Asia-Pacific Youth Voices Wrapped YECAP 2025 Year in Review

Take a tour of 2025 as we spotlight incredible milestones achieved by the dynamic and diverse youth, through the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) and partners, with support from Sweden.

Youth Leadership in Climate Governance was Strengthened

As we marked 18 years of International Day of Democracy (15 September), young leaders advanced effective climate governance at all levels.

“I am currently assisting the implementation of the NDC and I hope by 2030 we can reach our target, even surpass it.” – Nuzulia Fajriningrum, Indonesia
“I am pushing for policies that turn our island into a climate innovation hub.” – Wan Nin Cheung, China

Civic Space for Youth Advocacy and Rights was Expanded

Nepal’s NDC3.0 provincial consultations in Janakpur, Dhangadhi, and Surkhet consolidated the voices from vulnerable communities including youth and persons with disabilities. Together with the government and local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), UNIFY pushed for inclusive policies that listen, act, and deliver justice.

In November, Jawhara Rahman Jorgia was selected as a fully funded participant for the Women Shape Biodiversity Futures workshop alongside representatives from 11 Southeast Asian countries, hosted by Women4Biodiversity and partners. The workshop enabled her to connect community-level solutions to national and global policy commitments. She now aims to integrate the biodiversity and gender action plan principles into her work to ensure women’s and young people’s voices in climate-vulnerable regions are recognized, structured, and impactful.

Youth Innovation, Green Jobs, and Climate-Smart Skills were Catalyzed

In February, Ecolery, a youth-led startup from Bangladesh won the Generation Hope Goals (GHG): Action for the SDGs Climate Innovation Competition.

Ecolery won the competition during the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) with their edible cutlery solution to tackle plastic pollution. At ESCAP’s 81st Commission Session in Bangkok, Ecolery provided 100 edible cups as part of ESCAP’s Net Zero Journey Initiative.

Credit: Dhaka Tribune

On International Women's Day (8 March), we celebrated young women changemakers who turned passion into purpose.

On World Environment Day (5 June), young changemakers in Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu accelerated the green energy transition in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

With support from the Pacific Green Transformation Project (Pacific GX), under UNDP’s Climate Promise and funded by the Government of Japan, implemented in collaboration with YECAP.

To mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August), a rights-based, tech-enabled initiative empowered 1,300+ Indigenous youth in Bangladesh and the Philippines to shape a just and inclusive future.

Through a partnership between UNDP, HP Inc., and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), supported by YECAP and Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP).

Regional Action Translated into Global Influence

Youth-led action in Asia and the Pacific are providing scalable solutions and policy insights that inform global approaches to inclusive governance, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

Tselmeg Urtnasan was selected by the Government of Mongolia to serve as a negotiator at COP30 in Brazil, with support from the Youth Negotiators Academy and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

More impact stories

  • What began as local dialogue in Cambodia now informs national climate commitments and contributes to global youth advocacy under the UNFCCC: click here to read
  • Through youth-led governance initiatives and civic innovation across Asia-Pacific, regional experiences are informing global debates on inclusive democracy, climate governance, and sustainable development: click here to read
  • By investing in youth-led innovation and regional public goods, Asia-Pacific collaboration is generating scalable solutions that influence global conversations: click here to read
  • From island communities to COP30 in the Amazon, Pacific youth are translating lived experiences into global climate advocacy: click here to read

Join us!

To learn more about the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) and get connected with the young climate leaders on our platform, please visit www.yecap-ap.org

Credits:

The Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP)