer learning programs across regions.

• Recognize and support indigenous and community-based knowledge.

Funding

• Establish accessible youth-dedicated climate funds with simple application processes.

• Channel resources to grassroots and marginalized youth groups.

• Ensure transparency in funding distribution and reporting.

Cross-Cutting Proposals

• Mainstream youth priorities across climate policies.

• Promote gender equality and intergenerational equity.

• Create monitoring mechanisms led by youth themselves.

🔹 2. Sustainable Recovery

A just, inclusive and green recovery for people and the planet.

Energy Transition & Green Jobs

• Invest in renewable energy infrastructure and innovation.

• Support just transition programs ensuring no one is left behind.

• Prioritize green jobs for young people through vocational training and entrepreneurship hubs.

Adaptation, Resilience & Loss and Damage

• Finance community-based adaptation, especially in vulnerable rural areas.

• Establish compensation mechanisms for climate-related loss and damage.

• Integrate indigenous knowledge into resilience strategies.

Nature-Based Solutions

• Protect forests, water towers, and biodiversity through reforestation and conservation.

• Support youth-led ecosystem restoration projects.

• Link nature-based solutions to food security and livelihoods.

Financial Flows

• Increase climate finance transparency and accountability.

• Ensure equitable distribution of funds to frontline communities.

• Reduce barriers for youth and grassroots organizations to access global climate funds.

Tourism

• Promote eco-friendly tourism that protects nature and benefits local communities.

• Encourage green standards for tourism businesses.

• Involve youth in managing sustainable tourism initiatives.

🔹 3. Non-State Actors’ Engagement

Harnessing the power of businesses, civil society, and communities.

Food

• Transform food systems towards sustainability and climate resilience.

• Encourage climate-smart agriculture led by youth farmers.

• Reduce food waste across supply chains.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

• Support youth startups working on clean tech, waste management, and renewable energy.

• Provide incubation, mentorship, and access to finance.

• Build youth innovation hubs across counties.

Fossil Fuel Influence

• Phase out subsidies for fossil fuels and redirect investment into renewables.

• Restrict lobbying by fossil fuel companies in climate policy spaces.

• Hold corporations accountable for pollution and emissions.

Non-Party Stakeholder Alignment

• Ensure businesses and civil society align with Paris Agreement goals.

• Demand transparency in climate pledges and actions.

• Build partnerships that prioritize justice, equity, and sustainability.

🔹 4. Climate-Conscious Society

Raising awareness, educating citizens, and shifting culture.

Education

• Integrate climate change across all levels of formal education.

• Strengthen vocational and technical training for green skills.

• Support non-formal education through community programs and arts.

Showcasing Impacts & Solutions

• Highlight youth-led innovations in renewable energy, waste management, and conservation.

• Use storytelling and digital platforms to share local success stories.

• Recognize youth as knowledge producers, not just beneficiaries.

Public Awareness & Mobilization

• Run nationwide climate campaigns engaging schools, faith groups, and communities.

• Promote climate action through music, art, and sports.

• Mobilize youth in collective movements for accountability.

Media

• Train journalists on climate reporting.

• Partner with media houses to amplify youth voices and solutions.

• Use social media to counter misinformation and build awareness.

🚀 Call to Action

Youth are not just leaders of tomorrow — we are the leaders of today.
This manifesto is a rallying point for governments, businesses, civil society, and communities to partner with young people in building a just, sustainable, and climate-resilient future.

👉 [Download Full Manifesto] | [Partner With Us] | [Join the Movement]

The Youth Cafe: Youth Climate Action Strategy | Mazingira Yetu | Uhai Wetu | Wajibu Wetu

“The Youth Climate Action Strategy empowers young people to take the lead in climate action through integration in decision-making, capacity-building, and inclusiveness. It complements Kenya’s national policies while championing innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development”

— Willice Onyango, Executive Director, The Youth Café

Youth Climate Action Strategy 2025–2030

Kenya is already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change—droughts, floods, biodiversity loss, natural disasters, and emerging diseases. While the government has developed strong frameworks such as the National Climate Change Action Plan (2018–2022), youth-centered engagement remains a critical gap.

