The Institute for Policy Research (IPR), and the (University of Cambridge) will deliver a series of four workshops for young climate leaders as part of the , a collaborative programme from the UNFCCC鈥檚 and UNDP鈥檚 initiatives.
The IPR and Cambridge Zero have been working together to develop projects which empower and platform young people鈥檚 voices in international climate negotiations since collaborating in the production of ActNowFilm at COP26. The 2023 iteration of ActNowFilm, shown at COP28, featured conversations between youth climate leaders and leading international climate experts, and the 2024 film will premiere at COP29. The production of these films has led to the development of a strand of work which focuses on developing young people鈥檚 climate policy skills globally.
The upcoming Policy Development Bootcamp workshops aim to empower young climate leaders to engage more effectively with climate policy processes at both international meetings and within their own geographies. The sessions will enable young leaders to develop the knowledge and skills needed to design more impactful climate policies. Over 800 young people have registered for the programme.
The four workshops will cover writing for policy audiences, using good evidence for good policy, offering scientific advice through official channels, and understanding the history of the UN Climate Change Conferences, and will be delivered by experts from Bath and Cambridge including Professor Chris Skidmore, , Amy Thompson, Annabelle Foot and .
Amy Thompson, Head of Policy Programmes and Communications at the IPR, said:
鈥淲e are delighted to have been invited by Youth4Capacity to design and deliver these bootcamps.
鈥淓mpowering young people with the skills and training to actively participate in climate negotiations is essential for enabling a sustainable future. By providing opportunities for their education and leadership skills today, we are not only preparing them for the challenges they will inevitably face but also equipping them to become the visionary leaders of tomorrow. True climate action demands long-term commitment, and the voices of the next generation must be central to those decisions that will shape their world.鈥