Global Youth Climate Training GYCT
Apply at GYCT Programme to be Climate Activist
The Global Youth Climate Training Programme (GYCT) is a free, fully online capacity-building initiative designed to equip individuals aged 16-35 with the knowledge and confidence to engage effectively in international climate policy. As young people increasingly participate in both domestic and international climate policy discussions, they need the appropriate training to ensure their contributions are impactful and relevant.
This programme is a collaboration between the Global Youth Coalition (GYC), a network of young climate changemakers, and researchers from the University of Oxford (Oxford Net Zero and the Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment). The diverse team delivering this project exemplifies a robust international and intergenerational partnership, encompassing multiple continents, professional backgrounds, and age groups. The overwhelming response of 10,000 applications for the first iteration of the programme highlights the significant demand for effective youth capacity-building initiatives.
(GYCT) 2024 Programme
This year, with the generous support of the ClimateWorks Foundation, we are running our second iteration of the programme from 3 September-1 October 2024, with one final session on 1 November 2024. The whole course takes place online. The programme brochure for this year includes details such as the schedule, focus of this year’s course, and applicant criteria. It can be found here as a PDF and here as a Word version (if using a text-to-voice reader).
Applications are now OPEN at this link. Applications will be open until 10 August at 23:59 UTC. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis, with all decisions out by 23 August.
The time of the sessions will be decided based on the time zone most appropriate to our selected cohort, but sessions will be between 1-5pm UTC. This programme will be delivered fully online. Participants who are unable to join sessions live will have the recordings to watch within 5 days of the session. However, we will not record the interactive/workshop sessions.
Programme History
This program, launched in May 2023, aims to provide greater clarity on the UNFCCC negotiation tracks ahead of COP28. It brought together leading experts and young climate professionals to cover topics such as Climate Finance, Loss & Damage, Adaptation & Resilience, and more.
Alexis McGivern, an Oxford Net Zero Fellow, created and led the program with several youth activists from the Global Youth Coalition, leveraging the University of Oxford’s extensive network of climate experts.
The 2023 curriculum was developed by consulting 180 young climate justice activists, who provided input on their training needs. We educated 4,500 activists under the age of 35 from 177 countries, with 64% identifying as from Most Affected People and Areas (MAPA).
This youth training is a trial of radical open access and inclusion, with all recordings published on YouTube, making the course completely free for participants. We also partnered with EcoInterpreters to offer the course in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Advantages of this Fellowship
1: The program brings together young leaders from around the world, offering opportunities for networking, collaboration, and sharing diverse perspectives on climate issues.
2: The training includes hands-on workshops and practical sessions, equipping participants with actionable skills to address climate challenges in their communities and careers.
3: The program focuses on developing leadership skills, empowering participants to become effective advocates and change-makers in the fight against climate change.
4: Access to Oxford’s extensive resources and research facilities allows participants to engage in cutting-edge climate research and projects.
5: The program includes sessions on climate policy and advocacy, helping participants understand and influence climate policy at local, national, and international levels.
Applications are now OPEN at this link. Applications will be open until 10 August at 23:59 UTC. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis, with all decisions out by 23 August.
