The Global Youth Climate Training Programme (GYCT) is a free, entirely online capacity-building initiative that gives participants, ages 16 to 35, the skills and self-assurance they need to participate in global climate policy. As youth participation in national and international climate policy grows, it is necessary to provide them with the necessary capacity-building to make their contributions meaningful and persuasive.

The Global Youth Coalition (GYC), an alliance of young people committed to addressing climate change, and Oxford University researchers (Oxford Net Zero, Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment) are working together on this initiative. This project is being delivered by a collaborative team that spans countries, professional backgrounds, and generations, demonstrating a strong international and intergenerational teamwork. There is a clearer demand for successful youth capacity building programs—10,000 applications were received for the program's initial iteration.

The 2024 Program

We are running our second version of the program this year, with the kind sponsorship of the ClimateWorks Foundation, from September 3–October 1, 2024, with a final session on November 1, 2024. The entire course is offered online.

Our program last year focused on explaining the UNFCCC and its many negotiating tracks. However, the activities of non-state actors are taking place on the periphery (and increasingly at the centre) of COPs: corporations are proclaiming their commitments to phase out fossil fuels, cities are promising to achieve net zero emissions, and private entities are promising money. It is crucial that young people are equipped with the knowledge and self-assurance to navigate this environment and quickly distinguish between what is genuine and what is greenwash. Our program this year is centred on comprehending the sincerity and scope of nonstate climate action. This year's program booklet has information about the timetable, course topic, and requirements for applicants. You can find the Word version (if you're using a text-to-voice reader) and the PDF version here.

Our History of Programs

In order to give more clarity on the UNFCCC's negotiation tracks before to COP28, this program was introduced in May 2023. It addressed subjects including Climate Finance, Loss & Damage, Adaptation & Resilience, and more, and it brought together prominent academics and young climate professionals.

Using the extensive network of climate experts at the University of Oxford, Alexis McGivern, an Oxford Net Zero Fellow, developed and oversaw the initiative in collaboration with a number of young activists from the Global Youth Coalition.

180 young climate justice activists were consulted to determine the training needs for the 2023 curriculum. Across 177 countries, we trained 4,500 activists under 35 years old, of whom 64% identified as being from Most Affected People and Areas (MAPA).

All of the recordings from this groundbreaking open-access and inclusive youth training are available on YouTube, and enrolment in the program is entirely free. In addition, we collaborated with EcoInterpreters to provide the training in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Along with scholars and practitioners from across the globe, a number of Oxford Net Zero researchers, including Drs. Myles Allen, Jose Maria Valenzuela, and Tom Hale, taught on the 2023 program. The program's design prioritises the opinions of knowledgeable Global South experts on climate-related concerns. A young speaker's testimony opened each session, which was then followed by a technical talk by authorities on global climate change.

Our course has garnered significant acclaim, such as being featured as a model of excellence by the UN Youth Climate Champions team and being the recipient of the University of Oxford's Vice Chancellor's Awards for Environmental Sustainability.

Applications are now OPEN. The deadline for applications is August 10 at 23:59 UTC. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and decisions will be communicated by August 23rd. Submissions must be made via the aforementioned form in order to be reviewed. Sending your resume by email won't be regarded as an approved application.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached to apply.