Youth Action for Climate and Clean Air Now

This report summarizes a webinar held on 12 July 2024, titled "Youth Action for Climate and Clean Air Now," which brought together over 140 youth activists and experts to discuss the role of young people in reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and improving global air quality.

• Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone, are potent climate forcers that contribute significantly to global warming and public health crises. While CO2 is the primary driver of cumulative warming, SLCPs account for approximately half. Reducing these pollutants can provide rapid climate benefits and prevent millions of premature deaths and billions in crop losses.
• Children and youth are disproportionately affected by air pollution and climate change, particularly in the global south, Asia, and Africa, despite being the least responsible for these issues. A 2022 UNICEF report noted that over 1.5 billion children are exposed to high heat wave frequency, a number expected to rise to 2 billion by 2050.
• Youth-led initiatives are implementing practical solutions to reduce SLCPs and improve livelihoods. In Ghana, the EBAPreneur Solution project developed solar dryers to reduce post-harvest cassava losses and worked to repurpose cassava peels into sustainable cooking fuels to reduce reliance on charcoal and firewood, which are used by 70% of Ghana's population and 60% of its urban population.
• Citizen science is highlighted as a critical tool for youth engagement and policy influence. The SAMHE project in the UK monitors indoor air quality in over 800 classrooms using local sensors and a co-designed web app, empowering students to understand and improve the air they breathe in schools, homes, and workplaces.
• Advocacy networks are working to shift air quality management from reactive to preventive measures. In Latin America, the El Derecho a No Obedecer network collaborates with over 20 organizations in Colombia to promote environmental health and climate justice through workshops and symbolic actions.
• The webinar identified several strategic priorities for youth to drive change, including engaging with the 2025 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) update process to ensure air pollution priorities are included, collaborating with existing networks, and advocating for government-integrated affordable clean energy solutions for cooking and transport.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2024). Youth Action for Climate and Clean Air Now. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/report-on-youth-action-for-climate-and-clean-air-now-webinar-1.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Youth Action for Climate and Clean Air Now. 2024. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/report-on-youth-action-for-climate-and-clean-air-now-webinar-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Youth Action for Climate and Clean Air Now |date=12 July 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/report-on-youth-action-for-climate-and-clean-air-now-webinar-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2024youth, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Youth Action for Climate and Clean Air Now}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/report-on-youth-action-for-climate-and-clean-air-now-webinar-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }