CHECK OUT OUR 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Highlights

Here’s a sneak peak to our 2023 Annual Report!

From our Board Chair

From our Executive Director

2023: Our Impact at a Glance

Here’s a glimpse of Student Energy’s 2023 impact in numbers:

• Global Reach: Our Programs Ecosystem (7 active programs) engaged a total of 826 participants from 116 countries, 78 of which are developing economies.
• Youth Empowerment: Supported 9 global youth delegations at prestigious events, and 407 youth delegates from 95 countries attended SES 2023, the largest youth-led energy summit.
• Global Community Engagement: Reached 32,730 people through our global Chapters network, with a membership of 4,369 students from different universities across the world.
• Mentorship, Early Career and Project Development: 32 graduates completed the first cohort of the Guided Projects program, received 1,604 Career Training and 1,063 Fellowship applications from youth interested in joining our capacity-building and mentorship-oriented programs.
• Networking: Spoke at 34 panels and events in the climate and energy space worldwide, including the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) UAE, Climate Week NYC, and Africa Energy Forum, among others.
• Recognition: Received 3 individual awards and one organizational accolade, “Best Nonprofit Employer: Youth Advancement for an organization with 20+ staff”, awarded by CharityVillage.

5 accomplishments we’re celebrating:

1. Successfully hosting SES 2023 in Abu Dhabi, bringing together 407 young people from around the world.

Making history as the first International Student Energy Summit held in the MENA region – a global hub for energy, SES 2023 featured 407 youth delegates from all over the world to meaningfully collaborate with sector and community leaders on energy solutions. We are proud to work with several partners for the first time, including Bezos Earth Fund, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and coordinated with NYU Abu Dhabi and the COP 28 UAE team as the Summit took place as an official side event of the UN Climate Change Conference for the very first time.

2. Activating a first cohort of youth-led clean energy projects in solar PV through the Guided Projects program and expanding the program’s offerings and reach.

With 32 graduates from 6 teams representing Kenya, Canada, and Peru, the Guided Projects program provided teams with the firsthand experience of developing solar PV projects to solve local energy problems in their communities. After a successful first cohort, Student Energy focused on retooling and securing additional resources for the program’s continuation in February 2024.

3. Releasing and disseminating our first round of the three research projects with active stakeholder engagement throughout.

Under Student Energy’s newly launched Research and Youth Engagement program, we launched the Global Youth Energy Outlook (GYEO), the Youth Impact Framework, and the Energy Transition Skills Project.

VIEW THE REPORTS

4. Integrating mentorship as a core aspect of our Programs Ecosystem, offering our youth network platforms to build connections through mentorship offerings.

Mentorship is the foundation of the Student Energy Career Training (SECT) program, and regional and language-specific mentorship is necessary and achieved through individual recruitment from program coordinators who are globally dispersed.

5. Amplifying youth-led action on energy on global stages and decision-making spaces

Student Energy attended 23 global energy and climate events, including the New York Climate Week, Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, and the Africa Energy Forum among others. We participated as speakers and moderators at 34 events, and hosted 11 events at COP 28 and the Student Energy Summit. We acted in an advisory capacity for several youth councils, and hosted the very first Youth Energy Narratives Council under the Research and Youth Engagement portfolio.

We’ve got so much more in store for you! Explore our 2023 Annual Report:

STUDENT ENERGY'S 2023 ANNUAL REPORT 

Thank you for standing by us as we empower the next generation of leaders in driving a just and equitable energy future! Your continued support fuels our mission and inspires us every step of the way.

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The Youth Council’s recommendations are intended to help climate philanthropists better understand youth perspectives and consequently shape their priorities to become more responsive to the needs of youth, as youth are among the most climate-vulnerable groups globally.

Between September 2023 and March 2024, the Youth Council will focus on:

• Conducting research, synthesizing their own knowledge, and engaging in Student Energy-led workshops to prepare actionable recommendations for climate philanthropists to effectively engage with young people.
• Developing their initial findings and recommendations into a creative story to be shared on the ground at the Student Energy Summit 2023 (SES 2023) in Abu Dhabi; using SES as an opportunity to liaise with other young people and climate and energy leaders on the ground to receive feedback and further improve on and enhance their pieces.
• Presenting their recommendations to Student Energy’s partner organizations, with support from Student Energy in February 2024, incorporating learnings from SES 2023 in the Council’s final set of recommendations.

