In celebration of Student Energy’s 15th anniversary, we interviewed Executive Director Helen Watts to reminisce on Student Energy’s 15 years of progress and what’s next for our burgeoning youth-empowerment and clean energy charity. We also had the opportunity to catch up with Janice Tran and Kali Taylor, two of Student Energy’s founding members, to reflect on their time with Student Energy and how this organization helped them excel in the energy industry.

The Birth of a Movement

Student Energy was established during a time when the global conversation around climate change was in its early stages. The organization’s founders, including Taylor and Tran, recognized the need to connect energy systems with environmental challenges and saw young people as critical drivers of this transformation. As Taylor recalls, the idea for the first “International Student Energy Summit” in 2009 was born out of a desire to create a space where youth could engage meaningfully in energy discussions. The overwhelming response from young people worldwide led to the formal creation of Student Energy.

“The idea for clean energy is born over 15 years ago. It was a recognition that the impacts of climate change was going to be the greatest for young people and the students were in a unique position to change it and become the leaders that the world needs.”

Janice Tran

At its core, Student Energy’s mission has been twofold: to address the climate emergency by transforming energy systems and to empower young people to take the lead in this transformation. From the outset, the organization has emphasized youth empowerment, recognizing that young leaders, with their creativity and passion, have the potential to drive innovative solutions. Many early members, like Tran, did not come from energy backgrounds but were united by their desire to make a difference. As she reflects, “It really was just a leap of faith… and the rest is history.”

Student Energy’s Growth and Evolution

From its humble beginnings, Student Energy has grown into a global organization with over 30 full-time staff and a presence in numerous countries. Helen Watts, Executive Director of Student Energy, recalls the early days when the organization operated more like a startup, with only a few staff members juggling multiple roles. “We were chasing opportunities, always on the lookout for new funding,” she explains. Today, the organization no longer has to ask for permission to be part of critical energy discussions—now, it is invited to the table.

“Student Energy has had such a massive impact on me, both personally and professionally… it’s taught me the importance of putting those big visions out there and going for them. It’s the only way we’re going to make change.”

Kali Taylor

The organization’s growth has also allowed it to focus more on long-term strategic planning. With a dedicated and expanding team, Student Energy has been able to develop programs that directly respond to the needs of young people worldwide. Watts highlights that the organization has shifted from merely surviving to thriving, allowing it to proactively create opportunities for youth to engage in the energy transition.

Empowering Youth to Tackle the Climate Emergency

Central to Student Energy’s mission is the belief that young people are key to addressing the climate emergency. Youth are disproportionately affected by decisions made today regarding energy systems, climate policies, and sustainability efforts. Yet, as Watts points out, young people are often excluded from decision-making processes. “Young people…are provided with very little agency to have decision-making power,” she notes, emphasizing the need for intergenerational equity.

 “Young people are often disregarded or thought of as disruptors who don’t understand what’s going on…even though these decisions will impact their lives more than older generations.”

Helen Watts

Student Energy has made it a priority to ensure that youth voices are not only heard but are given real influence in shaping the future of energy. The organization advocates for an energy transition that is not only sustainable but also equitable, ensuring that communities worldwide are supported and that no one is left behind.

Building a Global Network and Impact

One of Student Energy’s most significant achievements is its ability to build a global community of young leaders. Through its various programs, the organization has connected youth from different regions, providing them with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to create change in their communities. Watts emphasizes that this sense of community is one of the organization’s most powerful assets, noting that “there is such a sense of family, kinship, and camaraderie” among those involved.

“Here we are 15 years later, seeing some of those early connections making a real impact. Soon, Energy alumni are creating companies, leading multinational organizations, investing in startups, writing forward-thinking policies. I am an example of this.”

Janice Tran

Student Energy’s impact is evident in the countless success stories of youth who have taken action in their regions. For instance, students from the University of Manitoba collaborated with peers in Algeria to develop clean cooking solutions for their communities. Others have launched high school education initiatives or joined Student Energy’s board to continue shaping the organization’s future. These examples highlight the ripple effect of Student Energy’s work—by empowering one individual, the organization sparks change that reverberates through entire communities.

Looking Ahead: The Vision for 2030

As Student Energy looks toward the future, its focus is on ensuring that young people have the resources and support they need to stay engaged in the energy transition for the long term. One of the organization’s top priorities is addressing burnout among young climate activists. Watts expresses concern that young people are not receiving the support they need to sustain their involvement in the movement. To address this, Student Energy is expanding its programs to provide more comprehensive career training, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

“A big focus for us is going to be how we create more staying power in the youth, energy transition and climate movement. A real fear of mine and many, many around me is that young people are burning out very quickly and they’re not getting the support that they need to really have agency and staying power in this space.”

Helen Watts

By 2030, the organization aims to create a robust ecosystem for youth involvement in the energy sector. This vision includes expanding its careers platform to connect young people with employment opportunities and building a mentorship network that provides ongoing support. “Young people deserve to have purposeful work that’s meaningful to them,” Watts says, underscoring the importance of creating sustainable career paths in the energy transition.

Charging Forward

As Student Energy celebrates its 15th anniversary, the organization’s impact on the global energy landscape is undeniable. From its beginnings as a grassroots initiative to its current status as a global leader in youth empowerment, Student Energy has remained steadfast in its commitment to creating a just and sustainable energy future.

“What I would tell young people who are thinking about getting into this space is we need you .We absolutely need your energy, your passion, your talent in order to make the massive transition that is required of us to be able to protect the planet and give people the future that they deserve.” Kali Taylor

 Looking ahead, the organization’s vision for 2030 is clear: to continue empowering young people, fostering global connections, and ensuring that youth voices remain at the forefront of the energy transition. As Watts puts it, “This is a crisis that will not be solved by an individual… It will be solved by collective action.”

Given its strategic timing on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, New York Climate Week also offered a fantastic venue for celebrating Student Energy’s 15th anniversary, reflecting on our remarkable achievements in activating young people to accelerate the clean energy transition while at the same time looking toward our future through the release of our 2030 Vision. 

This vision centres around four key pillars we plan to prioritize over the coming years, including fostering global and local community-building through our Chapters network and bi-annual Student Energy Summit; expanding career pathways for young people in clean energy through our Career Training and Fellowship programs; providing grants to high-impact and needs-driven energy projects through our Guided Projects program; and creating new educational opportunities for youth through intergenerational collaboration and meaningful youth inclusion.

It’s these core thematic areas that guided our efforts and advocacy during New York Climate Week. In particular, Student Energy announced a new Commitment to Action as part of the Clinton Global Initiative’s (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting, which took place in New York between September 22 and 23. This 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 is delighted to join organizations such as Imagine Worldwide, Ashley Lashley Foundation, and Young Activists Summit in making a Commitment to Action, and we’ll be monitoring our progress toward our goals over the coming years. 

We also had the opportunity to learn from a number of inspiring leaders and experts in the space, through events like the Global Renewables Summit, Resilience Day: Innovating and Investing for People and Planet, and EnergyNow SDG7 Action Forum, as well as those hosted by partners and organizations like Trottier Foundation, Youth Climate Justice Fund, Women Leading on Climate, Time for Better, Rockefeller Foundation, and more. 

Speaking & Moderating Engagements

Sharing Benefits of An Inclusive Renewable Energy Transition

Helen was a speaker at the Global Renewables Alliance’s roundtable discussion, Sharing Benefits of An Inclusive Renewable Energy Transition, hosted as part of the Global Renewables Summit, in which representatives from both the private sector and civil society presented case studies and best practices for accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies, while also exploring how to ensure the energy transition is inclusive, the importance of collaboration, and how to ensure that its benefits are distributed equitably to all. 

Flipping the Script: Mobilising the Youth Perspective on Positive Tipping Points

Helen also took part in the Global Optimism-hosted event, Flipping the Script: Mobilising the Youth Perspective on Positive Tipping Points, as moderator, diving into the importance of youth leveraging storytelling and creative communications in order to amplify messages of agency and hope that are founded in the concept of positive tipping points. 

A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Climate Action: Young Practitioners and Their Role in Technology Transformation

Grace spoke at the event A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Climate Action: Young Practitioners and Their Role in Technology Transformation, hosted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which explored the technological transformations that must take place in order to address pressing sustainability issues and catalyze climate action.

Mainstreaming Gender & Youth for SDG 7: Challenges & Opportunities for Young Women Entering the Workforce

Grace further moderated a session during the Energy Now SDG 7 Action Forum, Mainstreaming Gender & Youth for SDG 7: Challenges & Opportunities for Young Women Entering the Workforce, which featured dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for mainstreaming gender and youth perspectives in support of the achievement of SDG 7 – which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all – and focused on the empowerment of women within the energy transition.

Hosted Events 

Clean Energy Career Pathways for Youth in the Global South

Student Energy was thrilled to host our very own event during New York Climate Week, in partnership with New Energy Nexus and Linked In, titled Clean Energy Career Pathways for Youth in the Global South. Drawing perspectives from Andrew Chang (Chief Growth Officer, New Energy Nexus), Hamd Akmal (Student, NYU), moderator Cammie Erickson (Senior Director of Social Impact, LinkedIn), and our very own Executive Director, Helen Watts, this event offered both inspiring and critical dialogue on the importance of engaging meaningfully with young people and providing them with necessary green skills and support to drive an inclusive and equitable clean energy transition, while also acknowledging the unique ways in which youth from the Global South are positioned to foster radical change. 

We are immensely proud of the outcomes our partnerships with both of these organizations have achieved in this regard, and we look forward to many future collaborations which continue to work to enable young people as agents of change.

Intergenerational Roundtable on the Future of Climate

On Friday, we also supported an Intergenerational Roundtable on the Future of Climate, which brought together a number of young leaders and senior leaders from various sectors and organizations to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration in order to empower youth in driving impactful climate solutions, while also amplifying youth voices and emphasizing the need to allocate resources effectively to address the climate crisis. 

This conversation developed from an understanding that youth largely remain tokenized and deprived of meaningful representation within decision-making spaces – despite the growing role they play in tackling the climate crisis and addressing the energy transition – and builds off of conversations Student Energy hosted last year in partnership with the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, which brought together youth and philanthropy to explore existing challenges, opportunities, and collaborative strategies to spur the energy transition through impactful youth-driven projects. 

Stay tuned for a full report with findings from both of these conversations! We hope that these outcomes will catalyze broader gatherings between youth and a variety of industries and sectors and foster meaningful support for youth as drivers of a sustainable energy transition and climate change action. 

Looking Forward

New York Climate Week highlighted the role and power that partnerships play to disrupt climate narratives and to ensure that we are centring the voices of youth and underrepresented communities. By mobilizing support for young people across different platforms, we aim to mainstream youth-forward perspectives, programs, and policies that support a just transition.

With New York Climate Week now behind us, we’re looking forward to rest and rejuvenation as we prepare for the end of 2024 and are excited to carry forward our successes into another impactful year. If you’re interested in learning more about our work and engagements at events, please connect with us at michelle@studentenergy.org. 

We’d love to connect with our youth network on the ground! Fill out the form below to receive relevant event invitations and speaking opportunities. 

https://bit.ly/se-nyclimateweek2024

Student Energy is thrilled to be attending Climate Week NYC 2024, one of the world’s leading gatherings on climate and energy. Leveraging this strategic event at the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, we’re looking forward to connecting with our partners, amplifying youth voices on a global stage, and celebrating our collective impact throughout Student Energy’s 15-year history. We’re also excited to unveil our new vision for 2030!

What to Expect from Student Energy at Climate Week NYC

While we’re gearing up for a week of meaningful dialogue and collaboration, here’s a quick preview of what we plan to highlight in New York City.

1. Celebrating Student Energy’s 15-year anniversary and launch of our ambitious 2030 vision.
2. Building new partnerships with public and private sector organizations to support Student Energy’s next phase of growth through 2030 and beyond.
3. Connecting with new and existing partnerships to learn and seek mentorship on priority areas for Student Energy, including scaling to meet demand for our programs.
4. Establishing and fostering regional and global relationships to support future global Student Energy on-location programming.

Clean Energy Career Pathways for Youth in the Global South

Student Energy’s 2030 vision centres around four key pillars the organization will prioritize over the coming years. One of those pillars, which is expanding career pathways for young people in clean energy, will be the focus of Student Energy’s conversations and objectives at Climate Week NYC, with an emphasis on the need for a just, people-centred transition.

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net-Zero Emissions (NZE) Scenario predicts that by 2030, as many as 14 million jobs will be created in the energy sector with five million lost in the fossil fuel industry as the world transitions towards a cleaner global energy system. With more than half of the global population under the age of 30, young people must be trained and supported now to access opportunities and accelerate growth in the renewables sectors, if these millions of green jobs are to be filled. This will support global and local sectors to avoid serious talent shortages and communities to access inclusive economic growth through the transition. 

Despite this, Student Energy’s research through the Energy Skills Transition Project has revealed a significant gap in young people’s understanding of career opportunities in the clean energy space, availability of entry-level positions, and access to relevant skills training. The clean energy sector moreover remains largely inaccessible to and exclusionary of youth, particularly Indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups.

On Thursday, September 26, from 14:00 to 16:00 ET, Student Energy, alongside leaders from New Energy Nexus and LinkedIn, will be hosting a panel discussion and networking session centred around responding to this challenge and providing tangible pathways to equipping youth with the green skills, tools, and training to drive an inclusive and equitable clean energy transition, particularly in the Global South. We’d love to have you there! Please feel free to register for the event via Eventbrite here and share the opportunity with your networks.

Other Events We’re Excited to Attend!

Student Energy will be attending a number of gatherings in New York. Here’s a small selection of events you can find us at, or ones we recommend you check out more generally! 

1. Summit of the Future (September 22-23) is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
2. Global Renewables Summit (September 23-24) is the first-ever high-level public-private summit to discuss the progress, opportunities, and challenges of tripling renewable energy globally by 2030.
3. EnergyNowSDG7 Action Forum (September 25-27) convenes leaders from government, business, civil society, and other sectors and aims at “constructively reviewing, discussing, and progressing matters pertaining to expediting action on Sustainable Development Goal 7.

The interim report of the London Climate Resilience Review defines “resilience” in accordance with the London Environment Strategy, outlining it as “the capacity of a system to bounce back from the impacts of severe pressures that may have resulted in damage.” The London Environment Strategy, created by the Office of the Mayor of London, presents a bold vision for enhancing London’s environment for the well-being of all residents through its website and an easy-to-read PDF document.

The City Resilience Framework

The event’s inciting discussion between Jo da Silva and Emma Howard Boyd focused on naming and outlining the risks posed by climate change across the UK. Each participant underscored the significant role that government and financial leaders must play in building climate resilience; The pairs emphasized that there is an increasing regional awareness about the repercussions of climate change, particularly in London.

Jo da Silva described the direct impacts of climate change as risks to our entire global society, including the loss of life and a decrease in average quality of life, damage to essential infrastructure networks, and increasingly frequent interruptions to global trade. Da Silva has been involved in city resilience work since 2007 and has been a part of the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network, contributing to projects in 10 cities across Asia. Her experience has led her to recognize the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change, which led to the City Resilience Framework set to be implemented across  200 cities worldwide. The growing impetus for major urban centers like London to take dire action is evident, given that cities are responsible for the majority of carbon dioxide emissions while accommodating 60% of the global population,  serving as major hubs in the global economy.

Therefore, the “London Climate Resilience Review” is an important document that Emma Howard Boyd has facilitated as her career in green finance has evolved over time. She worked at the fore of London Climate Resilience projects from 2016 to 2022, understanding how the government works, commissioning global adaptation, working across many boards through climate foundations, Green Finance, joint environment, and tenacious networking. If we compare Emma’s approach to what we see (or more actually do not see) in other sectors like banking, the versatility and utility of Howard Boyd’s approach is clear. 

The release of 3-minute videos by the BBC, offering recommendations and highlighting the risks of climate shocks in London, inspired Emma to launch the Climate Resilience Review, focusing on local-level actions for adaptation to achieve net zero and reduce the loss of lives by building resilience.

The final version of the review was published after the general elections, and it is available at here.

London is reaching 40 degrees

Seemingly all at once, water consumption increased, and many parts of London nearly ran out of potable water. In an act of shared community sacrifice, the city massively reduced water consumption; this is the power of collective participation, a delightful surprise to behold in action.

This type of communal living and effort is also not negotiable for a resilient city. Cities need to build networks of inter-industry, inter-community solidarity to properly defend themselves against the increasingly violent challenges posed by climate change. Through reading the “London Climate Resilience Review”, we are tasked  to think about cross-industry investment and the value of educating stakeholders and community members on what they can do when the next heatwave hits. Only through building robust systems of education and preparedness can cities hope to avoid major hazards from climate change.

