At Student Energy, we believe that we can always further the just energy transition, and the role youth play in that transition, by pointing to positive examples where we see youth-led change already taking place. This blog explores how four diverse countries—Kenya, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Timor-Leste—are promoting youth involvement in climate and energy issues, reflecting on the unique approaches and common themes that characterize their efforts.

Kenya

Kenya, a country that has faced significant environmental challenges, has been proactive in engaging its youth in climate action and energy transition. The involvement of young people in these areas is seen as crucial not only for addressing current environmental issues but also for ensuring a future that young Kenyans feel they will be adequately represented in.

Youth in Kenya demand stronger action on climate change.

One of the key platforms for youth engagement in Kenya is the Kenya Youth Climate Action Network (KYCN). This network brings together young people from across the country to advocate for climate action and participate in environmental decision-making. KYCN members are involved in policy discussions, climate forums, and environmental campaigns, ensuring that youth voices are heard at both local and national levels. The Youth Congress of Kenya provides another important avenue for youth engagement. This platform gives young people the opportunity to engage with policymakers on various issues, including climate and energy. By amplifying youth voices in national development processes, the Youth Congress plays a vital role in ensuring that the perspectives of young people are included in decision-making.

Kenya has made significant strides in ensuring youth representation in climate policy-making. The National Climate Change Council includes youth representatives, ensuring that the concerns and perspectives of younger generations are considered in national climate policies and strategies. This inclusion is further supported by the Kenya Climate Change Act, 2016, which mandates the participation of marginalized groups, including youth, in climate-related decision-making processes.

Ireland

Ireland, a country with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, has been at the forefront of involving youth in climate and energy decision-making. Recognizing the importance of youth perspectives, Ireland has implemented a range of initiatives to ensure that young people are active participants in shaping the country’s environmental policies.

One of the key initiatives in Ireland is the National Youth Assembly on Climate, which brings together young people from across the country to discuss climate issues and provide input into national policies. This assembly ensures that youth voices are heard in shaping Ireland’s climate action plans, allowing them to contribute to the country’s response to climate change.

Scenes of Dublin, Ireland and the homepage for Comhairle na nÓg.

Ireland has a strong tradition of supporting youth organizations that focus on climate and energy issues. Comhairle na nÓg, a nationwide initiative, gives young people a voice in the development of local and national policies. Members of Comhairle na nÓg have been involved in discussions on climate action and environmental policies, contributing to the country’s efforts to address climate change.

Youth representation in policy-making is a key priority for Ireland. The country appoints Youth Delegates to the UN, who represent Ireland at international forums such as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP). These delegates ensure that the perspectives of Irish youth are brought to the global stage, advocating for stronger international action on climate change. Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council also includes youth representatives, ensuring that the concerns of younger generations are considered in the country’s climate policies. This inclusion is a reflection of Ireland’s commitment to intergenerational equity and the recognition that young people have a vital role to play in shaping the future.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands has taken significant steps to involve youth in the country’s energy transition and climate action. The Dutch government recognizes that young people are essential stakeholders in achieving the country’s sustainability goals and has implemented various initiatives to ensure their active participation. The Youth Climate Summit is one of the key platforms for youth engagement in the Netherlands. This summit brings together young people from across the country to discuss climate challenges and propose solutions. The outcomes of these summits are often presented to government officials and integrated into national climate strategies, ensuring that youth perspectives are considered in decision-making processes.

The Netherlands also appoints Youth Delegates to the UN, who represent the country at international forums such as the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP). These delegates play a crucial role in bringing the perspectives of Dutch youth to global climate negotiations, advocating for stronger international action on climate change. Dutch youth have been actively involved in the drafting of the National Climate Agreement, which outlines the country’s strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Youth organizations were consulted during the development of this agreement, ensuring that the perspectives of young people were included in the final policy.

The Dutch Youth Council (NJR) is another important platform for youth engagement in the Netherlands. The NJR represents Dutch youth in various policy discussions, including those related to climate and energy. By collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations, the NJR ensures that youth voices are considered in decision-making processes. The Dutch government’s Climate Agreement includes provisions for the participation of young people in its implementation. The agreement recognizes the importance of intergenerational equity and the role of youth in achieving the country’s climate goals. Additionally, the National Youth Policy emphasizes the involvement of youth in all areas of national development, including environmental sustainability and energy.

Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste, a young and developing nation, has been increasingly recognizing the importance of involving youth in decision-making processes related to climate change and energy. While the country is still building its institutional frameworks and capacities, several initiatives have been launched to engage young people in these critical issues. The National Youth Council of Timor-Leste (CNJTL) serves as a platform for young people to engage in discussions on national policies, including those related to the environment and sustainable development. The council advocates for the inclusion of youth perspectives in decision-making processes at both local and national levels.

Mangrove restoration projects are an essential part of Timor Leste’s resilience plan.

Timor-Leste’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), which focuses on climate change adaptation, has involved youth in its consultations and planning. The program acknowledges the role of young people in building resilience to climate impacts in communities across the country. Timor-Leste’s government, in collaboration with NGOs, has integrated environmental education into the school curriculum, teaching students about climate change, energy conservation, and sustainable practices. Programs focused on Climate Resilience and Adaptation Training, often supported by international organizations like the UNDP, equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to address climate-related challenges in their communities. This and more is outlined in Timor Leste’s National Adaptation Plan that outlines how the country will meet the challenges of climate change and foster resilience among its citizens in the process.

Youth in Timor-Leste are actively involved in community-based initiatives, such as Mangrove Restoration Projects and agricultural adaptation initiatives. These projects not only contribute to climate adaptation but also provide young people with opportunities to engage in environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture practices.

A Shared Commitment to Youth Engagement

Across Kenya, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Timor-Leste, there’s a shared belief that youth must be involved in climate and energy decisions. Despite different approaches, the core idea is the same—youth are essential stakeholders, not just future leaders. 

These countries show that when young people have the platforms and support to engage, they can make a real impact. As we tackle climate change, the voices and actions of young people are crucial for shaping a sustainable future.

To learn more about how you can further the just energy transition in your community, head to www.studentenergy.org/research and get reading! We have numerous youth-focused reports that will help you build your energy transition toolkit!

For my experience, I participated in their “Yukon Exploration” program which was mostly centered at the Kluane Lake Research Station located just outside of Kluane National Park. To argue that spending five days at a research station set amidst one of the most serene landscapes I’ve ever seen was merely transformational, does not capture the full magnitude of this experience. Kluane National Park houses the largest nonpolar icefields in the world and acts as a global hub for researchers exploring topics connected to climate change, sustainability, reconciliation, and conservation to name a portion of the prevalent issues studied at the station. During our time at the research station we had the chance to learn directly from climate science researchers, hear from Parks Canada conservation and management staff, spend time with local Indigenous communities, and hike throughout the park. From my perspective, the goal of this experience was to expose youth participants to the interconnectedness of social and ecological problems our world faces, and to help build a foundation for change based on traditional Indigenous Ways of Knowing and scientific research methodology. My trip’s educational programming was, of course, combined with breathtakingly bright night skies, campfires, group bonding activities, and daily cold plunges in the frigid glacier-filled lake.

When I look to unravel this experience, a few core takeaways stand out to me. Shortly after we arrived at the research station, instructors told us about the Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the area, informed us that we were expected to bring bear spray with us at all times, and to always let someone know where we were going. This protocol was met with a noticeable level of anxiety from the group, as many of us had spent most of our lives living in areas where the local predator population had been eradicated. It wasn’t until we spent time with local Indigenous Elders that my perspective surrounding bears–or humans’ interconnection to the natural world more broadly–was forever changed. 

Wilderness right outside of Ryan’s bunk, a spoon carved from a moose antler, Ryan’s hand placed next to a Grizzly paw print in the sand.

Through conversations with the Indigenous Elders, I became aware of how disconnected I have been from a vibrant and intact ecosystem, and the feeling of humility and awareness that comes from it. Growing up I played in forests filled with deer, raccoons, coyotes, and squirrels thinking that was normal. What escaped me was that during my grandfather’s childhood he would play in those same forests, where then there were moose, wolves, and bears that he could have encountered. 

I feel personally fortunate to have gotten to learn from Indigenous Elders who share ancestors with those who have spent thousands of years coexisting with the animals around them, while granting them the respect, awareness, and protection they deserve. My experience leaves me wanting to help shape communities towards a healthier connection with the natural world. Humanity exists inseparably within nature; our species is not above nor separate from it. We are meant to walk alongside the natural world rather than trample through it.