Meet the 5 Youth Energy Narratives Council

Abul Bashar Rahman

Bashar is an Economics student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) carrying a quiet passion for climate solutions. Hailing from Bangladesh, a nation deeply affected by climate change, he has sought to understand the resilience of his people better.

As a youth delegate at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, he noted the disproportionate representation of Bangladesh as compared to the impact of climate change on its people. Passionate about equitable climate solutions, he is utilizing storytelling to advocate for climate-vulnerable communities in the Global South. One of the ways is through a heartfelt project where he cycled across Bangladesh, absorbing tales of hope and hardship. He’s also working on an atlas, weaving in stories of change from climate-impacted communities with an emphasis on the Global South.

His dedication has led him to humbly represent Bangladesh, Stories of Change, and UBC through multiple platforms. Bashar hopes to share the stories of those often unheard in the larger discourse on climate change.

Cathleen Jeanty

Cathleen is currently an Innovation Fellow at The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the Director of Communications at the Progressive Democrats of New Jersey; a Chapter Co-coordinator at Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation’s (WCAPS) New York chapter, a National Climate Fellow at Change the Chamber; and a globally emerging leader for climate action. She is also a United States LCOY delegate, where she will be drafting the 2023 U.S. National Youth Statement on Climate.

In the past, she was a Public Information Editor at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, an Obama Organizing Fellow, and the Assistant Media Coordinator at the Campaign for a National Presidential Youth Council. She has been a youth delegate at various summits at The World Bank, The United Nations, NATO, and The International Monetary Fund.

Adebambo Micheal

Micheal is a dynamic renewable energy professional driven to expand energy access and sustainability in marginalized communities. Hailing from Nigeria, he earned his B.Sc in Physics from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. His undergraduate studies and thesis project focused on solar energy applications.

Micheal is passionate about driving innovation in clean energy technologies to uplift lives in underserved areas. He has hands-on experience as a solar technician and installation engineer designing and deploying solar PV systems to electrify homes, businesses, and villages. He also participated in STEM education outreach initiatives and drug abuse prevention programs.

He aspires to pioneer affordable clean energy solutions, advance renewable energy adoption on a national scale, and train youth to lead sustainability efforts across Africa.

Anushka Nagle

Anushka is a final-year Architecture student on a transformative journey driven by a passion for sustainability and a curiosity about innovative ecological technologies and materials. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom as she actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with a diverse global community of like-minded individuals.

Her mission is crystal clear: she is driven to bridge the gap between theory and practice, leveraging the collective wisdom of professionals worldwide to tackle common global challenges. 

She aims to unite people together towards a greener, more sustainable future—a journey where architecture and ecological consciousness converge to reshape the world for the better. She believes that together, we can embark on a voyage of exploration, innovation, and the practical application of sustainable solutions in our daily lives. 

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza

Amanda is a Black Brazilian woman raised in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 17, she received a full scholarship to study for two years at United World College (UWC) ISAK in Japan, where she concluded her high school education. A first-generation student and the first person in her family to live and study outside of Brazil, she is now a junior at Macalester College in Minnesota, where she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies.

In all three countries Amanda has lived in — Brazil, Japan, and the US, she dedicates herself to working for equity, racial justice, and Indigenous rights. She participated in Black Movements, founded a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee in Japan, and currently works to empower Afro-Latinos in the United States.

She has a range of experiences – from sailing for a month from Hawaii to California where she researched plastics and how they disproportionately affect Indigenous communities, to becoming an intern at the Great Plains Institute in Minnesota during the 2023 legislative session where she advocated for clean transportation, to becoming an intern at The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota where she crafted an inventory of tribal engagement and created a best practices guide on how the organization can conduct work with tribal nations.

During the summer of 2023, Amanda received a full scholarship to participate in the Youth Assembly through the Climate Entrepreneurship Package held by the New York University (NYU). She had the opportunity to celebrate International Youth Day at the UN headquarters in New York and participate in a series of workshops on climate change. Recently, she interviewed Hindou Oumarou, Chadian Environmental Activist and Geographer, for the ActNow film which will be showcased in the upcoming COP28.

SE team were speakers, hosts, and facilitators in various events during COP 27. The team included:

Meredith Adler – Executive Director

Helen Watts – Senior Director of Partnerships

Shakti Ramkumar – Director of Communications & Policy

Abdullah Khair – Partnerships Manager

Grace Young – Alumni & Community Manager

Eduarda Zhogbi – Student Energy Senior Advisor

Vaughn-Xavier Jameer – Chapters Associate

Oluwadabira Abiola-Awe – Partnerships Associate

Danielle Kehler – SevenGen Manager

Launch of the Energy Transition Skills Report Initial Findings

Student Energy, in partnership with Ørsted, launched initial findings from the Energy Transition Skills Report at COP 27. The report contains survey results and recommendations from around 5,000 young people globally on how to create accessible and inclusive entry points for youth to enter and stay in careers that accelerate the global energy transition. The findings were delivered by Shakti Ramkumar, Student Energy’s Director of Communications & Policy, at the Danish Pavilion last November 16th.

The Energy Transition Skills Project was launched this year to identify the needs of ready young people for energy transition jobs. 

Launch of the Youth Impact Framework Initial Findings

With the recent developments of the Youth Impact Framework in place, Student Energy, with the Global Covenant of Mayors, shared the initial findings at COP 27. The findings were discussed by Shakti Ramkumar at the UNFCCC Innovation Zone last November 10th.

The Youth Impact Framework is a set of impact measurement tools and indicators to help youth climate advocates, project leaders, and founders measure and communicate the impact of their initiatives to incorporate youth-inclusive project design principles, by recognizing the impact of youth contributions to SDG 7 and across the Sustainable Development Goals.

International Student Energy Summit (SES) 2023 Abu Dhabi: Uniting the Energy Transition Announcement

More than 1,000 young people have already pre-registered for the International Student Energy Summit 2023 (SES 2023) during its first week since the launch. The Student Energy Summit team, led by Grace Young, announced the International Student Energy Summit 2023 at the UAE Pavilion last November 15th. 

SES 2023 will be a transformative space for intergenerational collaboration in the energy sector. For the first time, the summit will come to the United Arab Emirates from November 9 – November 12, 2023, and will be hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). With the theme Reimagining the Future, 600+ young people, industry experts, and world leaders from over 100 different countries will gather in Abu Dhabi, making it the world’s largest youth-led energy conference hosted in the Middle East. In collaboration with local and global partners, SES 2023 will empower a new generation of energy sector leaders and highlight the success story and the vision of the UAE’s energy transition.

We were speakers, hosts, and facilitators at these COP 27 events:

November 8

How can clean energy mitigate climate change, accelerate development, and support food security?

Shakti speaking

Danish Pavilion, hosted by Danish Chamber of Commerce

November 9

Compact presentation at the SDG 7 Pavilion

Dabira speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion

Youth Financing Done Right: How to best structure youth-financing program in developing countries

Dabira speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion

Youth Leadership for the Energy Transition

Grace Young facilitating, Joyce facilitating

IRENA Pavilion, hosted by IRENA

Just sustainability, Circular Economy and Social Justice: employment and social policies to support a just green transition across the globe

Shakti speaking

EU Pavilion (Blue Zone – Area B – Hall 4),  hosted by EC DG EMPL

November 10

Launch of the Energy Transition Commission

Eduarda moderating, Helen speaking, Arsenii speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL

Youth in the Energy Transition – Panel Discussion

Abdullah speaking

Atoms4Climate Pavilion, hosted by International Atomic Energy Agency

Teaching for the Transition

Grace speaking, Mira moderating

IRENA Pavilion, hosted by IRENA

Youth Energy Compact Showcase

Dabira speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL

Empowering Youth in Climate and Sustainable Energy

Abdullah speaking

Green Zone, hosted by Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Energy for Change Panel Event with Fortescue Future Industries

Benji and Natalia speaking

Mineroo Pavilion, hosted by Mineroo and Fortescue Industries

Investing in Youth for a Just Energy Transition

Grace moderating, Eduarda speaking, Vaughn speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy and Carbon Trust

Fireside Chat with Simon, CEO of GEAPP and Dabira

Dabira speaking, Meredith supporting

GEAPP Office, hosted by GEAPP and Student Energy

Launch of the Youth Impact Framework with the Global Covenant of Mayors

Shakti speaking

UNFCCC Innovation Zone, hosted by Student Energy and GCoM

November 11

Just Transition Session

Kajol speaking

UNDP COP27 Hour

Dabira speaking

UN Broadcast Center, hosted by UNDP

Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy Event

Meredith moderating

Wind and Solar Pavilion Zone D, hosted by Enel Foundation

Panel Discussion – Energy Transition, Green Jobs and Skills

Dabira speaking

WMB Pavilion, hosted by National Grid

Net Zero Urban Program: Calling for solutions and a coalition of the willing

Helen speaking

Global Goals Room – Innovation Zone, hosted by KMPG

November 12

There is No Food Security Without Clean Cooking

Shakti speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by Clean Cooking Alliance

Achieving NDC Targets through Clean Cooking Action

UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, hosted by Clean Cooking Alliance

Capacity Building: Energy Literacy to Power a Greener Future The Commonwealth Secretariat

Helen speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat

November 14

Where is the Money for a Gender Just Transition

Dabira speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by UNIDO

The role of partnerships across generations and countries in the just transition

Helen speaking

Nordic Pavilion, hosted by Danish Youth Delegates and the Danish Youth Climate Council

The Renewable Energy Sector as a Catalyst for Gender Equity

Eduarda speaking

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by GEAPP

Achieving Energy Security, Independence, and Sustainability with Renewables focused Local Action

Vaughn speaking

Multilevel Action Pavilion at COP 27, hosted by Scottish Gov, Cities & Regions in UNFCC process

Meeting between youth representatives and Mary Warlick, IEA Deputy Executive Director

Dabira and Eduarda

SEforALL Networking Reception: Women and Youth at the Forefront

SE attending

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL

November 15

Game Changers Accelerating the Global Energy Transition

Eduarda speaking

Climate Action Rooms, hosted by IRENA, Marrakesh Partnership

Unlocking Potential: Working with Young People for a Just Transition

SE as Lead Organizer

We Mean Business Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy and We Mean Business

Africa’s Just Energy Transition: Scaling Up Renewable Energy Minigrids for People and Planet

Dabira speaking

UNDP Pavilion, hosted by UNDP, the GEF, the Rocky Mountains Institute, and the African Development Bank

Green Jobs in the Energy Transition

Vaughn speaking

We Mean Business Pavilion, hosted by the National Grid/WMB

Student Energy Summit 2023 Abu Dhabi: Uniting the Energy Transition

Grace speaking, Benji speaking

UEA Pavilion, hosted by SES 2023 Team

COP27 Energy Day Implementation Lab “A cleaner power sector by 2030: Scaling renewable and storage-based systems.”

Eduarda speaking

Lotus Room (Action Room 2), hosted by GWEC, IRENA, Renew Power, WBCSD

Indigenous & Youth Leadership in Canada’s Road to Net-zero

SE as Lead Organizer

Canada Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy & SevenGen

November 16

Orsted Energy Transition Skills Launch

SE as Lead Organizer

Danish Pavilion, hosted by SEforALL and Orsted

Meeting with Fiona Bezos Earth Fund

Shakti and Dabira

Canada Pavilion

Meeting with Nicolo at Enel

Shakti and Helen

Global Covenant of Mayors Interview

Helen

November 17

Meeting with Global Affairs Canada

Dabira, Helen, Akil, Irena pitching

SDG 7 Pavilion, hosted by Student Energy and SEforALL

Youthtopia Instagram Takeover

Shakti hosting on Instagram

Hosted by Youthtopia/Melati Wijsen

After 2 weeks of negotiation, let’s review some of the key announcements that came out of COP;

5 Key Announcements from COP26

From Nature-Based Solutions, fossil fuel phase-out to clean energy investments, a lot of important topics were on the table at COP26 – but what did countries actually commit to? Let’s look at 5 key areas where some announcements were made:

Coal & Fossil Fuel Funding

Over 40 countries pledged to phase out coal in a new deal, titled the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement, and covering 267 GW of operating coal capacity. Notable absentees from the pledge are China and India which accounts for 54.3% and 11.6% of global coal consumption (BP’S world energy statistics) respectively. The United States which accounts for 6.1% also abstained from the deal.

Also, 20 countries including the United States, Canada and UK have pledged to stop funding fossil fuel projects abroad. The details of this deal also include oil and gas projects, making it the first of its kind. Coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, accounts for 40% of emissions, with oil second with 32% emissions.

Deforestation

The first headline agreement from COP26 is the pledge to end deforestation by 2030. Over 100 hundred world leaders pledged to end deforestation in the Glasgow Leaders ‘Declaration of Forest and Land Use’. The pledge is backed by a $19.2bn (£14bn) in public and private funds. The over 100 signatories of the pledge represents  85% of the world forest, and some of the funding will help developing countries restore degraded land and tackle wildfire. Indigenous communities will also receive funding and support.

Methane

The Global Methane Pledge, an initiative launched by the U.S. and European Union have received significant backing from over 100 countries (representing 70% of the global economy and nearly half of anthropogenic methane emissions) to cut their methane emissions 30% by 2030. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and is 84 times more powerful at warming the climate compared to C02 over the short term. According to European Union estimates, a 30% cut in methane emissions could reduce projected warming by 0.2 degrees Celsius.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Prior to COP26, 140 countries (nearly 70% of Paris Agreement signatories) submitted a new or updated NDC. A notable update at COP26 was India announcement of updated climate targets. The Southeast Asia nation pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. India is the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and this new ambitious target will bring the country in line with other top emitters climate targets. Other notable NDCs announcement submitted closely prior to COP26 includes South Africa and Brazils updated commitment.

Climate Finance

With new pledges and commitments announced, a notable failure stands out—the non-fulfilment of world leaders to keep to their promise of making $100 billion available for developing nations. At the 2009 UN climate summit in Copenhagen, developed nations promised to provide $100 billion a year to less developed countries to help mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change. This commitment is yet to be achieved. Some takeaways from finance at COP26 includes the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero, a deal by financial institutions to move $130 trillion of funds under control to recipient committed to net-zero pledge by 2050. Public donations from billionaires amounted to $2.5 billion with an enormous chunk ($2 billion) coming from Jeff Bezos’s Earth Fund. The Ford Foundation and Gates Foundation also made donations in agriculture research and support for indigenous rights groups, respectively. Other side events clean energy investment and donations are also reported.

How inclusive was COP26?

“The most important conversations are happening outside of COP26, both in the streets and other events and this conversation are happening between scientists, professionals, activists and organizers across the globe. Yet all the policies that can lead to actual policy changes and financial contributions are happening behind closed doors…” – Alaina Wood.

More than 30, 000 people representing over 195 countries attended the COP26. This also includes diverse high-level meetings and side events. While some, including the United Kingdom – the host of COP26 have described the event as the most inclusive COP yet, others have decried the lack of representation from developing countries that couldn’t attend due to COVID inequities and the absence of young leaders and Indigenous groups at the decision-making table.

COP26 Background

Like many UN processes, the COP process comes with a lot of acronyms and jargon – we’ve included this overview to help break down the basics:

What is COP26?

‘COP’ stands for the Conference of Parties and is the supreme governing and decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Each country that has signed on as a “Party” to the UNFCCC is represented at COP, which is also used to refer to the annual United Nations climate change conference, with 2021 being the 26th annual meeting. In 2015, the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change was adopted by 191 countries (“Parties”), as the successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Under the Paris Agreement, every country must strengthen their climate commitments every five years. Faced with looming disasters and scientific reports of the worsening climate, this makes COP26 critical.

What was the aim of COP26?

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are non-binding climate targets and commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions. Under the Paris Agreement, each country decides its goals and actions. This is sometimes insufficient, making It difficult to achieve the aspirations of the Paris accord. Besides NDCs, climate finance, mitigation and adaptation are some of the important priorities and focuses of COP26. There are also ‘sectoral agreements’, these are the ‘coalitions of the willing’ and technically are not part of COP since it isn’t an agreement among the 196 countries signature to the agreement. The sectoral agreements are focused on deforestation, climate finance, fossil fuel phase-out among others.

NEW YORK, June 25, 2021 – Today, Student Energy, New Energy Nexus, and the Government of Denmark announced the launch of the Student Energy Solutions Movement to world leaders and governments at the United Nations High-level dialogue on Energy, Ministerial Thematic Forums. This new, youth-led, global Energy Compact bridges the gap between youth motivation and action by directly funding and actively supporting the deployment of 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects by 2030. 

As one of the first governments to champion the initiative, the Government of Denmark announced their commitment as the first confirmed funder of the Student Energy Solutions Movement:

“Tackling climate change is the biggest challenge of our time and it will not be easy, but seeing the motivation, innovation, creativity, and drive that young people around the world today are showing gives me hope that we will achieve our goals. The kind of ambition demonstrated by Student Energy to support 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects by 2030 is precisely what we need in order to accelerate the energy transition and achieve SDG7. Denmark is proud to be a funding partner of this initiative,” says Asser Rasmussen Berling, Head of Department at the Centre for Global Climate Action at The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark

Announcing the Solutions Movement Energy Compact

Student Energy’s Solutions Movement Energy Compact aims to resource and deploy 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects by 2030, creating structural change by putting real financial resources in the hands of the world’s most passionate youth.  Funding required to meet this objective is $10 million by December 2021, and $150 million by 2030. The Compact will scale tangible action by young people 18-30 years old through a unique combination of project funding and education, training, and mentorship within Student Energy’s programs ecosystem. 

Ambitions by 2030:

• Launch 10,000 youth-led sustainable energy projects or businesses
• Train 50,000 agile and employable youth workers, with a particular focus on reducing the energy skills gap in developing nations, and for women
• Deploy $150 million toward upskilling, mentoring, and directly financing early- and mid-stage youth-led clean energy initiatives

Quotes: 

Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy —

“For decades, youth ambition and motivation have existed to transition our world to a more sustainable and equitable energy system, there just simply hadn’t been the resourcing to bridge that motivation into action. In launching the solutions movement, we’re shifting gears into taking action and deploying the energy and technology solutions we already have at our fingertips. I want to commend the High-level Dialogue on Energy for putting youth front and center, and for moving so quickly to get our global network engaged. It’s refreshing to see other organizations move with the same hustle and pace as the world’s young people!”

Danny Kennedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus —

“This is the decade to deploy the solutions we have at hand to address the climate crisis, and many of these solutions need to be youth-led. If these businesses are going to last decades, they are going to need the motivation and energy of young people to really disrupt the markets and overcome the incumbents that they’re going to challenge.  We at New Energy Nexus are really excited to partner with Student Energy to develop this movement of guided entrepreneurship.”

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) —

“Every stakeholder has a key role to play as we aim to meet the SDG7 and Paris Agreement targets, including youth, and I am pleased to see the leadership being demonstrated by Student Energy with this Energy Compact commitment. SEforALL’s first ever Youth Summit, held in February 2020, demonstrated our renewed commitment to bringing youth to the fore in this critical year, and it is great to see one of our organizing partners for the Summit come full circle by setting the pace for other young people to follow. This shows that beyond bringing their voices to the table, young people can design and fund the innovations required to achieve our energy and climate goals.”

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator —

“I warmly welcome the launch of the Student Energy Compact. It is a strong symbol of the profound shifts taking place in the development sphere where young people are no longer waiting for others to act. They are taking up the baton, driving forward transformation in critical areas, including when it comes to how our world is powered. With more and more groups joining by the day, the United Nations is building a broad coalition of action to spark a clean energy revolution that will improve the lives of millions of people.”

About the UN High Level Dialogue on Energy:

The UN Secretary-General will convene a High-level Dialogue on Energy during the 76th UN General Assembly on September 20, 2021 in New York, to accelerate progress towards achieving SDG7 by 2030. It presents a historic opportunity to provide transformational action in the first years of the Decade of Action. Ministerial-level Thematic Forums are bringing together key stakeholders virtually over five days to mobilize actions on the road to the High-level Dialogue on Energy. Ministers from national governments and leaders from business, civil society, and youth organizations showcased solutions on each priority theme and presented their Energy Compacts, outlining voluntary commitments and actions.

