The UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change is one of the most influential youth participation platforms in the world. Convened under the UN’s Youth2030 strategy and Our Common Agenda, the group provides practical, outcome-oriented advice directly to the Secretary-General, ensuring that young people’s voices and lived experiences are central to shaping global climate policy.

In August 2025, the UN announced its third cohort of Advisors, representing diverse identities, experiences, and expertise from across the globe. Members are expected not only to share their perspectives but also to engage widely across youth networks, amplifying the priorities and realities of young people worldwide.

We’re proud to share that four members of the YCJF community have been selected for this new cohort: Zagy Berian, Chatitie Ropati, Kantuta Conde, and Farzana Faruk Jhumu. Their participation underscores the strength and reach of our community, and the growing recognition of youth-led, community-driven climate leadership at the global level.

Learn more about them:

Zagy Berian is a social impact leader focused on youth engagement in energy and climate. Founder of the Society of Renewable Energy (SRE), which empowers youth and fosters collaboration to accelerate Indonesia’s energy transition. Active researcher in renewable energy, with six publications covering geothermal, solar PV, solar thermal, energy storage, and innovation, and committed to advancing education and practical engagement in renewable energy.

Charitie Ropati (Yup’ik & Samoan) is an education and climate justice advocate, scientist, and water engineer from the Native Village of Kongiganak, Alaska. She has worked on water infrastructure for rural Alaska Native communities and implemented culturally relevant education initiatives impacting over 40,000 students. A Columbia University graduate in Civil Engineering with concentrations in Earth & Environmental Engineering and Anthropology, Charitie has been recognized as a Champion for Change by the Center for Native American Youth, a Conservation Leadership Awardee by WWF, and has keynoted at the UN ECOSOC Partnership Forum on behalf of her Arctic community.

In her words:
 

''Being the first from the Arctic to join the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change under the UN Secretary-General is an incredible honor. It means bringing the voices of our communities to the global stage, where decisions about our future are being made. For Indigenous youth, it’s a powerful reminder that our stories, knowledge, and leadership are vital in shaping climate solutions.''

From leading grassroots efforts in their home regions to shaping international advocacy, these members embody YCJF’s belief that climate justice must be driven by those the frontlines. Their presence in the Youth Advisory Group also represents a broader step forward: the acknowledgment that solutions to the climate crisis require voices from the ground up.

Farzana Faruk Jhumu (Bangladesh) is a climate justice activist and co-founder of Kaathpencil, an initiative promoting children’s rights, gender equality, and climate action. She works as a program trainer with the People’s Climate Diplomacy Program, equipping young climate advocates to engage in global negotiations. Farzana is actively involved with Fridays for Future MAPA and participates in major UN processes, advocating for issues such as fossil fuel phase-out, just transition, plastic pollution, and women’s rights.

Kantuta, an Aymara woman from Bolivia, is an advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, with a focus on Indigenous women and youth. She serves as LAC Focal Point for the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus and Co-chair of the ILC youth platform, and has worked with RED-LAC to amplify the Indigenous youth perspective. A law student at Universidad Mayor de San Andres, she has participated in Columbia University’s International Summer Program on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Policy and campaigns for youth health access through the Pan American Health Organization.

Their work is a reminder that climate justice is not just a global agenda, but a lived reality, and that the voices of young people will continue to drive solutions forward.

Learn more about the Youth Advisory Group here.