NEW YORK, NY, September 24, 2024  – Student Energy announced a new Commitment to Action today as part of the Clinton Global Initiative’s (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting in New York.  Student Energy’s commitment – Equipping Young Leaders for Clean Energy Innovation, aims to advance youth-led clean energy deployment in the Global South, directly engaging 2,500 young people from 2025 to 2027 through job training, skill-building, and project development, with far-reaching benefits impacting thousands more in local communities. Student Energy joins organizations such as Imagine Worldwide, Ashley Lashley Foundation, and Young Activists Summit in making a Commitment to Action.

 “We believe strongly in the power of systems change, and globally we are at a critical junction of choosing to step up and follow-through on justice-based, inclusive climate action. Empowering young people to lead transformative change in their communities and their own careers is an essential part of systems change that will build a more equitable, resilient, nature- and climate-safe energy future for everyone,” said Helen Watts, Executive Director of Student Energy.

Commitment to Action Goals:

• Five newly established Student Energy Chapters across regions in the Global South
• 1,750 youth enrolled in Student Energy’s Fellowship and Career Training programs
• 100 youth launching 20 clean energy SMEs or social enterprises through Student Energy’s Guided Projects program
• 250 youth attending both the 2025 and 2027 Student Energy Summits (SES)
• 150 young clean energy leaders attending international conferences, creating opportunities for global dialogue and collaboration.

The initiative will accelerate the energy transition by empowering youth to take leadership roles in the clean energy sector through their careers, projects they implement, and initiatives or businesses they lead.

 Coinciding with the 79th U.N. General Assembly, CGI’s Annual Meeting brought together organizations, businesses, and governments to push forward a global agenda on climate resilience, inclusive economic growth and recovery, health equity, the full participation of women and girls, and humanitarian response efforts to crises around the globe. 

With 15 years of experience, Student Energy is the world’s largest organization dedicated to engaging youth in the energy transition. Having reached 60,000 young people across 120 countries, Student Energy’s programs span three pillars: education, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. This new commitment builds on our ongoing work, focusing on equipping youth with practical skills, support, and opportunities to become drivers of clean energy innovation and economic growth in their communities.

About Clinton Global Initiative (CGI): The Clinton Global Initiative, founded by President Bill Clinton, brings together global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Through CGI’s Commitments to Action, participants pledge to undertake new, specific, and measurable projects that address issues such as climate resilience, economic inclusion, health equity, and more. Since 2005, CGI members have made over 4,000 commitments, impacting the lives of more than 500 million people across 180 countries.

About Student Energy: Student Energy is a global, youth-led organization empowering the next generation of leaders to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future. Through education, advocacy, and entrepreneurship programs, Student Energy has built a network of over 50,000 young people in 120 countries, enabling them to shape their communities’ energy futures.

Media Contacts: 

Shakti Ramkumar, Senior Director of Policy and Communications

shakti@studentenergy.org

Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 445 4306

Pauline Adalid, Communications Manager

pauline@studentenergy.org

Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (672) 999 0227

[Washington, D.C., June 22, 2023] – Student Energy, a global youth-led organization, and the Clean Cooking Alliance, a leading international clean cooking organization, are thrilled to announce their partnership to develop the “Ignite” Youth Clean Cooking Incubator Program. This innovative initiative aims to empower and support young entrepreneurs in developing clean cooking solutions to address the pressing challenges of household air pollution and energy poverty. As part of the program launch, Student Energy and Clean Cooking Alliance are issuing a call for donors and technical partners to accelerate the impact of this youth-led movement. 

Household air pollution resulting from traditional cooking practices is a critical issue affecting 2.3 billion people worldwide, particularly women and children in low- and middle-income countries. As a cross-cutting issue, clean cooking is essential to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), as well as reducing global carbon emissions, forest degradation, and improving the climate resilience and well-being of communities globally.  

The “Ignite” Youth Clean Cooking Incubator Program will equip young entrepreneurs to address these issues head-on. Through a 10-month incubator program, the “Ignite” will provide young people with the tools and resources needed to develop, scale, and commercialize innovative clean cooking solutions and launch their own sustainable businesses.  

About the Program Leads: Student Energy brings 13+ years of experience in supporting and accelerating youth-led energy enterprises around the world through project management training, peer support, mentorship, and funding, through programs like Guided Projects and Greenpreneurs. CCA is the leading organization bringing together stakeholders in the clean cooking space, and brings together experience catalyzing entrepreneurship and finance through its Venture Catalyst and Innovative Finance programs, as well as access to an extensive network of international and local experts who will provide participants technical expertise, advice on commercialization and regulatory frameworks, and scaling. 

 To successfully launch and sustain the “Ignite” Youth Clean Cooking Incubator Program, Student Energy and CCA are calling on donors and technical partners to help ensure the availability of financial support, mentorship opportunities, and capacity-building programs for young entrepreneurs participating in the incubator program.  

 Supporting the “Ignite” Youth Clean Cooking Incubator Program is an investment in the future, enabling young entrepreneurs to unlock their potential, create jobs, and improve the lives of millions of people by providing access to clean and efficient cooking solutions. Donors and technical partners will have the opportunity to witness the tangible impact of their contributions and be part of a global movement working towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world. 

How can I connect with the program?

To learn more about the “Ignite” Youth Clean Cooking Incubator Program and how to contribute as a donor or technical partner, please check the Ignite Sponsorship Brochure,  contact letschat@studentenergy.org, or partnerships@cleancooking.org. 

About Student Energy: Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization focused on energy, empowering 50,000 young people in 120+ countries to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and equitable energy future. Student Energy’s Programs Ecosystem offers 9 unique programs which deliver energy education, skills training, and project financing for young people globally, and 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 17 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

About the Clean Cooking Alliance: Since 2010, the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) has worked with a global network of partners to build an inclusive and financially sustainable industry to ensure clean cooking is accessible to the nearly three billion people who live without it each day. CCA is the leading organization bringing together stakeholders from across the ecosystem with the aim to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030 in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Net Zero ambitions. CCA’s Youth program aims to facilitate increased impact and expanded action to address the needs, build the agency, and advance opportunities for youth to lead ambitious clean cooking transitions. 

Media Contact:  

Shakti Ramkumar

Sr. Director of Communications and Policy, Student Energy

Email: shakti@studentenergy.org

Phone/WhatsApp: +1 604 445 4306

Key Highlights from the GYEO:

• 80% of youth surveyed believe their governments should take drastic actions to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, with two-thirds of youth who expressed support for decarbonization targets indicating they wanted their governments to work toward a 2030 goal rather than 2050.
• As a global average, youth ranked ‘Government willpower, policies, and regulations’ as the biggest barrier in achieving a sustainable energy transition in their respective countries – especially in Latin America (56%) and South East Asia (48%). Youth also indicated they are prepared to vote on this issue, with 83% of respondents saying that they would vote for a political candidate based on their position on the energy transition.
• Government policy was chosen as the factor having the ‘most importance’ in accelerating the sustainable energy transition, with 44% of respondents choosing it as their top option. Youth in all regions also identified that governments had the most responsibility to reduce emissions.

The Global Youth Energy Outlook intends to bridge the gap between youth and decision-makers in governments and industry – for youth to use the Outlook as a data-backed advocacy tool, and for decision-makers to use the Outlook to understand how to meaningfully engage young people. 

Inside the Report: The GYEO opens with an Executive Summary and a Global Insights section, which contain the headline statistics, findings, and recommendations from the project overall. The report also contains 10 Region-specific Chapters. Each Regional Chapter is introduced with a Foreword by a Regional Coordinator to provide context, a ‘Regional Highlights’ section to amplify particularly interesting findings from each region, and a series of Discussions and thematic analyses that are specific to that region. The GYEO’s survey data is also accompanied by qualitative findings from 25 Regional Dialogues held with youth, as well as Youth Spotlights of young people who are taking action on energy around the world.

Partnerships: The project received financial support from Founding Partners DNV, the Government of Denmark, the Government of Canada (Natural Resources Canada), and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition. The project also received knowledge and peer review support from Knowledge Partner, Enel Foundation.

Student Energy first launched the initial findings from the report at the Science Show Theatre as an official event of the COP26 Green Zone Programme in Glasgow, Scotland, featuring an intergenerational panel discussion with Regional Coordinators and government officials. Since then, the GYEO’s insights have been presented to various youth and global audiences, to support the development of this final report.

“We are excited to launch the Global Youth Energy Outlook to celebrate a 3-year youth-led research process. Through a labor of passion and dedication, the report was developed by young energy leaders who are keen to envision and facilitate a rapid transformation of the energy system. We are also thrilled to have Dr. Carlo Papa, Managing Director of Enel Foundation,  join us for the launch event of the GYEO, as Enel Foundation has been deeply supportive in the review process for the project as our Knowledge Partner. Over the course of this project, Student Energy has seen that young people globally are unified in their desire to see urgent climate action, and yet have a diversity of perspectives informed by the unique geographic and social contexts of their communities. We hope that this research is a launching point for decision makers to meaningfully include young people and youth perspectives in decision-making on the energy transition.” – Helen Watts, Executive Director, Student Energy

About Student Energy:

Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering 50,000 young people in 120+ to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since its founding in 2009,  Student Energy has worked to build the knowledge, skills, and networks that youth 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 17 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

About Enel Foundation:

Enel Foundation is an Italian think-tank established in early 2012, with the key objective to drive changes through knowledge creation and sharing to help solve the greatest challenges of our time in the energy and climate domains.

Based in Rome and Santiago, Enel Foundation conducts in-depth independent research leading to scenarios analysis, policy and regulation recommendations and tailored solutions and it co-creates multi flags training programs.

Knowledge platform for a clean energy future

 We focus on the crucial role of clean energy to ensure a sustainable future for all.

By envisioning a sustainable future – resilient and equal – boosted by quality education and enlightened self-interest by the business community. The future we want is powered by affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern electricity smartly distributed to all.

We focus on research and education.

By developing partnerships with pre-eminent experts and institutions across the globe, leveraging on the vast knowledge of our Founders, we conduct research to explore the implications of global challenges in the energy domain. We develop scenario analysis, define policy and regulation opportunities, and design education programs to the benefit of scientific and institutional realms.

We operate at the intersection of business and society.

By engaging institutions and governmental bodies, thought leaders and civil society representatives, industry experts and academia. We are a non-profit organization seeking to converge with like-minded actors determined to solve global challenges ensuring a sustainable future for all.

Media Contacts:

Shakti Ramkumar, Senior Director of Policy and Communications

shakti@studentenergy.org

Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 445 4306

Helen Watts, Executive Director

helen@studentenergy.org

Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 354 2930

Click here to watch the full recording of the webinar event on YouTube

The recently published  World Energy Employment report from the International Energy Agency calls attention to the growing demand for highly skilled workers in the energy sector. Clean energy employment is set to grow to an estimated 30 million by 2030, creating a need for workers with energy sector-specific skill sets. Despite this immense potential for growth and innovation, the clean energy sector will face a dire shortage of talent in the coming years. At the same time, there are thousands of young people worldwide who are deeply passionate about a just energy transition and have the potential to become leaders in the industry. However, they lack access to skills training programs, mentorship networks, and entry-level project experience needed to enter these careers. The clean energy sector is one field where partnerships are required to break down barriers that divide youth from the workforce. 