About Student Energy:

Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since founding in 2009,  Student Energy has worked with thousands of  youth from over 120 countries, to build the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to take action on energy. Student Energy operates on a unique youth empowerment model, which means that initiatives are co-created with youth, for youth.

Student Energy also works with governments, the UN, and other decision makers to facilitate meaningful youth engagement and mobilize resources, coaching, and mentorship to support youth-led work. Student Energy has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as Indigenous Clean Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, HSBC Global, the Stockholm Environment Institute, DNV, WSP, and national governments like Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. Student Energy has stewarded CAD$10 million+ in funding to date, supported the development of over 280 youth energy projects, held 6 international Student Energy Summits, and attracted over 12.5 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

Media Contacts:

Shakti Ramkumar, Director of Communications and Policy
shakti@studentenergy.org
+1 (604) 445 4306

Meredith Adler, Executive Director
meredith@studentenergy.org
+1 (604) 354 2930

Sean Collins, Co-Founder
scollins@studentenergy.org
+1 (780) 232 0339

In the lead up to the United Nations High-level Dialogue on Energy in September 2021, ministers from national governments, leaders from business, cities, civil societies, and youth organizations gathered virtually for Ministerial-level Thematic Forums. The goal of this week-long program, taking place from June 21st-25th, is for stakeholders to have a chance to showcase solutions and partnerships, and set out voluntary commitments and actions.

Student Energy’s Announcement: Launching the Solutions Movement

Our big announcement this week was the Launching the Solutions Movement Energy Compact! Amidst Energy Compacts announced by large organizations like Google, the IKEA Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, and member states like Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and others, we announced our ambitious, youth-led Energy Compact which aims to:

• Launch 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects by 2030.
• Directly fund and support young people around the world to scale their clean energy projects, by providing access to capital, mentorship, and skills training.
• Raise $10 million this year, and $150 million by 2030, to support this goal.

Young people at the #HLDE2021

Young people, including many from Student Energy’s global network, were a strong presence at the Ministerial segments throughout the week. These are some of the places we showed up:

Monday, June 21: Energy Access

Mihskakwan James Harper, Vice-Chair Sponsorship, SevenGen Council

Special guest speaker, Grand Opening Ceremony

Chibunna Ogbonna, Student Energy Global Youth Energy Outlook Regional Coordinator for Sub-saharan Africa

Remarks from Ministers and global leaders: Energy Access Leadership Conversation Panel

Isha Kulkarni, Associate at RMI India (India), Eduarda Zoghbi, Energy and Gender Consultant at SEforALL (Brazil), Kevin Shema, Co-founder and CEO at UMUTI Packaging (Rwanda)

Student Energy Compact: Launching the Youth Solutions Movement

Tuesday, June 22: Innovation, Technology and Data

Kayla Choi, Student Energy Global Youth Energy Outlook Regional Coordinator for OECD Pacific 

Remarks from Ministers and global leaders: Innovation, Technology and Data Leadership Conversation Panel

Wednesday, June 23: Energy Transition

Helen Watts, Senior Director of Global Partnerships, Student Energy

Presentation of the Theme Report on Innovation, Technology and Data (Side-event)

Remarks from Ministers and global leaders: Leadership Conversation on Energy Transition

Vladislav Kaim, Member of the UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, Student Energy Alumni

Panel 2: International cooperation and regional integration to advance the energy transition

Thursday, June 24: Enabling SDGs through Inclusive, Just Energy Transitions

Shakti Ramkumar, Director of Policy and Communications, Student Energy

Remarks from Ministers and global leaders: Leadership Conversation on Inclusive, Just Energy Transitions

Friday, June 25: Finance and Investment

Kabir Nadkarni, Climate Finance Advisor, Student Energy, Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy

Ministerial Segment: Energy Compact Showcase

Oluwadabira Abiola-Awe, Ventures Associate, Student Energy

Remarks from Ministers and global leaders: Leadership Conversation on Finance and Investment