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SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Welcome to the SDG Awards, a distinguished recognition program honoring the remarkable contributions of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in championing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist Profile

Youth Climate Leaders (YCL)

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Youth Climate Leaders
About Company
  • Company Type: Social Organization
  • Founded in 2018
  • Located at Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Employees: 11 – 50

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth
Voting Portal

Network Building: Connects individuals with a network of professionals and organizations, fostering career opportunities.

➜ Network Building: Connects individuals with a network of professionals and organizations, fostering career opportunities.
➜ Skill Development: Offer comprehensive education on climate change and sustainability, equipping participants with necessary skills for green jobs.
➜ Youth Employment: Provides training and mentorship to young professionals, enhancing their employability in the climate and sustainability.
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1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

Youth Climate Leaders (YCL) has significantly contributed to SDG 8, promoting decent work and economic growth, through educating the youth workers of Brazil. YCL focuses on empowering young professionals by providing them with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to thrive in green jobs and climate-related careers. YCL’s local impact is garnered primarily through its training and education programs. We offer various training programs, including an 8-week immersive online course that covers climate science, biodiversity, politics, economy and communication related with climate, leadership, project management, personalized mentoring, and career planning. Over 1,300 students from Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries have participated in these courses, gaining valuable skills to enter the green job market​. This sort of aid also extends to educators and professionals, to whom YCL provides specialized courses such as the "YCL Escolas" program for teachers, focusing on climate education and sustainability​. In addition,YCL connects young people with job opportunities in the green economy through its exclusive platform, where it shares job postings and promotes networking among climate professionals. This effort has created a robust ecosystem of professionals who collaborate and support each other's career growth in the climate sector​. YCL's hubs across Brazil serve as focal points for local engagement, allowing young professionals to participate in climate initiatives, events, and workshops, further enhancing their employability​. Another important aspect of YCL’s local impact is its support for marginalized communities. YCL emphasizes inclusivity by offering scholarships to underrepresented groups, including low-income youth and young people from diverse backgrounds. At least 30% of YCL’s course participants receive financial support, helping to break the cycle of poverty and providing these individuals with real opportunities for career advancement​.

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

Youth Climate Leaders (YCL) has made a substantial global impact, particularly in the realm of SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by fostering the development of a new generation of climate-conscious professionals who are equipped to drive sustainable economic growth. YCL's global impact on SDG 8 is reflected in its comprehensive approach to education, inclusion, job creation, and international collaboration. By equipping a diverse group of young people with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the green economy, YCL is not only advancing their individual careers but also contributing to a broader, more sustainable economic future globally. Below are our main means of global impact: a. Global Training and Education Initiatives: YCL has designed and implemented comprehensive training programs that have reached over 1,200 participants from across all continents. YCL has conducted several international training sessions and workshops, such as the "Líderes da Transição Energética" program in Portugal, which equips young professionals with the skills to lead in the renewable energy sector. These programs focus on building skills in climate science, project management, leadership, and sustainability, with a strong emphasis on creating career pathways in the green economy. By offering these courses in multiple languages and formats, YCL has been able to engage a diverse global audience, including significant participation from countries in Europe, Latin America, and Africa​. b. International Collaborations and Advocacy: YCL has actively participated in international climate and sustainability forums, including the UNFCCC's COP conferences, where it has represented the voice of young professionals. These efforts have helped to shape global climate policy and ensured that the concerns and ideas of young people are considered in international discussions on economic growth and sustainability​. The organization also organizes the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) events in Portugal, mobilizing over 100 young people to engage in climate action at the local and global levels, further fostering employment in green jobs​. c. Building a Global Network: Through its extensive network, YCL connects young climate professionals from different sectors, facilitating collaborations and knowledge exchange. This network includes more than 50 partner organizations and 90 mentors, contributing to the spread of green job opportunities​. Additionally, YCL's support for global initiatives like Project Dandelion, a women-led campaign for climate justice, demonstrates its commitment to gender equality and empowerment in the climate sector. Such initiatives not only promote decent work but also ensure equitable economic growth by focusing on inclusivity and diversity​. e. Formation of Hubs and Local Projects: YCL has established Hubs in several countries, which serve as focal points for local climate action and economic development. These Hubs incubate projects that address both local and global climate challenges, providing young people with hands-on experience in creating solutions that drive sustainable economic growth. The projects supported by these Hubs often lead to the creation of new jobs and the development of skills that are essential for the green economy​. f. Leadership in Green Economy Transition: YCL's programs have contributed to the transition towards a green economy by preparing young leaders to take on roles that influence both policy and practice in sustainability. The organization's emphasis on leadership development resulted in many of its alumni being in positions where they can advocate for and implement policies that promote decent work and economic growth in line with SDG 8​.

