A decade after the Paris Agreement was signed, important signs of progress are beginning to emerge. In 2026, wind and solar power generated more electricity globally than gas for the first time in history, marking a significant milestone in the transition away from fossil fuels. Yet while momentum is building in some areas, the gap between climate commitments and their implementation remains wide, and many communities continue to experience the impacts of a changing climate firsthand.
But in that gap, something else is happening.
Across the world, young people are not waiting for systems to catch up. They are organizing communities, producing innovative and accessible climate data, safeguarding land and livelihoods, and building sustainable alternatives rooted in local knowledge and lived experience. Their strategies are values-driven and unwavering. Having been excluded from climate conversations previously, these young leaders understand how important equity, inclusion, and access are to a sustainable future for all.
From Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, to communities in the Philippines, and Indigenous territories in Borneo, Indonesia, they are turning urgency into action and challenges into tangible change.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
Knowledge is power
Among the young people driving this shift is Breathe Mongolia-Clean Air Coalition, which works on the intersection of air quality data, climate science, and collaborative policy advocacy to address Mongolia's severe air pollution crisis.
''We all have been affected by air pollution, so the issue is really close to our hearts,'' says co-founder Enkhuun Byambadorj.
Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar is heavily reliant on coal and is one of the most polluted cities in the world. For Breathe Mongolia, tackling air pollution means working on two fronts: supporting communities navigate its immediate impacts while advocating for the long-term policy changes needed to address it. In winter, air pollution levels can reach up to 27 times the World Health Organization safety threshold, with significant health impacts. UNICEF has found that children living in the most polluted urban areas experience up to 40% lower lung function compared to those in rural areas.
Yet despite the scale of the problem, access to reliable air quality data is limited, and Breathe Mongolia has been working to close that gap by making pollution visible and actionable for communities. By not ignoring the foundational problems in data, they are rebuilding a system with science-backed research that doesn't shy away from the truth.
''If you don’t know how bad the air you breathe is, how can you seek change?,” Enkhuun asks.
They monitor 40 air quality sensors in schools, hospitals, and kindergartens across highly polluted areas, helping affected communities understand exposure levels and explore alternatives to coal-based heating that are greener and healthier. The impact of that can be felt by hundreds of people who are now breathing more deeply.
Their work has also translated into collective action: last year, they gathered 70,000 signatures calling for a parliamentary hearing on air pollution policies resulting in a resolution proposing an end to state subsidies for coal stoves. This is the power of working from within a community to advocate for its needs, everyone is heard and willing to be part of the solution.
The resolution has not yet been implemented, but its approval changed the conversation. It raised the profile of the issue and demonstrated growing public support for a coal-free future. “This was a major recognition. We’ve shown people that a different, coal-free reality is possible,” says Enkhuun.
Beyond advocacy, the Coalition's reach has expanded significantly, engaging more than 250,000 people through awareness campaigns and supporting over 600 young people to actively engage in environmental action. They are also developing tools and shared language to strengthen community-led approaches to environmental decision-making.
Amplifying grassroots voices
In the Philippines, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) is working to connect national youth networks with frontline communities affected by mining and climate impacts.
“We bring the plight of communities affected by the climate crisis and mining operations to youth who live in the capital, and are not directly affected by these issues,” says national coordinator Rachelle “Rae” Junsay.
The alliance brings together youth organizations, student councils, and individuals working on climate change and advancing equitable climate action.
The Philippines, one of the world's most resource-rich countries, has long been shaped by extractive mining practices that displace communities and damage ecosystems. Indigenous peoples and communities living near mining operations have been reeling from these impacts, while those who resist them often face significant risks. According to Human Rights Watch, it remains one of the most dangerous places in the region for environmental defenders.
In early 2026, Indigenous women leaders in Dupax del Norte, in the north of the country, were arrested after blocking extractive mining equipment from entering their community. YACAP responded quickly: They launched an online and offline campaign demanding their release and calling for a halt to mining operations. Acting in unison with other advocacy groups, YACAP added to the collective pressure, which resulted in the women's release in January 2026, demonstrating the impact of coordinated youth-led advocacy on accountability outcomes.
“Even though we are miles away, we are amplifying the demands of affected communities,” Rae says. “The campaign was about showing the powers to be that there’s unity between the affected community and other youth organizations, showing that all these organizations are demanding justice.’’
Over the past year, the alliance has reached more than 1,000 young people through educational discussions on climate and environmental issues and over 4,300 people through on-the-ground campaigning and awareness activities, strengthening public awareness and engagement. It has also expanded its network, welcoming 50 new members, reflecting increasing participation and consolidation of the youth climate movement. For Rae, these numbers represent more than growth. They reflect a stronger youth movement that is increasingly connected to the experiences and demands of communities most affected by environmental harm.
Rebuilding knowledge across generations
Growing in the rainforests of Borneo, Indonesia, Plorenthina Dessy watched familiar landscapes begin to change. Trees that had stood for generations were disappearing, along with medicinal plants, stories, and traditions tied to them. By 2015, Borneo had already lost half of its forest cover to expanding palm oil plantations, according to scientists.
As this loss accelerated, she saw a growing disconnect between Indigenous youth, elders, and the forest that had long shaped their way of life. To respond, she founded Sekolah Adat Arus Kualan, which means ''customary school'' in the Dayak Simpankng language, created to support young people in reconnecting with Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and cultural practice.
“There was a disconnect between nature, the youth, and the elders,” she explains.
Today, the initiative runs four schools with a total of 138 students and 13 facilitators, including village elders who pass on knowledge through shared learning. In these spaces, young people and elders learn side by side, strengthening intergenerational ties and keeping local knowledge alive through storytelling, documentation, and cultural traditions. As part of the curriculum students also learn to plant trees using traditional methods, and over the past decade this has helped restore 10 hectares of forest, equivalent to about 14 football stadiums.
“We do this because when large-scale deforestation happens, we lose our knowledge, because the forest is our school, so when it’s gone, our library is destroyed,” Plorenthina says.
To sustain the community and support the continuation of cultural practices, the school also trains young people in ecotourism, including how to manage small-scale revenue and community-led initiatives. This has opened up new livelihood opportunities that are directly connected to cultural preservation, with hundreds from within the country and abroad coming to learn from and engage with the community. In turn, this has strengthened local capacity to sustain and protect these traditions over time.
A new system
Through data, mobilization, and cultural knowledge, Breathe Mongolia-Clean Air Coalition, YACAP, and Sekolah Adat Arus Kualan, are reshaping what equitable climate action looks like in practice.
They are making invisible harms visible, strengthening community resilience, and ensuring climate solutions are rooted in lived experience. Together, their stories show that what is emerging is not only a response to the realities communities face, but also the work of building systems that are more just, grounded and more capable of lasting change.
Learn more about their work:
🪷 Breathe Mongolia
🪷 Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP)
🪷 Sekolah Adat Arus Kualan