Last week, the final meeting of the YESDGs project took place in Limerick, Ireland, marking a moment of reflection and consolidation for this European journey of learning, sharing, and taking action on climate change. The event brought together young participants, partners, and stakeholders committed to promoting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a special focus on the essential role of youth in shaping the climate agenda.
The day began with testimonies from Hackathon participants, who shared their experiences, challenges, and innovative solutions developed during the project. These stories provided a direct insight into the motivation and dedication of young people, highlighting the importance of supporting the next generation in addressing climate change.
A central moment of the meeting was the presentation of the YESDGs Manifesto, a document summarizing the principles, guidelines, and recommendations emerging from the project. Alongside this, the training modules developed to support youth and educators in acquiring practical skills related to sustainability and active participation were introduced.
One of the most significant discussions featured Alex Whyatt, representative of the Global Action Plan, who explored the role of young people in the climate agenda, emphasizing how their voices are crucial for shaping local and European policies. The conversation allowed participants to reflect on concrete strategies to increase the impact of youth-led climate initiatives.
YESDGs partners collectively reviewed the project’s final report, analyzing achieved results and discussing the sustainability of future activities. This moment helped identify new initiatives to further strengthen and expand the network of young climate advocates across Europe.
While marking the official conclusion of the project, YESDGs leaves a lasting legacy: tools, skills, and a community of young people ready to make their voices heard on climate issues. As participants highlighted, youth voices do not stop here; the ideas and energy generated will continue to reinforce Europe’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.