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

The scalability of YCL's innovation lies in its flexible, adaptable, and globally relevant model for empowering young people to lead in the green economy. It is globally relevant because of its commitment to the specificities of different countries. Within a diverse world, YCL's approach is designed to be scalable across different regions, sectors, and demographic groups. This is driven by several key strategies: a. Digital and Accessible Educational Platforms: YCL's core innovation is its educational model, which combines online courses, webinars, and personalized mentorship. Initially offered as a blended learning experience, the program has transitioned to a fully online format, making it accessible to a global audience. The use of digital platforms allows YCL to reach thousands of young people simultaneously, regardless of their geographical location. This approach is inherently scalable, as it can accommodate increasing numbers of participants with minimal additional infrastructure​. b. Global Network of Hubs: YCL has established a network of local Hubs, which act as regional centers for climate education and action. These Hubs are designed to be replicable in other regions, with the potential to expand to new countries as demand grows. By providing a framework and resources for setting up Hubs, YCL can empower local leaders to adapt the model to their specific contexts, ensuring that the innovation remains relevant while scaling globally​. c. Partnerships and Collaborations: As previously mentioned, YCL has formed strategic partnerships with over 50 organizations worldwide, including NGOs, universities, and companies. These partnerships not only expand YCL's reach but also enhance its capacity to scale by leveraging the resources, expertise, and networks of its partners. YCL plans to continue building partnerships with organizations that can help replicate its model in new regions, particularly in underserved areas where climate education and job opportunities are limited​​. d. Adaptation to Local Contexts: Mentioned in the beginning of this section, YCL's innovation is designed to be adaptable to various cultural and socio-economic contexts. While the core curriculum and values remain consistent, the program allows for customization based on local needs and priorities. This flexibility makes it easier to scale the program globally, as it can be adjusted to fit the specific challenges and opportunities of each new region​. e. Leveraging Technology and Innovation: YCL plans to enhance scalability by incorporating new technologies, such as AI-driven learning platforms and data analytics, to personalize and improve the educational experience. This will enable YCL to handle larger cohorts of students while maintaining high levels of engagement and effectiveness. Additionally, YCL is exploring the use of gamification and virtual reality to make learning more interactive and appealing, particularly for younger audiences​. f. Expansion of Global Impact Initiatives: YCL’s participation in international climate events, such as the UNFCCC's COP conferences, positions it as a leading voice in youth climate action. By continuing to engage in these global platforms and expanding its advocacy efforts, YCL can scale its impact by influencing global climate policies and practices. This not only enhances the organization's visibility but also opens up opportunities for collaboration and expansion into new regions​​. YCL is committed to continuous learning and innovation. By regularly collecting feedback from participants, mentors, and partners, YCL can refine its programs and adapt to emerging needs and challenges. This iterative approach ensures that YCL’s innovation remains relevant and effective as it scales to new regions and audiences​.

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

Youth Climate Leaders (YCL) uses technology strategically to achieve SDG 8 by leveraging digital platforms to provide accessible, high-quality climate education and professional development opportunities globally. YCL’s online courses, webinars, and mentorship programs equip young people with the skills needed for green jobs, regardless of their location. The organization also uses a dedicated online platform to connect participants with job opportunities, internships, and a global network of climate professionals, fostering economic growth through sustainable careers. Additionally, and perhaps of most importance, YCL is exploring AI-driven learning tools and data analytics to personalize education and enhance engagement. This technology-driven approach ensures scalability, inclusivity, and effectiveness, enabling YCL to empower a diverse, global workforce that can drive the transition to a sustainable economy.

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

While working towards SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Youth Climate Leaders (YCL) faced challenges such as limited access to resources for underserved communities, difficulty in engaging diverse groups globally, and bridging the gap between climate education and employment opportunities. To overcome these, YCL expanded its scholarship program, ensuring that at least 30% of participants received financial aid, particularly targeting women, Black, and Indigenous youth. YCL also adapted its programs to be fully online, increasing accessibility for participants worldwide. YCL also established strategic partnerships with global organizations to provide mentorship and job placements, directly linking education to employment in the green economy. By continuously refining its curriculum and offering personalized support, YCL effectively addressed these challenges, creating inclusive and impactful pathways to decent work and economic growth.

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

Youth Climate Leaders engaged local communities and stakeholders by establishing regional Hubs, which serve as focal points for climate action and education. These Hubs involve local organizations, educators, and community leaders in co-creating projects that address regional climate challenges and promote sustainable job opportunities. To reiterate, YCL also hosted workshops, webinars, and events tailored to the needs and priorities of local communities, ensuring relevance and impact. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 87% of participants reporting benefits from being part of the YCL network and 47% indicating positive career changes due to YCL's programs. Community members have praised the inclusivity and practical nature of YCL’s initiatives, particularly the emphasis on connecting education with real-world job opportunities. This engagement has strengthened YCL's impact, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration among local stakeholders.

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

Youth Climate Leaders (YCL) prioritizes sustainability by using digital platforms to deliver education and services globally, minimizing the need for physical materials and travel, thereby reducing the organization’s carbon footprint. Remote collaboration through online tools for meetings, training, and networking conserves resources and enhances inclusivity. YCL integrates environmental and social responsibility into its operations by partnering with like-minded organizations that share its values of sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. Additionally, YCL empowers its network members with systems thinking skills to drive sustainable practices and advocate for change. This includes teaching how to hold policymakers and large corporations accountable for more efficient and sustainable actions, whether through policy, activism, or other means. Through digital innovation, ethical collaboration, and systemic advocacy, YCL effectively delivers services that uphold environmental and social integrity while equipping participants to multiply positive impacts in their communities and beyond.

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

YCL understand that businesses, governments, and civil society must collaborate to achieve the SDGs. Businesses should integrate sustainability into their core strategies, driving innovation and sustainable economic growth. Governments play a pivotal role in establishing regulations, incentives, and policies that promote sustainable practices and equitable resource distribution. Civil society, including NGOs and communities, serves as a watchdog, raising awareness, advocating for accountability, and fostering grassroots action. Effective collaboration requires transparent dialogue and shared objectives, with each sector leveraging its unique strengths. For instance, businesses can partner with governments to create scalable, sustainable solutions, while civil society ensures these initiatives are inclusive and aligned with community needs. Our programs and meetings emphasize understanding these dynamics, empowering participants to advocate for change, develop sustainable solutions, and hold entities accountable. By fostering scientific knowledge, continuous learning, and collaboration, we contribute to building a new economy aligned with the SDGs.

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

We must recognize that our thinking and actions need to be rooted in creativity and a willingness to think outside the box. This is not an easy task, but if we confine ourselves to existing frameworks, we will only perpetuate the issues that have brought the planet to its current state. Our greatest challenge—and opportunity for change—lies in our ability to develop new solutions aligned with our values and to collaborate for a greater collective impact. Moreover, persistence and adaptability are essential. Achieving the SDGs requires a long-term commitment, one that involves constant adjustments and embracing new challenges. We must keep moving forward, celebrating small victories while staying focused on our larger goals, and inspiring more people to join our movement towards a more sustainable future.

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

YCL operates mainly through voluntary work and the strength of many people who want to boost the employability of young people in the green and climate-related economy. The award will help us expand our activities and allow more people to get to know our work. We will be able to invest in more expert speakers for our courses, improve the equipment used by our employees, increase the reach of our communication and our image and ensure that more people take part in our training courses through scholarships.

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

YCL primarily operates through voluntary efforts and the collective strength of people committed to enhancing the employability of young people in the green and climate-related economy. This award would enable us to expand our activities and increase awareness of our work. With this support, we could invest in bringing in more expert speakers for our courses, upgrade the equipment used by our team, extend the reach of our communications and branding, and provide more scholarships to ensure broader participation in our training programs.

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