The UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC) is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
youth organisation
The following is a list of youth organizations. A youth organization is a type of organization with a focus upon providing activities and socialization for minors. In this list, most organizations are international unless noted otherwise.
...
in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
It is part of The Climate Coalition in the UK
Formed in 2008, the mission of the organisation is to mobilise and empower young people to take positive action for global
climate justice
Climate justice is a concept that addresses the just division, fair sharing, and equitable distribution of the burdens of climate change and its mitigation and responsibilities to deal with climate change. "Justice", "fairness", and "equity" ar ...
.
To achieve this, the UKYCC organises a series of projects, campaigns and events each year, including sending youth delegations to the
United Nations Climate Negotiations.
The organisation is supported by a coalition of
non-governmental organisations
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...
.
Organisation
Formation
In June 2008, the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
ambassadors to the
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature Inc. (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the Wor ...
's Voyage for the Future programme, Emma Biermann and Casper ter Kuile, returned from the
Arctic
The Arctic ( or ) is a polar regions of Earth, polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenla ...
to found the UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC) based on similar organisations such as the
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) is a youth organisation in Australia. When the organisation first began, the coalition consisted of 25 other youth organisations, which included the National Union of Students amongst many, however ...
and the
Energy Action Coalition
Power Shift Network is a North American non-profit organization made up of a network of youth-led social and environmental justice organizations working together to build the youth clean energy and climate movement. It runs campaigns in the Unite ...
in the United States.
By bringing together several youth organisations and a coalition of NGOs, the co-founders intended to unite the work of their partners.
Following this, the co-founders formed a coordinating team who worked on several projects, campaigns and events over the duration of the next year.
Governance and structure
The UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC) is run by a team of young volunteers between the ages of 18 and 29.
The organisation is a registered private company limited by guarantee, with no share capital, which means it is run for
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
purposes.
The organisation is split into several working groups
* Systems Change - This group was developed out of the "Gas" working group, which focused on campaigning against the use and development of natural gas resources in the UK.
* COP - This group works internationally on climate justice issues. They spend the year training and engaging with a team of delegates at the yearly UNFCCC COP and Intersessionals.
* Community - This group aims to tackle climate change at a local level. They focus on capacity-building activities for communities, as well as local activism.
* Youth Strike - This group works to help support the UK Youth Strike 4 Climate movement.
* LCOY - The group in charge of organising the UK's first Local Conference of Youth. These are conferences organised by YOUNGO (the youth wing of the UNFCCC) to empower youth climate activism.
These working groups are further supported by a Communications working group and an Operations working group which deal with key day-to-day aspects of the organisation. There is also a board of trustees who support organisers. The UKYCC is further supported by a coalition and works with several NGOs.
Internationally, the coalition affiliates with the
Youth Climate Movement
The Youth Climate Movement (YouNGO) or International Youth Climate Movement (IYCM) refers to an international network of Youth organization, youth organisations that collectively aims to inspire, empower and mobilise a generational movement of yo ...
, with sister organisations in
America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, China and
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
The UKYCC has also previously formed a partnership with the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change - Kenyan Chapter, with whom they share resources, experience and training.
Funding
The UKYCC advertises that its core funding comes mainly from donations from its supporters. Projects have previously been funded by grants, eg, from the Youth Funding Network, and from in-kind support, eg, Seventeen Events provided pro-bono support to the volunteers to ensure their Powershift event was sustainable.
Activities
2008
In 2008, the UK Youth Climate Coalition undertook several activities. Some of their projects included:
* Participating in the National Climate March organised by the
Campaign against Climate Change
The Campaign against Climate Change (variously abbreviated to CCC or CaCC) is a UK-based pressure group that aims to raise public awareness of anthropogenic climate change through mobilising mass demonstrations. Founded in 2001 in response to ...
, with a campaign called "Our time is now" to raise awareness of climate change amongst young people.