Student Energy Career Training (SECT)

The program connects young people between 18 and 30 from diverse backgrounds directly to energy industry partners who share experience, provide mentorship, and support the next generation of the energy workforce. This project partnership is committed to promoting youth voices that inspire innovative ideas and collaborative solutions necessary for a sustainable energy future.

As a partner, SEforALL will mentor and guide the 2022 SECT cohort through learning about and addressing a real-world energy problem. SEforALL will be hosting two projects in this cohort — the first addressing healthcare, and the second for China- UN Platform on Climate Cooperation and Renewable Energy. Over half the world’s energy employment is in the Asia Pacific region, and the People’s Republic of China has the largest number of energy workers. It has an estimated near 20 million workers and is home to energy’s largest and fastest growing workforce, making it an essential market for research and analysis on the energy transition. This platform aims to accelerate and scale up the deployment of renewable energy in identified countries by sharing knowledge and success stories from China, while also leveraging China’s expertise and development support to accelerate the deployment of clean energy in countries across the Global South, most notably in Africa.

About Student Energy Career Training

Student Energy Career Training (SECT) is a 4-month cohort-based program aimed at young people between 18 and 30 who are interested in pursuing a career that advances the energy transition but may not yet have the skills, knowledge, or connections necessary to get a ‘foot in the door’. Led by Student Energy and co-created by knowledge partners Enel Foundation, this program offers students a comprehensive introduction to the current energy system, decarbonization pathways, energy economics, and policy. 

Student Energy Career Training aims to provide students in each cohort with the technical and soft skills necessary to secure an internship or entry-level role in the clean energy sector by connecting students with mentors from leading energy organizations like Enel Foundation and SEforALL. They provide subject matter expertise and support students in becoming career-ready through energy system education, project management skill building, and career coaching.

About Sustainable Energy for All

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations, government leaders, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society, and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 – in line with the Paris Agreement on climate.

We work to ensure a clean energy transition that leaves no one behind and brings new opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential. Partnerships are essential to our work. Delivering on the mandate of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and the Paris Agreement demands concerted action. Given the ambition of both international frameworks, this will not be a small task and we will not achieve progress alone.

Call to Action

Applications to join the 2023 Student Energy Career Training cohort open in December 2022!

The program is open to young people aged 18-30 around the world from all academic and professional backgrounds. Beginning in January, the program will be a 4-month course featuring core energy education and mentorship from Student Energy and expert energy organizations, including SEforALL.

Learn more at: https://studentenergy.org/program/career_training_program/

Young people today want to be part of the energy transition, and implement solutions to mitigate climate change. Now we need to ensure that there are training programs available to help them gain the skills they need for a job, and that governments and companies are working with them to design the energy future. To assist in achieving both goals, Student Energy is thrilled to be welcoming the Enel Foundation as a Knowledge partner on the Student Energy Career Training program and our Global Youth Energy Outlook Action Toolkits. 

The Student Energy Career Training Program is a 4-month intensive cohort-based program aimed at young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested in pursuing a career that advances the energy transition. The program is designed to simulate an internship experience, during which members of the cohort work side-by-side with practitioners on real-life projects. In this framework, participants are also provided with a comprehensive introduction to the current energy system, decarbonization pathways, energy economics, and governance, as well as with applied skills training related to project management and finance.  

The Global Youth Energy Outlook is a first of its kind dataset that maps out what over 40,000 young people in nearly 130 countries want from the energy transition. Preliminary analysis found that the majority of young people want the world to achieve net zero before 2050, and believe that government willpower as well as private sector’s commitment are crucial pieces to enable this to happen.

Student Energy and Enel Foundation will work together to strengthen the theoretical know-how and enhance the soft skills of the participants of the Career Training program, as well as to consolidate the results and maximise the outreach the GYEO towards international institutions and private companies. 

About Enel Foundation:

Knowledge platform for a clean energy future. 

We focus on the crucial role of clean energy to ensure a sustainable future for all. 

By envisioning a sustainable future – resilient and equal – boosted by quality education and an enlightened self-interest by the business community. The future we want is powered by affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern electricity, smartly distributed to all. 

We focus on research and education. 

By developing partnerships with pre-eminent experts and institutions across the globe, leveraging on the vast knowledge of our founders. We conduct research to explore the implications of global challenges in the energy domain, develop scenario analysis, define policy and regulation opportunities and promote education programs for qualified stakeholders in the scientific and institutional realms. 

We operate at the intersection of business and society. 

By engaging institutions and governmental bodies, thought leaders and civil society representatives, industry experts and academia. We are a non-profit organization seeking to converge with likeminded actors determined to solve global challenges ensuring a sustainable future for all. 

About Student Energy:

Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since 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 has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as the UN, 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 13 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

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

The first pilot project for Ventures, a small-scale solar PV project, is currently underway in Edmonton, Alberta, in partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). This rooftop solar project, set to be commissioned by May 2022, is led by two NAIT Alternative Energy Technology program students, Jack Harding and Ethan Buchanan.

Introducing Student Energy Ventures: Student Energy Ventures aims to remove barriers to clean energy entrepreneurship for young people by providing access to funding, mentorship and project development templates. By giving youth the necessary skills, knowledge, and support system for their initiatives, Student Energy Ventures allows young people to launch tangible community clean energy projects while creating opportunities for youth in underrepresented communities to pursue careers in the sector.

Interested students, from all countries, are encouraged to apply by March 31st, 2022, to learn more about the program.

Through the Ventures program, priority will be given to support and deploy funding to targeted communities with both the highest potential for impact and who have lived through historical inequity in the global energy industry. Specifically, priority will be given to projects led by youth, women, and Indigenous youth or communities. As Ventures expands globally, Student Energy will also prioritize projects from the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Student Energy’s Solutions Movement aims to raise $150 million by 2030 to launch 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects
In June 2021, Student Energy launched the Solutions Movement which aims to bridge the gap between youth motivation and action by directly funding and supporting the deployment of 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects this decade. The Solutions Movement is also Student Energy’s UN Energy Compact, showing specific actions the organization will take to accelerate progress on SDG 7.

Quotes:
“The Government of Canada is working with partners and communities to ensure that our transition to a net-zero economy leverages the talent and expertise of all Canadians, including youth, women and Indigenous innovators. Our investment to launch Student Energy Ventures will help young Canadians bring their ideas to life, prepare for leading-edge jobs in Canada’s clean energy sector, and ultimately drive the growth of promising new technologies that benefit both the environment and the economy.” — The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

“Here in Alberta, we have the smarts, the ingenuity, the workers, the universities, and the tech institutes to meet the challenge of getting to net zero. The launch of Student Energy Ventures is a great example of how we can tap into the passion and abilities of our diverse innovators to create tangible benefits for Albertans and Canadians. I’m proud of our government’s investment in this initiative, which will help unlock the potential of new ideas for a sustainable energy sector that supports both a healthy environment and a dynamic economy.” — The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

“We are excited to be the pilot location for Student Energy Ventures. We know we need to act quickly to deploy the solutions we already have, and that’s why we’ve decided to say yes first, and support an innovative model where we will buy power for a youth-led project our students are developing.” — Stewart Cook, Dean of Applied Sciences, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

“In 2021, we launched our global UN Energy Compact, the Solutions Movement, and we set an ambitious goal of deploying 10,000 youth-led projects this decade. Student Energy Ventures is how we’re making that happen. Young people globally are deeply concerned about the climate crisis, and for far too long, the energy sector has had a high barrier for entry for young people – particularly women, Indigenous youth, and young people from low-income backgrounds. Through Ventures, we hope to open up the emerging opportunities in clean energy and community-based solutions to young people from all backgrounds, so that youth have access to a tangible pathway and the necessary resources to turn their motivation into action.” — Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy

“We’re thrilled to launch Student Energy Ventures today, and to be announcing Prairies Economic Development Canada as our lead supporter of this new program. Ventures will play a key role in equipping young people in Canada and across the world with the knowledge, project designs, and capital needed to execute the clean energy transition.
I’m beyond thrilled we’re announcing our first Ventures pilot project will take place in my hometown of Edmonton with NAIT. It’s exciting to see the first pilot project launch where our organization first began, and we look forward to being able to support global youth-led innovation.” — Sean Collins, Co-Founder and Senior Director of Ventures, Student Energy

About Student Energy:

Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since 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 has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as the UN, 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 13 million people to its digital energy education platforms.

About Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan):

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is the federal department that supports economic growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its programs and services help businesses, not-for-profits and communities grow stronger. Its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the interests of the region in national economic policy, programs and projects.

About NAIT:

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a leading Canadian polytechnic, delivering education in science, technology and the environment; business; health and skilled trades. With 35,000 credit and non-credit students and a 98 per cent employer satisfaction rate, NAIT grads are essential to the provincial economy. NAIT also contributes to Alberta’s prosperity by helping business and industry become more competitive with Industry Solutions offered through its Productivity and Innovation Centre, including technology adoption, business and product innovation and industry-driven research. Recognized as one of Alberta’s top employers, NAIT provides outstanding returns on investment for its graduates, partners, the provincial government and the people of Alberta.

Media Contacts:

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

Nicole Graham, Media and External Relations Specialist, NAIT
ngraham@nait.ca
+1 780-916-8307

Sean Collins, Co-Founder, Senior Director of Ventures, Student Energy
scollins@studentenergy.org
+1 (780) 232 0339

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

This new global initiative will highlight the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on women and girls, while providing support to women to pursue local and transnational climate solutions.

• According to UN figures, over 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. 
• Women and girls bear the brunt of the impacts from future droughts, extreme weather, and famine. 
• Climate instability leads to greater social unrest and more gender-based violence.

But women around the world are also at the forefront of the climate fight. From the boardroom within government, at the heart of their communities and from the streets, women are organizing to protect the planet and the future. 

Women Leading on Climate will celebrate heroes like Christiana Figueres, Laurence Tubiana who played indispensable roles in securing the Paris Agreement and sustaining momentum. It will honour moral voices like Mary Robinson, the past president of Ireland and a leader of the climate justice movement, and brave activists like Greta Thunberg who popularized climate strikes and brought ‘Fridays for the Future’ to the world’s schools and streets. 

Alongside these women are millions more who are pushing in countless inventive and practical ways to mobilize communities, change business and enact new laws.

By celebrating and supporting the women who are achieving success, Women Leading on Climate strives to inspire young women and girls to take action on climate change, develop their skills and lead in their communities. 

On Friday, November 5th, during COP26’s Youth and Public Empowerment Day, women and girls from around the world will flood COP26 with videos on social media using the hashtag #WomenLeadingOnClimate. This will include videos from prominent women leaders including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern,Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization, and Gina McCarthy, White House National Climate Advisor as well as women, girls, and gender minorities from around the world who are acting on climate. 

Media are invited to attend a global Women Leading on Climate livestream event on November 5th from 3:00pm – 4:00pm (GMT)/11:00-12:00 (EDT) on November 5th, where women and girls around the world can share why they care about climate change, how it is impacting them, and how they are working to find solutions. Sign-up for the livestream here: https://webapp.spotme.com/welcome/secaa21

For more information, go towomenleadingonclimate.org.

Quotes:

“I am privileged to work with so many fearless women who are climate leaders. We know women and girls are particularly at risk when it comes to climate change, and yet women are also at the forefront of bold climate leadership around the world. Together, women are turning ideas into solutions, and I am proud that Women Leading on Climate can be a platform to elevate this work,” says Catherine McKenna.

“I applaud the launch of the Women Leading on Climate initiative and how it so effectively builds on our work with UN Women highlighting the gendered impacts of climate change. With strong partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society we can work to enable more women to lead on the solutions we need to address climate change,” says Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland.

“Student Energy has a network of over 50,000 youth, half of whom are young women. We know how important it is to provide the funding, coaching and skills training they need to lead on energy and climate solutions. We look forward to continuing to partner with Women Leading on Climate to make sure the next generation of climate leaders is ready to implement the solutions we need and curb the impact of climate change on women globally,” says Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy.

How to participate:

• Join the Women Leading on Climate revolution at womenleadingonclimate.org
• Upload a 30-60 second video on social media with hashtag #WomenLeadingonClimate describing how climate change is impacting you and your community. We welcome submissions from people of diverse backgrounds, including sex, gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic minorities.
• Join the global livestream November 5, 3-4pm GMT at https://webapp.spotme.com/welcome/secaa21

For media inquiries:

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

What did the report find?

• 80% of youth surveyed believe their governments should take drastic actions to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, with two-thirds of youth who expressed support for decarbonization targets indicating they wanted their governments to work toward a 2030 goal rather than 2050.
• As a global average, youth ranked ‘Government willpower, policies, and regulations’ as the biggest barrier in achieving a sustainable energy transition in their respective countries – especially in Latin America (56%) and South East Asia (48%). Youth also indicated they are prepared to vote on this issue, with 83% of respondents said that they would vote for a political candidate based on their position on the energy transition.
• Government policy was chosen as the factor having the ‘most importance’ in accelerating the sustainable energy transition, with 44% of respondents choosing it as their top option. Youth in all regions also identified that governments had the most responsibility to reduce emissions.

Find the initial insights from the report at www.studentenergyoutlook.org. The full report is expected to be released in early 2022.

Student Energy launched the initial findings from the report at the Science Show Theatre as an official event of the COP26 Green Zone Programme. Several of the youth coordinators leading the project shared key insights from their region, including Chibunna Ogbonna from South Africa, Arsenii Kirgizov-Barskii from Russia, Nabila Putri Salsabila from Indonesia, and Linette Knudsen from Denmark.

The Global Youth Energy Outlook intends to bridge the gap between youth and decision-makers in governments and industry – for youth to use the Outlook as a data-backed advocacy tool, and for decision-makers to use the Outlook to understand how to meaningfully engage young people. While fully youth-led, the project received financial support from DNV, Natural Resources Canada, and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition.

Quotes:

Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy:

“The Global Youth Energy Outlook was developed by young people who are passionate about rapidly transforming the energy system. Through this 18-month process, Student Energy has seen that youth want to address the unique needs and opportunities that exist in the energy systems in their own communities, while also mounting a united global call to action. We look forward to seeing how decision-makers will build on this report to meaningfully partner with young people on the energy transition.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, Canada:

“Young people are demanding a clean energy future. I am confident that this new generation has what it takes to build it, too. With this report, they’re not only outlining what they expect from a sustainable energy transition, but how they are going to help make it happen”

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
Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 445 4306

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

What: Signing of an MOU between Student Energy and New Energy Nexus to jointly fundraise to deploy capital to 10,000 youth-led clean energy projects by 2030.  The Clean Fight to also host a panel on their New York city specific clean energy transition work. 

Where: Figure Eight in Soho at 63 Greene St, New York City

When: 2:00PM – 4:00PM ET, with MOU signing at 2:15pm, followed by a panel featuring youth energy leaders and a panel on The Clean Fight

This work has been confirmed as the only official youth compact of the United Nations High-level Dialogue on Energy.

Note that all guests must follow CDC guidelines and COVID-19 protocols and masking will be required when not eating or drinking. 

Media Contacts:

Sean Collins,  Co-Founder

Student Energy

scollins@studentenergy.org 

+1 (780) 232 0339

Katie Hoffman

New Energy Nexus

katie.hoffman@newenergynexus.com 

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