The impact on global youth

Even though the conversation did not directly address the involvement of the youth, through networking, we were able to discuss this key demographic’s potential and the role of the next generation of leaders in the energy and climate spaces. Globally, youth are one of the most vulnerable populations to the effects of climate change. High temperatures can impact air quality, affect student learning and productivity, and even influence behavior. Youth also possess limited capital and economic agency when compared to previous generations, limiting their ability to achieve self-sufficiency in the face of a changing climate.

By collaborating globally and intentionally fostering the involvement of young actors and leaders, we can empower the new generation to drive creative climate solutions that will bring a cleaner future for all. This point is also highlighted in the preliminary report as a recommendation to the Mayor of London, which urges London’s participation in initiatives such as the Global Challenge Lab, which organizes a competition for students to generate innovation toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the report’s suggestions, it is made clear that the best way to build adaptable and resilient cities is for individuals, officials, and the city itself, to want to belong to something bigger: a global movement of climate resilience.

The London Climate Resilience Review

The review examines actions required at national, regional, and local levels to reduce climate change impacts in London. It emphasizes ensuring that vulnerable populations will benefit from adaptation efforts and helps all Londoners prepare for and recover from climate-related events.  Vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change is not felt evenly throughout London’s demographics; according to research by CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), low-income households, elderly people, marginalized and minority communities, children and youth, as well as vulnerable health groups are consistently the most vulnerable to climate hazards across the UK’s local authorities.

Howard Boyd’s review recommends embracing an adaptive pathways approach to empowering decision-makers, where organizations, private companies, and governmental institutions proactively plan for future climate hazards by remaining agile to the latest climate science, growth projections, and changes in the local environment. At a roundtable hosted for the review, one participant emphasized the power of adaptation in imagining the desired future. The London Plan propels action through policies on crucial areas such as overheating and cooling, urban greening, and flood risk management. Here’s why:

London’s Climate Risks

• • Heat.

In July 2022, London hit 40°C, resulting in significant impacts such as wildfires, strain on emergency services, and infrastructure breakdown. Heat exposure led to substantial labor hours lost and a rise in heat-related deaths. Additionally, rising temperatures have been linked to increased violent crimes and impacts on mental health.

• • Drought

In England, the public water supply faces a potential shortfall of nearly 4 billion liters of water per day by 2050. London is already experiencing water stress, with high temperatures leading to increased water consumption and low reservoir levels. The economic costs of drought in 2012 were substantial, and a water shortage could cost London’s economy £500 million per day. Solutions include building a new reservoir, investing in leak reduction, implementing smart metering, and educating the public about water efficiency. 

• • Rising  Sea Levels 

London’s current river defenses protect homes, infrastructure, and businesses. With sea levels expected to rise, proactive action is needed to strengthen the Thames’ defenses and invest in London’s riverside.

• • Surface Water Flooding

The flooding in London in July 2021 caused major disruption and flooded over 2,000 properties with stormwater and sewage. More than 30 tube stations were affected, and hospital wards were evacuated. According to Zurich UK, flooding from torrential rain threatens 42% of the capital’s 301,000 commercial buildings. The average cost of flooding to a home is £30,000 and £82,000 to a business. Additionally, the increase in winter rainfall has led to wetter conditions for football and rugby union, resulting in the cancellation of around 120,000 games per season.

• • Wildfires

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity around the world and London is no exception. These fires are a growing threat to London’s rural/urban interface, as shown at Wanstead Flats in 2018 and Wennington in July 2022. More focus should be on prevention and the preservation of biodiversity must be considered in any wildfire strategy. However, London has not yet developed a formal strategy for managing wildfires.

• • Wider Climate Risk

Even though the framework approaches cities at their individual levels, London is susceptible to climate-related disasters from other parts of the world as no city on Earth can consider itself truly insulated from the movements and currents of geopolitics. Severe storms, flooding, and droughts can disrupt energy and food supply, and lead to migration and conflicts; the potential emergence of tropical diseases is also a concern. As climate change and its effects continue to alter the way humans see each other and our “resources,” several experts predict an increase in global political instability. Being aware of this fact can help Londoners stay informed and aware of the changing world around them.

Building from London Climate Resilience

Throughout London Climate Resilience, the following principles have evolved to  guide action on climate adaptation and the implementation of its recommendations:

1. When adapting London to climate change, it’s important to prioritize the needs of the people, involve local leadership, reduce vulnerability, and address socio-economic and racial inequality.

2. Climate change adaptation should be integrated into decision-making at all levels, and organizations should ensure that adaptation efforts are supported at a strategic level and clearly assigned responsibility.

3. Climate change adaptation should be coordinated with efforts to achieve net zero emissions for a comprehensive approach.

4. Adaptive pathways approaches are encouraged. Given climate change’s unpredictability, it’s crucial to remain flexible while addressing known risks and critical thresholds.

• •  Supporting decision-makers in identifying suitable actions for now and the future.
  • Helping institutions, organizations, and private companies prepare for future climate risks by staying updated on the latest climate science, growth projections, investment opportunities, and other changes in the local environment to enable better planning.

5. Prioritizing nature-based solutions is crucial at all times. These solutions involve safeguarding, overseeing, and rejuvenating both natural and human-altered ecosystems to tackle societal problems. By addressing issues like climate change, human health, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction, these solutions can benefit both people and nature.

The experience of attending a climate resilience review event of this type made it clear how many hardworking-devoted people are invested in completing this type of essential work and organization, but also that there is much more to be done. London is also only a single city, situated in a part of the world with a historically greater access to wealth and resources. How might the problems Londoners are facing be impacting others in parts of the world with less overall development? We hope to see Climate Resilience Plans begin to populate the world, while we continue to advocate for a greener, cleaner, future.