I was also quite shocked to see the landscape-altering effects of a glacier that no longer feeds into Kluane Lake, and wondered what was happening to this pristine watershed. Being on the outskirts of the largest nonpolar ice deposit in the world has a way of inspiring conversations about the impacts of climate change by default, but Kluane Lake is Yukon’s largest lake and the glacier that was its main feed source is now being diverted to Alaska. Each day as I would gaze across the lake I could see the sediment blow around, left over from the dried-up riverbed, leaving me to wonder what would happen to the watershed if the glacier didn’t divert back. Although this change carries a negative connotation for many who have observed the phenomenon, we received a glimmer of hope from James Allen, former Chief of the Champaign & Aishihik people. When we were visiting the ‘Shakat Tun Wilderness Camp’, a trapline owned by the Allen family for countless generations, James told us the story of the same thing happening 400 years ago and reminded us to always have humility when it came to our relationship with Mother Earth. This experience connected me to the pulse of an ancient landscape and taught me how my preconceived ideas of what is ‘normal’ or ‘natural’ in an area is often restricted by the shallow understanding afforded by the relative shortness of my own life. I was grateful to learn from James and his family, and be reminded to always seek Indigenous knowledge when addressing environmental and social issues affecting a region and population.

Participating in Howl and having the opportunity to travel to the Yukon- a place at the forefront of social and environmental research, rich in Indigenous culture, and full of serene landscapes- deeply transformed my personal and professional life. When we were in Whitehorse, we visited the Yukon University and heard from the Climate, Conservation, and Energy Research Labs on the incredible projects they are working on. Combined with my experience at the Kluane Lake Research Station, my conversation with Paul McCarney, a Research Professional for the Northern Systems Conservation Co-Lab and Natural Resources Director for the Vuntut Gwitchin Government, inspired me to pursue a master’s and build a career working with remote communities in Northern Canada to help address some of the social and environmental these regions are experiencing. Over the coming months, Paul’s support has transformed my personal and professional goals and has opened my eyes to the intersections of social science, natural science, and local and Traditional Knowledge. For everything he has done and continues to do for me, I owe him a world of thanks.

Canada’s youthful generations have some monumental problems to address, and I believe that it is only through a deep respect for the interconnectedness of humans and our home that we can begin to solve them. Fortunately, Indigenous communities across the world are leaders in this space and through reconciliation, humility, and awareness, I believe we are well on our way!

Ryan Sojnocki has been a Fellowship Program Coordinator at Student Energy for over two years. Before joining the organization, he helped coach and mentor early-stage social ventures at the University of Waterloo, and has carried that passion into his role working with youth around the world to help build successful energy projects in their targeted region. When he’s not working, you can often find Ryan immersed in the backcountry of British Columbia or deep in a philosophical conversation about the many intricacies of being human.

Anushka Nagle 

Anushka’s Youth Energy Narratives story focused on the role of Indian Waste-pickers in the circular economy. In urban India, the alarming statistics of waste production paint a grim picture of environmental degradation and public health risks. With approximately 62 million tonnes generated daily, the majority remains uncollected and untreated, contributing to air, soil, and water pollution. Delhi, a prime example, grapples with over 8,700 tons of municipal solid waste daily.  Less than 10% of this waste is segregated and treated, highlighting large systemic challenges. Nagle conducted two case studies exploring the impacts of cooperative waste management services in two different cities in India to inform her final recommendations. Her presentation highlights that addressing India’s waste crisis necessitates a holistic approach, involving consumers, government bodies, NGOs, and entrepreneurs. Her recommendations shine light on the importance of community based solutions that are responsive to the needs of the community they are being implemented in as well as the need to include community members in climate action incentives. 

According to Anushka, when it comes to climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, it is crucial to put the spotlight on marginalized communities, especially waste-pickers, who play a vital role in keeping our cities cleaner. As stated in her project summary, “By prioritizing [waste-pickers’] upliftment, we not only improve their lives but also tackle environmental degradation head-on. It’s imperative to recognize the intersectionality between social equity and environmental sustainability in tackling India’s waste woes.”

Cathleen Jeanty

Cathleen’s story titled The Revolution Will Be Underwater, is a foray into the world of youth climate activism. Last year marked the midpoint to The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’ 2030 agenda, where Goal 13, climate action, has really taken center stage. Climate change is on everybody’s lips, but the action – in the view of most young people – is missing.  The piece features perspectives of young people across the globe, who are often sidelined in climate policy making processes. It is an amalgamation of interviews with youth climate activists and policy leaders; surveys with youth activists; data; and research. The story delves into an issue that data and research have shown largely impacts young people: climate-induced migration. It is part narrative, part editorial, and part prescriptive, and offers feedback from young people who have lived experience of what it’s like to be on the frontlines witnessing how climate change can reorient your community. The recommendations from her story are centered around building more pathways for young people to turn their advocacy into actionable policy by earmarking funds to invest in youth-led climate ventures. 

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza

Amanda’s narrative details her connection to her land as a young person from Latin America and how this relates to broader conversations and action plans calling for a sustainable energy transition. Amanda’s story highlights the destructive and unsustainable nature of lithium mining in Brazil and its impacts on Indigenous communities’ access to food, clean water, and safety. Her recommendations call for an equitable and just energy transition that considers the impact to those living in Latin America. As stated by Amanda, “It is essential to not finance projects to further lithium extraction in those regions, provide financial support and resources to those currently being affected by it, and raise awareness of the issue at the international level.”

Abul Bashar Rahman 

Bashar’s narrative for the Council was explored through a five-part podcast series where he interviewed young people with a variety of educational and working backgrounds to discuss how they take action on climate and energy within their sectors. From sustainable transportation to equity and energy justice, Bashar’s podcast highlights the power of young people taking action in the sustainable energy transition and the need for more senior-level organizations and people in positions of power and decision-making roles to meaningfully include young people as stakeholders in the energy transition. Bashar’s final recommendations are centered around the importance of empowering local climate resilience initiatives by investing in local leadership development and capacity building and encouraging the development of knowledge exchange platforms and educational resources for youth and community members. These were developed based on his experience as a young person whose immediate family in Bangladesh has been displaced as a result of climate change, the lessons he learned from his journey cycling across Bangladesh to amplify the voices of the people affected by climate change, and, of course, the stories he heard in recording his podcast for the Youth Energy Narratives Council. 

Adebambo Micheal

Micheal’s story showcases how community solar projects are providing clean, renewable energy access and economic opportunities to everyday people, especially youth, in rural areas of Nigeria. His recommendations are centered around increasing investments in decentralized renewable energy solutions to support rural electrification and ensuring that electricity access programs are gender-inclusive and meet the specific needs of local women and girls. 

If you are interested in reading the Council’s recommendations, please contact us at research@studentenergy.org 

Welcome to Energy 101! In this series, we bring you nuanced and concise perspectives on significant energy and climate topics around the world. Today, we are featuring the topic of Nature-based Solutions! Now, let’s feel the earth between our fingers and dig in…

Nature-based Solutions and Earth Month

April is Earth Month, a time to pay special attention to the constantly evolving needs of our planet, and to reflect on how human activity is irrevocably altering the Earth’s natural systems. Considering the always-increasing awareness of human intervention in nature, nature-based solutions (NbS) are poised to become a dominant topic in the global energy discussion as at-risk communities continue to struggle with the worsening effects of climate change. 

It’s important that we understand how major polluters and other interested groups can take advantage of the language of NbS through ‘greenwashing’. This term refers to the use of the aesthetics, language, or trends of nature-based solutions, and its associated positive reputation, to promote projects that lack transparency, or could even have direct negative effects on local communities. 

Let’s dive in!

In this post, we’ll  introduce you to Nature-based Solutions as defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s foremost voice on NbS, explain why human rights are an essential component of the NbS philosophy, and finally study a very negative case of what can go wrong when “greenwashing” goes too far.

What are Nature-based Solutions?

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines a Nature-based Solution as:

Nature-based Solutions address societal challenges through actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting people and nature at the same time.  

They target major challenges like climate change, disaster risk reduction, food and water security, biodiversity loss and human health, and are critical to sustainable development.

The IUCN outlines five major approaches to Nature-based Solutions: Protection, Restoration, Management, Infrastructure, and Issue-Specific NbS. Earlier in April, we shared a summary of each of these types of projects with a relevant case study example from the Nature-based Solutions Initiative’s NbS Case Study platform. Check out the post here and get to know the different forms a NbS project can take! 

You may find that there seems to be a lot of overlap between the various approaches – this is true! An ecosystem restoration project will undoubtedly transition into a management or protection project at some point in its life-cycle. In addition, nature-based solutions are often lauded for their versatility, a core component of the NbS philosophy. In order to be a true Nature-based Solution, according to the IUCN’s “Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions,” a project must benefit the socio-economic wellbeing of local communities as well as the natural environment. Here’s why…

Rooted in Human Rights

In a recent blog article for the IUCN, International Law and Human Rights Expert Dr. Sener Dalyan outlines the importance of a human rights-centred approach to NbS. As part of this process, Dalyan explores the IUCN Global Standard’s 8 criteria which “provides a robust framework for designing, implementing, evaluating, adapting and improving NbS.” 

Five of the eight criteria is directly related to human rights, as well as over half of the Standard’s 28 indicators used to gauge the success and sustainability of Nbs. We have collected a summary of each criteria below so you can form a quick idea of what should be required of any NbS project. All of this to say that human rights are an essential component of what makes a project a true NbS.

