Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, announced that a total of €483,728 has been granted to voluntary youth organisations in 2023 to support youth-led projects in the area of climate justice.
The purpose of the Youth Climate Justice Fund is to promote the engagement of young people in activities, initiatives and programmes that develop and support their knowledge, agency and empowerment in relation to climate justice. This announcement brings the total made available under the scheme since 2020 to €2 million.
Minister O’Gorman commented, “young people, including those who have participated in National Youth Assembly on Climate, have told us that climate justice is a key priority for them when it comes to tackling the climate emergency. Ireland is a world leader in dedicating funding specifically to enable young people to work together and within their communities on this vital issue. I have been really impressed by the range of innovative, collaborative and impactful initiatives designed and delivered by young people, youth workers and volunteers to date by means of this scheme.”
“In 2023, planned initiatives include a project building connections between young people from Irish coastal communities and those in the global South; a partnership with young people from DEIS-banded schools to develop climate justice projects in their communities; support for young researchers to look at the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in climate activities; and the development of a digital Climate Justice Hub, to highlight just a few.”
“Those involved in these opportunities are not only making a positive difference to their communities and wider society now, they are also developing the skills and competencies to continue to lead and inspire on this issue into the future.”