Young people under 35 make up over half of Kenya’s population, yet most face unemployment or underemployment, limiting their ability to act at scale. Still, youth across the country are actively driving environmental conservation, advocacy, and innovation.

To bridge this gap, The Youth Café has launched the Youth Climate Action Strategy 2025–2030—a bold roadmap to empower young people to lead in climate action.

DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE REPORT

You can click the link below to access the whole report.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14LzWCwa3C0fOAtqSv-bISTaIsAWJHWw2/view?usp=sharing

🔹 Executive Summary

Climate change threatens lives and economies globally. Kenya’s climate-sensitive economy is especially vulnerable. Policies like the NCCAP and GESIP exist, but youth face barriers: limited participation, low climate literacy, and lack of leadership platforms.

This strategy positions youth as agents of change by:

1. Integrating youth into decision-making.

2. Building their capacity and skills.

3. Supporting inclusive, youth-led initiatives.

🔹 Background

Youth globally are leading climate action, but gaps in resources and knowledge persist. In Kenya, youth networks are active yet need stronger support to scale their impact.

🔹 Rationale

Kenyan youth are eager to act but lack opportunities and training. The strategy bridges this gap through:

• Integration into decision-making.

• Capacity building for skills and knowledge.

• Inclusive participation across communities.

🔹 Goal

To empower youth in Kenya to lead and participate in climate action initiatives at local, national, and global levels.

🔹 Objectives

1. Integrate youth into decision-making and policy processes.

2. Build knowledge, skills, and tools for climate action.

3. Support inclusive, gender-sensitive youth-led initiatives.

🔹 Scope

The strategy targets:

• Youth in school – learners, teachers, institutions.

• Youth out of school – individuals, CBOs, NGOs, faith-based groups, and networks.

🔹 Contexts

🌐 Global: Youth = 1.2B worldwide. 71M unemployed, but green economy offers 60M new jobs by 2030. Youth movements are shaping climate discourse.

🌍 Regional (Africa): 200M youth (15–24), expected to reach 830M by 2050. High unemployment but strong innovation potential. Barriers: urgency, knowledge gaps, limited tools, exclusion from policymaking.

🇰🇪 National (Kenya): Youth (18–34) = 29% of population (13.6M). Reliance on climate-sensitive sectors makes Kenya highly vulnerable. Challenges: unemployment, low awareness, weak integration in education, limited youth participation.

🔹 SWOT Analysis (Summary)

Strengths: Energetic, innovative, active networks.
Weaknesses: Limited resources, knowledge gaps, few platforms.
Opportunities: Green jobs, policy influence, tech adoption, devolution.
Threats: High unemployment, governance challenges, direct climate impacts.

🔹 Frameworks

• Policy: Paris Agreement, SDGs, Vision 2030, NCCAP, NAP, GESIP, Youth Policy.

• Legal: Constitution 2010, Climate Change Act 2016, EMCA, County Governments Act.

• Institutional: Youth Café, Ministry of Environment, CCD, Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Education.

🔹 Stakeholder Participation

The strategy relies on multi-sectoral collaboration between:

• Government (national & county)

• Civil society

• Private sector

• Media

• Development partners

• Youth (in and out of school)

🔹 Strategies for Engaging Youth

Priority Area 1: Integration

• Advocate youth inclusion in policy.

• Mainstream youth, gender, and climate in county plans.

• Form youth-led climate committees.

Priority Area 2: Capacity-Building

• Provide training and mentorship.

• Expand opportunities in schools & communities.

• Leverage digital tools & climate innovation.

Priority Area 3: Inclusiveness

• Support partnerships for climate finance & innovation.

• Increase youth access to green funding.

• Establish participatory monitoring systems.

🔹 Resource Mobilization

Financing will come from national budgets, development partners, grants, and private-sector investment.

🔹 Monitoring & Evaluation

The Youth Café will track progress with digital M&E tools, youth-driven reporting, and participatory systems for accountability and learning.

✨ This accordion-style structure ensures:

• The website page isn’t overwhelming.

• Readers can click to expand the sections they care about.

• All the major details from the original document are included.