The London Climate Resilience Review document can be reviewed here.

Last month, Student Energy organized the Net Zero World Café event for all energy-interested members of the McGill University and Greater Montreal communities. Michelle Balderston, Assistant to the Executive Director at Student Energy, oversaw the planning and facilitation of this meet-up as an instance of our Research and Youth Engagement program’s Net Zero in Our Neighbourhood research project which seeks to bring clean energy discussions directly to local communities.

Helen Watts, Executive Director at Student Energy, attended the ChangeNOW 2024 in Paris, France, and participated in a panel covering the Clean Energy Revolution. Helen shares the importance of ensuring youth and community are core considerations of all climate and energy solutions.

In this post, we’ll hear from Michelle and Helen about their experiences and learnings participating in these events!

Net Zero World Café

Michelle shares, “Last month, I had the pleasure of supporting Student Energy’s Net Zero World Café in Montréal. Our goal was to bring together community members across a range of backgrounds and interests to explore the world of net zero across local and national contexts. We succeeded on this point, as we welcomed attendees with expertise spanning engineering, arts, sciences, and beyond, all bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to the conversation. 

Through a roundtable format, we had the opportunity to dig into net zero across three critical sectors — transportation, waste, and buildings — and explore a wide range of challenges and opportunities for driving net-zero progress within Montréal and beyond. From advocating for more net zero-related educational initiatives to conducting clothing swaps, rethinking transportation as communal, or getting involved in public consultations, I was inspired by how much these conversations emphasized the immense potential of climate action at a local level and through community collaboration. 

I’ll also speak on behalf of our attendees to say that we were absolutely privileged to hear from McGill community member Rebecca Kresta, a mechanical engineer currently pursuing a master’s in Public Policy. Rebecca really served to reinforce the connections between local and national-level sustainability initiatives we were trying to emphasize and accentuated the role that all professions and sectors have to play in achieving net zero goals. 

Reflecting on how my knowledge of net zero has grown throughout the planning of and participation in this project, one of my key takeaways is that everyone can contribute to our collective journey towards a more sustainable energy system and net zero future — through actions big and small. Also, community building is so critical! As we wrapped up the night with networking over doughnuts and drinks, it was so heartening to receive such lovely and overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, emphasizing how important it is to be able to connect with others from within their communities, as these are truly the venues for some of the most meaningful and innovative ideas to take place.”

ChangeNOW 2024

Helen shares, “At the ChangeNOW 2024 Conference, I had the opportunity to participate in a fireside chat during the Clean Energy Revolution session, following a panel with leaders from the Shift Project, Schneider Electric, Sweetch Energy and Okra Solar to discuss community-led clean energy, technology and financial access. I highlighted stories from our Global Youth Energy Outlook, how youth are calling for action from decision-makers and what meaningful partnerships and power sharing with young people looks like in practice. 

Getting ourselves on track to triple renewable energy globally requires a massive jobs boom in the clean energy sector. We will not succeed in a transition that is socially just, economically positive, and community and industry needs-aligned if we do not prioritize these critical five years to support young people ages 18 to 30 to move into the sector.  Research and data developed by youth organizations, industry and intergovernmental organizations point to the reality of a significant and growing gap between young people passionate about energy issues and sectors trying to recruit talent.

Young people are hungry for meaningful jobs where they can access secure livelihoods while making an impact on climate and energy needs, and we have all the tools and knowledge we need to create an enabling environment for accessing jobs. What we still need is a scale-up of resources and forward-thinking policies to create an enabling environment, and we need a willingness to adapt from academia and industry recruitment. Organizations like Student Energy work to fill in the gaps for young people to learn how to develop and communicate their soft skills, market themselves effectively, and navigate an increasingly murky and complex job market. 

I had the opportunity to talk about our experiences at Student Energy to bridge this skills gap through programs like Student Energy Career Training, which provides youth with hands-on energy project experience with partner organizations, including Okra Solar. I also spoke about the ways in which our programs centre community building as a catalyst for empowering youth within the clean energy space, the importance of inclusive and accessible workforce training programs, and meaningful youth inclusion within the energy sector across all forums and decision-making spaces.”

Where would you like to see Student Energy?

Student Energy is active at global stages, attending events, expanding our reach, and growing our network of young energy leaders! It will always remain a priority of ours to bring nuanced, critical, optimistic insight into the energy industry, and to do so with youth skills and opportunities at front of mind.

Here you’ve seen just two quick ways that we practice outreach and community-building both in Canada and abroad; this is something we’re doing year round! Where might we see you next?

Connect with us:

Instagram: @studentenergy 

Twitter: @studentenergy 

LinkedIn: Student Energy

Facebook: Student Energy

YouTube: Student Energy

TikTok: @studentenergy

Threads: @studentenergy

Website & Blog: https://studentenergy.org/

Last February, Student Energy was delighted to talk about our Theory of Change at GLOBEForum 24 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Between the 13th and 15th of February, hundreds of climate-conscious change makers converged to forge new connections, strengthen existing bonds, and provide a space for keen intergenerational engagement on key climate issues.

This year’s forum theme was “The Future is Regenerative,” exemplifying the event’s commitment to youth empowerment and sustainability. GLOBE Series operates as part of Profoundry, a collective of like-minded sustainability and climate experts dedicated to helping organizations create positive sustainable change. The group, including Delphi, CBSR, and Leading Change, is collectively focused on achieving its vision: a more sustainable, prosperous, and just future for the next generation of changemakers.