“Criterion 5 requires NbS to be based on inclusive, transparent, and empowering governance processes. It is only through such a process that the concerns of a wide range of stakeholders, in particular rights holders, can be heard and addressed. A well-functioning feedback and grievance mechanism with robust rules and procedures is an important means in ensuring that NbS provides expected human well-being and biodiversity benefits, and the rights are respected.” Dr. Sener Dalyan, 2024

Now that we know what it takes to build a successful nature-based solution, what does it look like when a nature-based solutions project does not centre the needs and rights of local human populations?

Greenwashing and “Blood Carbon”

In late 2023, CounterPunch reporter Alexandria Shaner published an article titled “Blood Carbon: Kenyans are Being Erased so the UAE can Greenwash.” She begins by drawing a comparison between the historically well-publicized phenomenon of “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds.” The metaphor is apt and striking!

Shaner understands that this process is occurring anew as an unintended consequence of the rapidly expanding Carbon Market. Through the Carbon Market, governments and corporations are incentivized to engage in carbon capture, removal, and sequestration projects with the reward of huge profits and positive PR for acting “sustainably.” The ongoing eviction and expulsion of Indigenous Kenyan’s from their country’s forests is a clear example of how chasing carbon metrics for profit, without considering the impact on human rights, can have disastrous consequences.

In summary, the government of the United Arab Emirates (a global petrostate) recently invested over $450 million USD with the help of a US consultancy firm, into African emissions mitigation projects. By investing in carbon projects like these, the UAE is able to “greenwash” the negative effects of its massive investment in crude oil. “Greenwashing” is a well-discussed term referring to the use of creative accounting and marketing techniques to obscure the negative ecological impacts of a certain corporation, organization, or government by over-amplifying the positive effects of various eco-investments that a group may be involved in. Many of the IUCN’s criteria for NbS are designed to make sure this doesn’t happen!

One stipulation of the UAE’s deal with Kenya’s government is a reduction of emissions from the country’s forested areas. As a result, Kenya’s President Ruto ordered the mass eviction of tens of thousands of Indigenous Kenyans from these regions thinking it could protect their forests from encroachment. 

Shaner also points out that several of the organizations behind these types of projects, like the UAE-based Blue Carbon, are often run by people with connections to the government or the oil industry who lack vital experience in managing ecosystem projects and exhibit little genuine interest in protecting local ecosystems and consulting with local communities where these projects will take place. The treatment of Indigenous Kenyans at the behest of UAE petrocorps, in the name of “sustainability” should keenly illustrate why preserving human rights is an essential component of any successful nature-based solution.

What’s Next?

Now that we have a better understanding of what makes a successful (and unsuccessful) nature-based solution, where do we go from here? With all of this month’s focus on our planet Earth, we thought it might also be useful to look outwards for an even greater insight into the relationship between humans, their land, and the energy we all need to survive. For this, we have to take a little trip… to the planet of Arrakis!

Next up: Energy 101’s pop-culture connection to nature-based solutions, energy, and DUNE!

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Are you curious about certain topics and want Student Energy to dissect them into Energy 101? Please let us know what you would like to see featured in future posts by following @studentenergy and getting in touch at info@studentenergy.org

Phase change materials (PCMs) are using for thermal energy storage (TES) in a wide range of applications such as Smart Textiles, Portable Electronics, Building Materials, Solar Energy applications and so on. These applications cover a broad temperature range. Based on their application, it can be from -40 °C to 500 °C.

PCMs fundamental is based on solid-liquid phase transformation, more commonly known as the melting-solidification cycle at a temperature within the operating range. PCMs absorb heat when they change their phase from solid to liquid and release it when they transform from liquid to solid. When a substance absorbs heat, it can store the thermal energy until fully melting and becoming liquid. Note that during the melting process, melting temperature is constant. It is right for the solidification process too. Scientists use these fascinating and simple characteristics of substances to store thermal energy and use it again whenever they want. 

 These days, you hear about Renewable Energy (RE) that our future will depend on. One of these is Solar Energy. We can absorb the heat from the sun and turn it into electricity by various processes. One kind of these absorbers is Photovoltaic (PV). Despite their great function to absorb the heat, when they get hot by long-term sun radiation, their efficiency decreases severely. Engineers have suggested a solution called “PV-PCM” systems. In these systems, PCM can cool down the PV temperature and enhance the efficiency by 30% in some cases. This is just one example of how Renewable Energy can integrate with PCM.

Do you know any REs that can be integrated with PCM?