As the UN International Youth Day approaches, the author reflects on essential skills for a sustainable future. Recognizing that prejudice is neither helpful nor constructive, the author emphasizes the importance of fostering openness to diverse ideas. These qualities empower youth as effective changemakers in the fight against climate change.

“What if Water could talk?” This question is the origin of Meeting of Waters – a youth led art collective that “gives water a voice”, grounded in science and policy. The collective works with young water professionals and integrates artistic methodologies to bring emotional and spiritual values to water across cultural and generational boundaries.

Children’s human rights depend on a healthy ocean. One Ocean Hub supports the strengthening of youth communication, leadership, and creative thinking skills in the context of ocean degradation. The Hub empowers youth to take active roles in climate change conversations through skill development, access to platforms, and partner projects.

The Amazon needs to be heard and protected. Ensuring the active and effective participation of Indigenous youth from the territories is the way to ensure that decisions represent the communities that fight daily against inequalities, recognize capabilities and enhance leadership to face the climate crisis.

Over 300 students from 16 international schools gathered in Bahrain recently for the country's first-ever youth eco-summit to share their creative approaches to sustainability. The summit aimed to encourage teamwork and enthuse a group of people committed to building a better future. It emphasized how crucial it is to instill in kids a sense of social responsibility and environmental awareness, as well as how capable young people are of bringing about change for a fairer and more sustainable world.

Youth have a critical role in combating climate change. The aim of Youth Climate Conclave (YCC) is to engage youth in a positive and proactive way in science-based discussions on relevant climate change issues, and in the process identify opportunities for youth & governments to drive joint action to fulfill the climate change agenda. YCC has implemented four editions since 2019, and in the upcoming phases we strive to reach out to young stakeholders with the goal of strengthening abilities related to critical thinking, creativity, scientific understanding, communication, multilingualism, and digital literacy.

In Jharkhand, a state known for its mineral wealth, a persistent water crisis has endangered local tribal communities' livelihoods. Unplanned mining, deforestation, and lack of conservation practices have damaged ecosystems, leading to droughts, poverty, and migration. A collaborative effort by the NGOs Integrated River Basin Management Society (IRBMS), Jharkhand Vikash Parishad (JVP), and Association for India's Development (AID) in the Sarunala catchment has introduced Integrated Watershed Management, involving local youth to restore ecosystems and improve water security, offering hope for sustainable development and ecological restoration in the region.

Guardianes de la Cuenca El Chaltén is a local water advocacy project led by young women dedicated to water conservation. We seek to transform the local water governance of one of the largest water reserves in the world. We involve young people through water conservation training and environmental rights workshops.

This article addresses the escalating threat of climate change and its disproportionate impact on young people. It highlights successful youth-led initiatives and emphasizes the essential role of youth as stakeholders and change agents for sustainability.