Last time, we shared the GlobeForum experience of Piper, our Chapters Coordinator. Today, we are thrilled to feature Julie Boyce, our Career Training Manager, and share her experience taking part in the event. For Julie, GLOBEForum 24 served as a source of climate optimism, thanks to the voices of youth being centered.

Julie Boyce: Healthy, Respectful, Collaborative Spaces for Youth

This past February 13-15 I had the privilege to attend both the Leading Change and GLOBEForum 2024 as a youth delegate representing Student Energy. For those who don’t know me let me introduce myself; I am a thirty year old caucasian female settler on the stolen lands of Turtle Island, I have a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria, and work as a Program Manager for the global Student Energy Career Training program. 

“My mission is to use my social work education to support global youth through enhancing their skills, raising critical awareness, and advocating for meaningful opportunities while uplifting youth as resourceful, resilient experts on addressing the energy transition and related climate crises in their communities.”

I myself come from a rural Alberta where my community was predominantly influenced by the mining industry, and experienced social and economic devastation after Alberta transitioned away from coal, and just this past summer was gravely impacted by the wildfires due to global warming. 

Left to right: Piper, Julie and the Leading Change delegation, Julie and Pattie Gonia, The Canadian Cleantech panel.

When I first learned the conference theme “The Future is Regenerative,” admittedly I scoffed. As a young professional fully immersed in the energy and climate change space, my personal future has often felt bleak because of my ongoing dance with climate distress. To my surprise after the three day conference I felt hope for the future. I applaud Leading Change for creating safe and brave spaces for young professionals (19-35) from diverse lived experiences, education, work backgrounds to share our perspectives and opinions about our net-zero future that is just, equitable and fair. They created space for us to have healthy, respectful and collaborative conversations about truly difficult topics. 

The organizers did a phenomenal job of creating safety for their youth delegates by creating the Leading Change delegate badges in a vibrant red color that instantly provided a sense of relief when I was navigating the GLOBE event space because I could always locate another delegate to talk to if I was feeling intimidated. Industry leaders, innovators, workers and activists actively engaged Leading Change delegates through numerous intergenerational networking opportunities.

“Throughout the event I felt privileged to connect with thoughtful professionals who were willing to listen to the perspectives of youth delegates, engaging in meaningful conversations that drive progress forward.”

I was drawn to the panels, workshops, and dialogues about critical minerals, Canada’s net-zero electricity grid, Indigenous leadership, climate resilient infrastructure, the just transition, and public private partnerships towards net-zero emissions. The knowledge sharing was invaluable, and I was most inspired by the Canadian Cleantech Leadership Panel that highlighted leading Canadian cleantech companies by sharing their perspectives on advancing innovative solutions to achieving net-zero while also speaking to their limitations. I was delighted to see Apoorv Sinha, co-founder and CEO of Carbon Upcycling, a previous Career Training partner, who spoke to the importance of mobilizing government support towards cleantech to have a more inclusive and just transition to Canada’s net-zero future. 

Annabelle Liao of G7 Research Group with Julie Boyce, and waterside Vancouver

My biggest takeaway from my experience as a Leading Change delegate at GLOBE Forum is the immense potential for conferences to learn from each other about creating meaningful youth engagement. This ensures young people feel safe and confident to contribute actively to dialogues, networking, and collaborative actions aimed at transforming the world toward a sustainable, equitable, and just net-zero future for everyone.

More Blog Content to Come…

Thanks for sharing your unique perspective on GLOBEForum 24 and Leading Change’s inclusion of youth this past February, Julie! Over the next year we are going to make it a priority to amplify the diverse voices of the Student Energy team through our blog. You can expect to see more retrospectives on events, key takeaways and points to consider on emerging renewable solutions, and a continued commitment to highlighting the accomplishments of our vast network of program participants.

Do you have any idea for a future blog post and you’re a participant in one of our programs? Contact your Student Energy Coordinator and let them know! We would sincerely love to hear from you.

This February, Student Energy was delighted to represent our Theory of Change at GLOBEForum 24 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Between the 13th and 15th of the month, hundreds of climate-conscious change makers converged to forge new connections, strengthen existing bonds, and provide a space for keen intergenerational engagement on key climate issues.

This year’s forum theme was “The Future is Regenerative,” exemplifying the event’s commitment to youth empowerment and sustainability. GLOBE Series operates as part of Profoundry, a collective of like-minded sustainability and climate experts dedicated to helping organizations create positive sustainable change. The group, including Delphi, CBSR, and Leading Change, is collectively focused on achieving its vision: a more sustainable, prosperous, socially just future within a generation.

In GLOBE’s own words:

The world is rising to meet the immense social, economic, and environmental challenges of our time, and there are more opportunities to create value in the clean economy than ever before. It is no longer enough to simply reduce our environmental impact or repair the damage that has already been done.

We need to rethink what’s possible, reimagine our economy, and reach beyond sustainability to regeneration.

Student Energy was fortunate to have several members of our team in attendance: Danii Kehler representing SevenGen, Julie Boyce representing Student Energy Career Training, and Piper Stump representing our global Chapters program! Piper was eager to share her reflections and takeaways from her participation in GLOBEForum24 with the Student Energy community.

Left to right: Piper Stump, Danii Kehler, Julie Boyce.

Piper’s Key Takeaways

This past week I attended LCForum24 and GLOBEForum as one of over 120 young sustainability leaders in Leading Change’s 2024 delegation! 

This conference was an incredible opportunity to connect intergenerationally with sustainability leaders across Canada on key issues that we as a nation face such as achieving net-zero targets, building a regenerative future, and the importance of intersectional, equitable, and diverse inclusion. A few of my favorite takeaways from my time at the GLOBEForum include:

• Pattie Gonia’s not only inspiring message to use nature as a mentor in business and in leading us to a regenerative future (“nature’s leadership is circular”), but also by kicking the conference off with a brilliantly rain-themed drag performance (perhaps the most epic start to any conference I will ever attend?).

