Young people are advancing climate solutions that confront urgent local challenges – from renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to nature conservation and waste reduction. Their actions reveal a powerful truth: youth-led innovation works because it is rooted in lived experience, powered by creativity, and strengthened through partnership. Over the past 12 months, the World Economic Forum has tracked more than 800 youth-led initiatives directly reaching over 2.2 million people worldwide – 120 of which focused specifically on climate action, nature restoration, energy transition, water security and food systems. In Peshawar, Pakistan, the ClimaSynth initiative is using AI to close the climate knowledge gap through a chatbot, a carbon calculator and digital learning tools. By integrating local languages, data and business needs, it equips schools and small enterprises to anticipate and adapt to climate risks. In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the Youths in Aquaponics Project combines solar-powered fish farming and crop cultivation in a circular, water-efficient system that recycles 90% of its water. Embedded in schools, it strengthens both food security and climate education. In Riohacha, Colombia, Water Ambassadors tackles La Guajira’s water crisis – a challenge intensified by drought and changing climate patterns. The initiative combines low-cost filtration technology and community education to secure safe, reliable water access. By placing local participation at its centre, the initiative reduces waterborne illnesses by 30% and has scaled to 20 cities with support from Waves for Water. The project demonstrates how inclusive, climate-resilient design can transform basic infrastructure into a platform for long-term resilience. Together, these initiatives demonstrate that young people are not just raising awareness – they are redefining climate leadership itself. By embedding sustainability in education, enterprise and community systems, they are turning vision into action and building the foundations of a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable world.Turning awareness into action Find Us at the Park is a youth-led initiative by the Global Shapers Budaiya Hub in Bahrain, revitalizing urban green spaces as vital community assets for climate resilience and well-being. The project raises awareness of the critical role parks play as accessible, multi-use environments that balance urban development with ecological health, while collecting valuable data on the state of public green spaces across Bahrain. Its success in fostering grassroots engagement and data- driven advocacy has led to a formal collaboration with UN-Habitat on the National Afforestation Assessment Plan. Volunteers, trained and certified by UN-Habitat as data collection facilitators, now contribute to national data- gathering efforts that inform evidence-based policies for public spaces. The ongoing partnership also includes a temperature study demonstrating the cooling and adaptation benefits of afforestation – further shaping Bahrain’s approach to sustainable urban planning. This initiative shows how youth-led action can transform local environmental stewardship into national climate strategy – using data, design and community engagement to build greener, cooler and more resilient cities.CASE STUDY 5. FIND US AT THE PARK Young people are bringing back green spaces to cope with climate change. Climate change dominates global concerns – but for young people, it is more than an emergency; it is a call to action. Even as inflation and instability weigh on daily life, environmental responsibility remains central to their choices. Values are reshaping consumption, with sustainability now among the top three factors guiding purchasing decisions. Across regions, youth-led climate initiatives show how a generation is transforming awareness into tangible solutions. Together, young people are building a future where thriving societies and a healthy planet are inseparable.Looking ahead to match urgency with agency Youth Pulse 2026: Insights from the next generation for a changing world 38