Global Youth and Mayors Forum to address climate crisis solutions

Teenage environmentalists are to be given their say on climate change solutions by taking part in a new international forum of city leaders.

The Global Youth and Mayors Forum initiative has been run by C40 Cities, a worldwide city coalition fighting against climate change, and today (19 October) was the closing date for applications to get involved.

Young leaders, aged 14-25, from local climate campaigns or groups all around the world, were asked to apply to join the forum.

Now, those who have expressed an interest, will work with some of the world’s most powerful city leaders, discussing how to  accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and make the Global Green New Deal – the recognition that the world faces a climate emergency – a reality in cities around the world.

C40 Cities says that recognising that the climate crisis demands new kinds of partnerships and ambitious new ideas, and so the Global Youth and Mayors Forum is designed to ensure that all voices are represented in global decision-making.

Over the coming years the Forum will facilitate conversations and collaborative climate action between C40 mayors and youth climate leaders that help accelerate the implementation of a Global Green New Deal, including by better engaging young people in climate action.

Participants will develop global leadership on the climate emergency through training, and share best practices for cities regarding youth engagement in cities. The first group of youth members will be part of the Forum until at least December 2021.

In October 2019, Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and Chair of C40, announced that C40 would create a Global Youth Initiative to bring together these inspirational leaders of youth climate movements from all over the world, to engage with mayors, and with each other. This Forum is the first formal activity of the Initiative.

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