• Both Maya Colombani and Jane McDonald’s insight into corporate sustainability and the importance of transparent and humble communication of sustainability impact and goals within the private sector. Following the discussion of “greenhushing,” Maya spoke on the “right to fail”, and how publicly acknowledging missed targets is a crucial step in achieving sustainability targets. 

• Lastly, Kat Cadungog’s closing message, urging organizations to take imminent action was especially empowering. She called for groups to be willing to learn from mistakes and contribute meaningfully to our economy and communities by putting plans in action tomorrow. Taking incremental steps everyday is imperative to achieving our 2030 and 2050 climate and net zero goals. 

Piper and Pattie, The Canada Cleantech Leadership Pitch Panel, and Annabelle Liao of G7 Research Group with Julie Boyce.

There were so many takeaways from this event and I am having a hard time expressing only a few but I truly appreciate the authentic intergenerational collaboration facilitated by GLOBE and Leading Change and am delighted to have had this opportunity to meet so many wonderful changemakers from across the country. 

I will leave you with these absolutely fundamental quotes from Pattie Gonia:

 “That commitment to bridging differences leads to innovation and momentum that enables the climate and #sustainability movement to go forward, and really speaks to the importance of embedding that diversity as a core value of this movement.”

“Everyone has heard the phrase, this team is operating like a well-oiled machine – but how different does it feel to say, this team is thriving like a well-nurtured meadow?”

More to come…

Stay tuned, because we have more to share! Coming later this month, Julie Boyce, the Program Manager for Student Energy Career Training will share her insights on the GLOBEForum’s unique position as an intergenerational space for discussion and youth empowerment, as well as her noted areas of growth and opportunity for similar events in the future!

The ASES Solar conference held space for presentations, discussions, and speakers for both working professionals and youth to co-learn about social justice aspects of the energy sector– such as women in solar, intergenerational discussions on mentorship, and youth entering the labour market to name a few. The event ran from August 8-11th but I arrived in Boulder on the 10th, leaving me with little time to enjoy the rest of the conference. I was, however, lucky enough to listen in on a “Young Professionals” panel discussion on youth sharing their strategic ways on networking, and navigating their early career challenges in the renewable energy sector. The latter half of the session allotted for a rotating speed networking session with the youth panelists, where I participated and learned some common, yet relevant challenges that young people face in entering the green jobs market. Youth with backgrounds in engineering, public policy, and STEM research find it challenging to find meaningful work, and shared various ways such as pitching project ideas or research topics as a way to show their initiative and proactiveness in their work-learn opportunities and internships. Connecting with these young professionals informed me the same stories of all other young people globally who are passionate change makers, and have grit to make meaningful difference in the energy transition movement, but are struggling to enter the industry. Feeling even more inspired by this experience, I channeled the same level of positivity into delivering Student Energy’s workshop that speaks to the very nature of this conversation– how young people can enter the energy transition labour market. 

The workshop drew key insights from Student Energy’s recently published report “Energy Transitions Skills Project” and its own 14 years of youth engagement to provide some actionable recommendations on how youth can take hold of their own energy careers. I walk through the importance of reflecting values, desires, and skills before job searching as a way to remind young people what is important to them when selecting a career; and relating their values to the labour market demand will make it easier for them to target their job search. Later, I facilitated a storytelling session where participants pitch their stories amongst themselves as a practice run for future networking opportunities with industry professionals. While there was low attendance in the workshop, the youth who participated were very engaged and happy to share their stories and connect with one another. 

Sharing recommendations to young people to be part of the energy movement gives me joy as I was in the same position a couple of years ago–I did not know how to apply my own unique skills and lived experiences in the energy transition industry, and felt severe imposter syndrome as a result. I still am continuously navigating through this rhythm of learning collectively as I engage with other youth on how we can intercept high-level decision-making spaces, and make our voices heard through our work. From learning about energy education through the Leaders Fellowship Program, to now working as Research and Youth Engagement Special Projects Coordinator, Student Energy has expanded my potential in the way I see myself, and how to creatively apply my own unique skills in the energy space. This experience has given me the opportunity to connect with other brilliant minds that give me the optimistic feeling of a positive transformation of the energy industry, and preparing for the next generation of leaders to confidently reclaim and re-write their futures. 

“Clean Cooking is a youth issue. 90% of the world’s youth live in regions with the lowest access to clean cooking. This disproportionately impacts youth education, employment, and health.” – Katja Lasseur, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ghana, at the Forum’s Opening Plenary

Youth are taking action – as entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and more – to raise awareness and improve access to clean cooking solutions in their communities and countries, but often lack reliable access to youth-inclusive opportunities to participate as equitable stakeholders across the clean cooking ecosystem.

Photo courtesy of the Clean Cooking Alliance at the Clean Cooking Forum 2022

First-ever youth delegation at the Clean Cooking Forum 2022

In October 2022, The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) partnered with Student Energy to support a delegation of 20 global youth to participate in the Clean Cooking Forum in Accra, Ghana.  

The Clean Cooking Forum is the sector’s flagship event, convening leading policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, donors, and other key partners working towards achieving clean cooking for all and accelerating progress toward global development and climate goals. The addition of a youth delegation to the Forum recognizes and celebrates the vital role of youth in realizing these ambitions.

The delegation included 20 diverse participants from 14 countries, identified through Student Energy and CCA’s youth networks.  Delegates from across Sub-Saharan Africa, where the lack of clean cooking is particularly pronounced,  made up 70% of the youth delegation, and more than 50% of delegates were women, acknowledging the gender equity dimensions of the issue.