* Organising a youth delegation to the
2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference took place at PIF Congress Centre, Poznań International Fair (PIF), in Poznań, Poland, between December 1 and December 12, 2008. Representatives from over 180 countries attended along with obser ...
in partnership with the Otesha Project. At the event, the delegation coordinated the 'Call Gordon' project, a viral telephone campaign asking then Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chance ...
to pursue a tougher agreement on climate change at the talks.
* Supporting the Green Finger Project, an online viral campaign that aims to show how climate change affects everyone. The project was initially the idea of Step it Up 2007, founded by
Bill McKibben who went on to establish
350.org.
2009
Working with the International Youth Movement, in particular, the European Youth Climate Movement to contribute to the "How old will you be in 2050?" campaign, launched at the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
Climate negotiations taking place in
Bonn
The federal city of Bonn ( lat, Bonna) is a city on the banks of the Rhine in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a population of over 300,000. About south-southeast of Cologne, Bonn is in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr r ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.
Organising the
Power Shift
Power Shift is an annual youth summit which has been held in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Other Power Shift Conferences are also being organised by members of the International Youth Climate Movement ...
event in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
This event was designed to provide training and support to young people to work within their local communities.
Chairing a question-and-answer debate between a panel of government ministers and 80 young people. The panel included former Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chance ...
, Former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel "Ed" Miliband (born 24 December 1969) is a British politician serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero since 2021. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster North since 2005. Miliband ...
and Former Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office Baroness
Glenys Kinnock
Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (''née'' Parry; born 7 July 1944), is a British politician and former teacher who served as Minister of State for Europe from June to October 2009 and Minister of State for Africa and the ...
.
Participating in
the Wave March, organised by coalition partner
Stop Climate Chaos. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 individuals attended the march in London, in addition to over 7,000 participants in Glasgow.
Participating in the
2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
in Copenhagen. Darran Martin, one of the youth delegates, was reported to have cycled from the
UK to the event. The delegation recorded a series of documentaries around the conference.
Organising a Day of Action as the UK Delivery partner for the
Global Campaign for Climate Action, also recognised as "TckTckTck", including a flash dance outside the Houses of Parliament and projecting an image onto the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...
, with the slogan, "the World wants a real deal".
[ ]
2010
Participating in the
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18.
Formed in 2000, the parliament has 369 members, who are elected to represent the views of young ...
with coalition partners
Oxfam
Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam International.
History
Founded at 17 Broad Street, Oxford, as the Oxford Co ...
,
Plan UK
Plan International UK is the UK branch of the global children's rights non-profit organisation Plan International. Plan UK which works to advance equality for girls all over the world through sustainable development and humanitarian response ac ...
and
UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...
.
Participating in the
Department for Energy and Climate Change
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom created on 3 October 2008, by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take over some of the functions related to energy of the Department for Busin ...
Youth Advisory Panel with partners
People & Planet
People & Planet is a network of student campaign groups in the UK. It is "the largest student campaigning organisation in the country campaigning to alleviate world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment."
Organisation
Pe ...
and
Plan UK
Plan International UK is the UK branch of the global children's rights non-profit organisation Plan International. Plan UK which works to advance equality for girls all over the world through sustainable development and humanitarian response ac ...
.
Launching a viral video campaign called "Shake your money maker" to raise awareness of
ethical banking
An ethical bank, also known as a social, alternative, civic, or sustainable bank, is a bank concerned with the social and environmental impacts of its investments and loans. The ethical banking movement includes: ethical investment, impact inves ...
amongst its supporters. The campaign ran with the slogan, "It might not come with a free popcorn machine, but an ethical bank account will sow the seeds for a cleaner, brighter future.".
Supporting the
British Youth Council
The British Youth Council, known informally as BYC, is a UK charity that works to empower young people and promote their interests. The national charity, run by young people, exists to represent the views of young people to government and decisi ...
Manifesto and the Vote Global campaign during the
General Elections
A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...
.
Launching the "Adopt an MP" project.
2011
Providing training to enable young Europeans to organise Power Shift conferences.
