A call answered by young climate leaders everywhere
In February 2026, we invited young climate leaders from around the world to share the work they are advancing in their communities and the visions guiding their efforts. The response reflected the depth, diversity, and determination of a global and diverse network of young leaders working toward a fairer, low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
The response to our call for applications showed the breadth and diversity of young climate leadership around the world. From the number of applications received to the regions and languages represented, these figures reflect a growing global community committed to creating climate solutions rooted in local realities.
Recognizing leadership across contexts
From local initiatives to regional networks, the applications reflected the many ways young leaders are advancing climate justice around the world. Reviewing them meant looking beyond a single definition of leadership, considering the contexts, challenges, and approaches that shape each group's work. Through a collaborative selection process, our regional and grants committees worked to identify groups whose efforts aligned with the values and vision of the fund. From this process, we selected 22 grantee partners whose work reflects the breadth and determination of youth-led climate action across different contexts.
Our Director of Programs, Omnia El Omrani, reflects on what stood out in this year's proposals:
Across 3,700+ applications, one thing was consistent: young people are taking action on climate and environmental issues in ways that respond directly to the needs of their own communities, from combining traditional knowledge with innovative climate technologies to building the collective capacity to shift who makes decisions in the first place.
What stands out is not only the ambition but the method. Equity and co-design with communities were not add-ons in the work we saw; they were the starting point. The applicants also planned well beyond the immediate by building scale into the design from the outset, and identifying where the work can move policy and public systems.
In every open call, we aim to resource these young climate leaders to transform climate systems so they are grounded in the realities communities live today, not the assumptions of those who built them.
Youth climate leadership in action
From this diverse pool of applicants, the selected cohort brings together young climate leaders advancing creative, community-rooted approaches to climate action.
Looking ahead: supporting the next generation of climate leaders
Young people are already leading climate action in their communities, bringing local knowledge, lived experience, and trusted relationships to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Yet less than 1% of grants from the largest climate foundations go to youth-led climate initiatives. Supporting youth-led organizations means investing in solutions that are already making a difference and helping them grow their impact over time.
As this new cohort begins its journey, our role is to support and learn alongside them. Over the coming months, partners will receive tailored support through one-to-one check-ins, peer learning, workshops, coaching, and opportunities to connect with other young leaders and the wider climate community. We look forward to seeing the relationships, ideas, and collaborations that emerge along the way.
Learn more about our selection process here.