Youth for Climate Adaptation - Groningen, The Netherlands

Rising sea levels, longer periods of drought or heavy rain, more heat… our climate is changing. Adapting to this, also known as climate adaptation, is becoming increasingly important in our society.

Everyone, including young people and future generations, have to deal with with this. Youth are organizing strikes around the world to show their worries and highlight the importance of giving them a voice and of listening to the solutions they see for change.

It is important to create awareness at an early stage and to connect young people with other young people, studies, companies and governments, involved in the topic of climate adaptation, so that they can take steps towards a sustainable society.

During the Youth for Climate Adaptation Conference on the 22nd of January 2021 in Groningen, youth from around the globe came together (online) and shared their contributions for the Climate Adaptation Summit (www.cas2021.com), a world summit hosted by the Netherlands, held on the 25th of January 2021.

As a member of the climate adaptation team of the Province of Groningen, I was part of the project management team of the international youth event together with energetic young professionals from the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the Regional Education Centre Noorderpoort.

A Global Call to Action and a Regional Action Agenda were presented to, among others, Ban Ki Moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Dutch Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen. Local young people from the Northern Netherlands drew up the Regional Action Agenda and showed how, from the perspective of young people, an action agenda for their region can be used to act and adapt to climate change. For this they followed an ambassador program, including masterclasses, participation in campaigns and meetings with policymakers and officials. 

Dialogue took place during the event with officials, scientists and business representatives. A wide audience was approached during the climate adaptation week with solutions what they can do in their immediate environment. Also well-known persons such as the football player Arjan Robben and DJ Sam Feldt were present and gave their contribution.

More than 2000 young people took part in the online youth event. The event was featured on social media, in regional and national newspapers and on national television.

After the climate week, the YfCA ambassadors continued as a youth movement and are involved in, among other things, preparing teaching materials, greening schools and are involved in policy processes such as the Regional Climate Adaptation Strategy in Groningen. Think Global, Act Local!