Five projects approved for the youth focus of the IMG 2022
Climate change has an impact on everyone - but on some people more than others. The young people of today in particular will have to deal with the consequences of climate change.
However, decisions on relevant climate and environmental policies are often made without their participation, and the voices of young people without voting rights also usually go unheeded in the democratic process. But they are the ones with a great deal of potential to promote climate action. They are the innovators, knowledge bearers and decision makers of tomorrow and can make a valuable contribution towards creating a CO2-neutral society.
For these reasons, the IKI Medium Grant “Accelerating Net Zero Climate Pathways by Promoting Local Climate Action by and for Youth” is creating a new space exactly for this group.
By focusing on the promotion of young people, the IKI aims to contribute to the generation-compliant shaping of climate change mitigation, because a societal change towards climate neutrality also needs activation formats and educational opportunities for young people. Therefore, the funding priority targeted project ideas aiming for knowledge transfer, awareness raising, and networking young people on climate action. Both girls and boys are promoted equally. In addition, the planning and piloting of local initiatives and actions by the young people themselves or together with them is made possible. This funding priority optimally matches the orientation of the IKI Medium Grants, which especially seeks to strengthen the competences of smaller civil society actors in developing and emerging countries, and the effective participation of all societal groups.
Therefore, five exciting outlines were chosen in June 2023 for projects in IKI partner countries in South America, Asia and Africa:
YouthEnergy - Activating youth potentials for driving the just energy transition in Argentina
One development pathway in Argentina, which is compatible with the Paris Agreement, requires a radical transformation from the current fossil energy and industrial systems to an economy based on renewable energies. Young people are traditionally not considered to play an important role in this process, although it is they who should be involved in shaping it. By making use of research-based techniques from science, technology, mathematics or engineering, interdisciplinary learning formats and practical testing methods as part of the project, the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, together with 500RPM and Fundación Siemens Argentina is planning to activate and promote the talents of students at technical schools and universities. This will enable them to act as bearers and communicators of knowledge, as innovators in the energy systems sector and as active participants in discussions and decision-making processes. Notable public facilities and youth organisations are involved right from the beginning so that the experience, tools and materials gained in the project can be used for further capacity building afterwards.
Youth for Climate Action in El Salvador (YES)
In El Salvador, the energy and agriculture sectors are the largest emitters. NDCs focus on these sectors, but young people lack opportunities and competences to take part as effective actors. Therefore, the project strengthens the competences, networks and voices of young people and youth organisations. Focussing on women, young people will test scalable, green and investment-safe technologies to mitigate climate change, such as electric tricycles or bio-fermenters. The outline was submitted by the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung (Protestant Agency for Social Welfare and Development) and Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), with the participation of the project partner Unidad Ecológica de El Salvador.
Rural Youth Climate Action Movement for Cool Farming in Indonesia
Non-sustainable land use is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia. An agricultural transformation is therefore urgently needed, with youth playing an essential key role in the process: they are better educated, more problem-conscious and ready for change. In order to make use of this potential, the Berlin Humboldt University, together with the Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung (Seminar for Rural Development) and the partners Motivator Pembangunan Masyarakat and aringan Masyarakat Tani Indonesia, is establishing a network for the young rural population, which aims to convert family farms into prosperous net zero emission agricultural enterprises. In the process, the young people are supported in developing near-natural land use and low-emission agro-ecological practices. The best solutions are distinguished, tested, assessed and promoted.
Rural Green Social Businesses Creation as a Youth Livelihood Approach to Climate Protection
Increasing heat and recurring droughts in Kenya have worsened the losses of livestock and crops. At the same time, the excessive use of chemical fertilisers has negative effects on the health of the soils and of the local population. The outline of Yunus Environment Hub Philanthropy, together with the CAP Youth Empowerment Institute is to develop and test a livelihood model that enables young people to become involved in climate change mitigation. At the same time, the project aims to fulfil existing requirements on qualifications and sustainable entrepreneurship. This takes place against the background of high youth unemployment figures as well as the interest of young people in environmental protection topics. A model that can be applied repeatedly will be developed and integrated into the national TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) qualification system, and will ensure the availability of the curriculum in the TVET schools.
ESCAPE CLIMATE CHANGE BRASIL: Game-Based Learning for innovative Climate Communication in Brazil
Brazil's semi-arid regions have a high degree of biodiversity and are at the same time endangered by climate change and other forms of human intervention. Therefore, it is essential to support measures, which raise awareness of the impacts of climate change. There are already several educational initiatives on climate change, and the topic is also part of the Brazilian curriculum. However, it is usually taught separately from the impact on the population. The goal of the outline from ECOMOVE International, CIEDS - Centro Integrado de Estidops e Programas de Desenvolvimiento and Associação Redes de Desenvolvimento da Maré is to develop a game-based learning tool on the basis of an already tried-and-tested concept. It is to be adapted to the Brazilian environmental reality and will also address related issues such as gender equality or equality for ethnic groups. The materials, including a guide for teachers, will be distributed in public schools in two pilot regions. The target group are pupils (14-18 years old), teachers and multipliers.
Project proposals are now being developed for the outlines mentioned above, on the basis of which a funding decision will be made.
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IKI Medium Grants
Since 2020, the IKI Medium Grants fund project activities that address innovative, bottom-up contributions to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.