Delegates not only had the opportunity to attend the Forum plenary and breakout sessions, innovation expo, and networking receptions, but many of the youth delegates participated as speakers, moderators, and exhibitors throughout the three-day event.  For example, the session, “Changemakers of Today: Youth Advancing Sustainable Action,” featured a panel of six young entrepreneurs and innovators discussing how they are tackling clean cooking challenges and the support youth need to scale their efforts.

“From where I stand, clean cooking is not just about food. It transcends the goings-on confined to the kitchen and spills into health, gender equality, economic gains and sustainable societies.”- Cherop Soy, Ecowarrior Kenya and Youth Delegate at the 2022 Clean Cooking Forum

Student Energy supported delegates with preparatory and interactive webinars focused on presentation and networking skills, and provided on-site support and a post-event debrief. Delegates were able to share their expertise through speaking engagements, engage in discussions about youth involvement in decision-making, and help spread the forum’s key messaging by taking on communication roles. The active involvement of young people at the forum led to greater ambition from stakeholders in collaborating with them on clean cooking initiatives.

Photo courtesy of the Clean Cooking Alliance at the Clean Cooking Forum 2022

Intergenerational Roundtable on Youth Engagement in Clean Cooking

On the final day of the Clean Cooking Forum, an Intergenerational Roundtable on Youth Engagement in Clean Cooking brought together eminent senior leaders from the clean cooking sector to engage in dialogue with the youth delegation and other youth attending the Forum. The Roundtable was designed to showcase the emerging talent of young changemakers to participate in clean cooking transitions, understand the challenges young people are encountering in the sector, and discuss how senior leaders can support youth-led change and create an enabling and inclusive environment for youth to acquire, develop and utilize their skills.

More than 15 youth participants were joined by senior leaders, including H.E. Samira Bauwmia, Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana Dymphna van der Lans, CEO of Clean Cooking Alliance; Sheila Oparaocha, Director of the ENERGIA Network; and Mohan Das Manandhar, Chairperson at Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Nepal, in an interactive discussion facilitated by Jaff Marilyn Bongmo, a youth delegate from Cameroon. 

Photo courtesy of the Clean Cooking Alliance at the Clean Cooking Forum 2022

The lively dialogue explored why inclusive youth participation is vital for achieving universal access to clean cooking and the challenges youth currently face in having their voices heard, getting a seat at decision-making tables, and accessing opportunities for meaningful engagement.  

Participants discussed a variety of ways to increase intergenerational collaboration, empower youth leaders, and support education and capacity-building activities in the clean cooking sector.

“Clean Cooking is a youth issue. First and foremost young people need to be creative participants and at the center of solutions. Young people also benefit from clean cooking from access to health, education and employment opportunities.” – Helen Watts, Executive Director of Student Energy

Youth Delegation Calls to Action

Following the Forum, the Youth Delegation developed the following calls to action, which focus both on what youth themselves can do to effectively self-organize and increase momentum behind this cause, and what organizations and decision-makers should do to ensure that youth are meaningfully included across the clean cooking ecosystem:

1. Stakeholders in the clean cooking sector should proactively work to ensure that youth are equally represented at the table and have their core needs met, in able to meaningfully participate. 
2. Capacity building for youth does not end with providing skills training. Youth must also be provided with industry opportunities to use these skills and connect them to the market.
3. Stakeholders across the clean cooking ecosystem must recognize and work to remove barriers that limit the participation of youth, women, and marginalized communities, actively creating incentives and opportunities for inclusive engagement, training, and employment in the clean cooking sector.
4. Established leaders in the clean cooking sector should leverage the power of youth as changemakers and innovators: this can be particularly valuable in the form of mentorship, which is a two-way learning process.
5. There is no one way to contribute to clean cooking. Young people should seek actionable ways to participate in clean cooking, leaning into their unique skills and expertise – as entrepreneurs, engineers, storytellers, artists, and beyond.
6. Young people should collaborate to form a unified effort, which requires working at a grassroots level with students and other youth and being ready to present clearly defined, data-driven asks when they have seats at the decision-making table or a chance to speak directly with established leaders. 

Photo courtesy of the Clean Cooking Alliance at the Clean Cooking Forum 2022

Youth Insights Feature: Check out youth delegate Cherop Soy’s blog post “What Clean Cooking Isn’t” for more insights gathered by young people at the forum on clean cooking.

Conclusion: Clean cooking is a youth issue

The Clean Cooking Forum 2022, placed young changemakers at the forefront of the clean cooking dialogue, with youth and senior leaders aligned on the urgent need for action and the essential role young people will play in achieving universal access. 

“The places where the biggest gaps on clean cooking have the highest youth populations. Youth are on the ground and have the knowledge to bring”. –Akil Callendar, Youth Specialist at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), at the Forum’s Youth Closing Plenary

CCA continues to recognize the vital role of youth in achieving universal access to clean cooking and has recently undertaken a youth consultation process and interactive webinar to inform its forthcoming youth engagement strategy.  

Student Energy is excited to continue working with CCA in 2023 and beyond in expanding the youth engagement agenda in clean cooking. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements and activities to help youth act and lead on clean cooking in their countries and communities.

About Clean Cooking Alliance

Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the three billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, CCA is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive.

Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping consumers save time and money.

About Student Energy

Student Energy is a global youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition through a variety of initiatives, including university-based Chapters, a digital Energy System Map that has reached over 13 million views, and the largest student-led energy conference in the world. Student Energy works with a network of 50,000 young people from over 120 countries to build the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to take action on energy.

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