Launching the "Push Europe" campaign.
Participating in climate negotiations in
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
.
2012
Launching the "Youth for Green Jobs" campaign.
Participating in
COP18
The 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference was the 18th yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 8th session of the Meeting of the Parties (CMP ...
in Qatar.
2013
In response to
Education Secretary Michael Gove's proposal to remove climate change from the Geography national curriculum for under 14s, the UK Youth Climate Coalition set up a petition calling for a policy change. As a result of the 70,000 signatures, this received the policy was dropped.
The UK Youth Climate Coalition delegation to
COP19
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP19 or CMP9 was held in Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 23 November 2013. This is the 19th yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Cli ...
in Warsaw walked out a day early due to frustration at the lack of progress.
2014
Participating in
COP20 in Lima, Peru.
Participating in the "Lima in Brussels" conference.
2015
Participating in
COP21
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris, France, from 30 November to 12 December 2015. It was the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Conve ...
in Paris. This included running workshops, joining human chain protests and in D12 (day of "red lines") actions.
2016
The abolition of the
Department of Energy and Climate Change
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom created on 3 October 2008, by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take over some of the functions related to energy of the Department for Busin ...
by
Theresa May
Theresa Mary May, Lady May (; née Brasier; born 1 October 1956) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served in David Cameron's cab ...
in 2016 led to direct actions around Westminster, as well as an email and letter campaign.
Participating in
COP22
The 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference was an international meeting of political leaders and activists to discuss environmental issues. It was held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 7–18 November 2016. The conference incorporated the twen ...
in Marrakech.
2017
Organising a Roundtable of youth organisations at the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is a department of His Majesty's Government. The department was formed during a machinery of government change on 14 July 2016, following Theresa May's appointment as Prime ...
.
Engaging in actions with the Coal Action Network in front of BEIS, highlighting coal air pollution and public opposition.
Participating in
COP23
The 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) was an international meeting of political leaders, non-state actors and activists to discuss environmental issues. It was held at UN Campus in Bonn, Germany, during 6–17 November 2 ...
in Bonn, Germany and holding a Gas side event.
2018
Working with
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) is an international network of environmental organizations in 73 countries. The organization was founded in 1969 in San Francisco by David Brower, Donald Aitken and Gary Soucie after Brower's split with ...
on the "climate serious" campaign.
Launching the Gas Campaign, which focused on opposing
hydraulic fracking
Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of bedrock formations by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of "frac ...
in the UK.
Participating in
COP24 in Poland. This included work with YOUNGO (the youth constituency at the UNFCCC), working on climate justice campaigns, and highlighting gender discussions and vested interests within COP.
2019
Participating in
COP25
Cop or Cops commonly refers to:
* Police officer
Cop and other variants may also refer to:
Art and entertainment Film
* ''Cop'' (film), a 1988 American thriller
* ''Cops'' (film), an American silent comedy short starring Buster Keaton
* ''The ...
in Madrid.
2020
Preparing for
COP26
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26, was the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021. The ...
. This, and other work, was delayed due to
Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
restrictions.
2021
Participating in
COP26
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26, was the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021. The ...
in Glasgow, Scotland.
2022
Participating in
COP27
Cop or Cops commonly refers to:
* Police officer
Cop and other variants may also refer to:
Art and entertainment Film
* ''Cop'' (film), a 1988 American thriller
* ''Cops'' (film), an American silent comedy short starring Buster Keaton
* ''The ...
in Sharm-el Sheikh, Egypt.
2023
Creating a podcast called ''From the Ground Up''.
''From The Ground Up'' podcast
/ref> The first episodes were a series of interviews covering activism in Brazil and Malawi, disability justice and young people at COP.
See also
The Climate Coalition
References
External links
UK Youth Climate Coalition
{{Youth empowerment
Climate change organisations based in the United Kingdom
Youth empowerment organizations
Youth-led organizations
Youth organisations based in the United Kingdom
2008 establishments in the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 2008