7-10 h/ week
EU/Europe
Remote
Start March 2025
I am interested in
Liaison Officers positions
While committed to specific and diverse tasks within their thematic portfolios, the volunteer liaison officers would effectively make a team - the Advocacy Working Group - intended to support and contribute to YEE advocacy efforts.
Regional Contact Persons positions
The role of the Regional Contact Persons is to connect and develop communities of YEE’s member organisations on the regional level and work together to strengthen the connections of young people through YEE.
Contents
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Have questions?
For any questions regarding the selection process, contact yee@yeenet.eu
Application deadline: 23rd February 2025
YEE’s Advocacy Working Group is looking for 10 motivated volunteers to join the team!
About YEE Advocacy Working Group
The Advocacy Working Group (AWG) is a leadership program intended to equip volunteers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and mentorship to effectively advocate for environmental concerns during their tenure with YEE, and beyond. Volunteers are being mentored and engaging in peer-to-peer learning; while supporting the Advocacy Team in shaping YEE’s external advocacy positions.
YEE’s overall advocacy engagement aims to:
- Empower young people to raise awareness and advocate for environmental and climate issues.
- Equip young people and youth movements with an environmental and climate justice understanding.
- Enable young people to access and influence environmental EU, European and international negotiation processes.
- Connect young people across Europe and beyond to form a unified voice in environmental and climate advocacy.
About Liason Officers (LOs)
The Liaison Officer (LO) is a volunteer position of one year term (March 2025 – March 2026).
All liaison volunteers will report to and be supported by the YEE advocacy team (Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator, Advocacy Manager and Project Leads) and the YEE Youth Scientific Advisory Board.
While committed to specific and diverse tasks within their thematic portfolios, the volunteer liaison officers would effectively make a team – the Advocacy Working Group – intended to support and contribute to YEE advocacy efforts.
Moreover, each LO will form a small sub-team with the YEE Youth Scientific Advisory Board Task Force working on their topic.
The average commitment of the position is between 7-10 hours a week, including meetings every two weeks with the YEE Scientific Advisory Board, Regional Contact Persons, External Relations Officer, Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator, Advocacy Manager and Project Leads.
What you will gain:
This volunteer position offers valuable insights into working for a large European network of youth-led environmental NGOs, as well as in-depth knowledge of relevant organisations and institutions.
Some of the tasks expected include strengthening communication and advocacy with our partner organisations as well as creating new initiatives and campaigns.
It also provides access to a network of young green activists and professionals and helps develop transferable skills such as time management, organisation, and communication, which can boost your CV.
LOs positions available
The Biodiversity Team is active in EU advocacy, international advocacy (CBD) and advocacy in the context of the Bern Convention (Council of Europe). The Liaison Officers on Biodiversity will work closely with the YSAB members and Alex, Biodiversity Coordinator.
The aim of the portfolio is threefold:
- Education: the primary aim of our biodiversity portfolio is to raise awareness among youth about biodiversity-related issues. We want to educate young people on topics that are often misunderstood or challenging to access, focusing on current affairs, policy and science.
- Advocacy: we strive to amplify the voice of youth in advocating for policies and laws that positively impact biodiversity and preserve it for future generations.
- Representation: our commitment extends to active participation in various stakeholder meetings to ensure that young perspectives are represented and heard. We believe that youth representation in decision making is of utmost importance for inclusive democratic processes and safeguard intergenerational equity.
The Liaison Officers will support in the implementation of the portfolio activities. Examples of these activities will include:
- 🟢 Participate in weekly calls with Alex and the YSAB Task Force.
- 🟢 Support in the organisation of 3 non-formal education workshops for youth participation in Nature Restoration Plans.
- 🟢 Support in the youth campaign on coexistence with Large Carnivores.
- 🟢 Liaise with other European youth environmental organisations with which we collaborate in the context of the Nature Restoration Law/Plans.
The Liaison Officer on Environmental Law will work closely with the Environmental Law Team – Emma, Alex and Sara. Our team advocates in the context of EU laws – National Energy and Climate Plans and the EU Climate Law, the Aarhus Convention and the Council of Europe.
The Liaison Officer will support in the implementation of the activities related to the Legal Seeds project.
Examples of these activities will include:
- 🟢 Support in the implementation of the “Race to 2040” campaign, related to the EU Climate Law.
- 🟢 Liaise with other youth organisations working on environmental law matters at EU level.
- 🟢 Support the advocacy in the context of the Aarhus Convention, with an emphasis on youth public participation.
- 🟢 Support in organising interviews with environmental defenders.
This new portfolio will bring YEE to work more directly on the relation between climate, health, and ecosystems.
The Liaison Officers will work closely with the Youth Advisory Scientific Board (YSAB) members and the Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator.
To address planetary health risks, the goals of this portfolio will align with the broader One Health framework:
- Advocacy: build a solid youth voice in advocating for reducing environmental pollutants, enhancing ecosystem resilience and strengthening public health systems.
- Raise public awareness: promote education and behavior change through related campaigns and environmental stewardship.
Our focus will be on:
- Supporting regulatory advancements to address emerging environmental health risks, such as those outlined in the Water Framework Directive and REACH Regulation.
- Advocating for stronger global agreements, such as the WHO’s One Health agenda and the UN’s Plastic Pollution Treaty, to mitigate cross-border environmental health risks.
The Liaison Officers will work with the YSAB Task Force on the implementation of the activities. These activities will include:
- 🟢 Join health-related working groups: actively participate in health-focused working groups within existing networks YEE is already a member of and map additional relevant networks to explore potential collaborations and synergies.
- 🟢 Support policy advocacy: identify opportunities to provide technical input and youth perspectives to strengthen environmental health policies at national, regional, and global levels.
- 🟢 Advance regulatory updates: advocate for and support the acceleration of amendments to key EU frameworks, such as the Water Framework Directive and REACH Regulation, to address emerging pollutants and environmental health risks.
- 🟢 Engage communities and youth: mobilise youth and local leaders (especially from, but not limited to, our members) through education, restoration activities, and citizen science initiatives to drive grassroots action and awareness, emphasizing the connections between environmental health and planetary health.
- 🟢 Build capacity through training and campaigns: organise workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns to highlight the connections between climate, health, and ecosystems, fostering knowledge and action at all levels.
This new portfolio will bring YEE to work more directly on the relation between agriculture, food production and ecosystems.
The Liaison Officers will work closely with the Youth Advisory Scientific Board (YSAB) members and the Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator.
The aims of the portfolio are:
- Advocacy
- engage with policymakers: facilitate dialogue between youth representatives and policymakers by co-organising youth-led panels, workshops, and side events at international level (e.g., COPs, GFFA, EU forums, World Food Forum).
- advocate for CAP reforms, stronger alignment of agricultural policies with biodiversity, climate, and socio-economic objectives, and youth-inclusive policies through articles, position briefs, social media campaigns, and strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations.
- Youth empowerment: collaborate with existing youth networks to amplify voices and share best practices.
- Farmer-consumer partnerships: launch local campaigns to encourage young people to support community-supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives and local markets.
- Education and communication:
- organise workshops and awareness-raising publications, materials on regenerative agriculture, food waste management, and sustainable diets for youth and local communities.
- use social media platforms to run awareness campaigns targeting young Europeans on sustainable food systems and healthy diets.
- create content (e.g., videos, infographics) to explain complex policies, funding opportunities, and practical solutions in an engaging way.
- co-develop online guides to educate young farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs on digital tools and innovative solutions for regenerative farming.
The Liaison Officers will work with the YSAB in implementing the activities, which will include:
- 🟢 Become members and follow the work of bigger network organisations.
- 🟢 Organise a roundtable discussion on Biodiversity and Agriculture.
- 🟢 Conducting research and publishing an article on how the Nature Restoration Law affects agricultural production and farmers’ income. The article will aim to provide information and recommendations to policymakers, farmers, and youth advocates, ensuring synergy with the biodiversity group’s work on the NRL.
- 🟢 Organise an online consultation session with rural youth to understand their concerns about the green transition.
- 🟢 Collaborate with youth organizations and NGOs and produce a joint report highlighting European youth voices, concerns and demands to policymakers regarding the future of agriculture.
The Liaison Officers on Just Transition and Resource Justice will continue our work in Just Transition, while bringing YEE to work more on Resource Justice.
The Liaison Officers will work closely with the Youth Advisory Scientific Board (YSAB) members, the Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator and the Advocacy Manager.
The aim of this working group is to build a youth advocacy community working on overconsumption and resource justice.
The aim is to:
- Just Transition
- Support the Just Transition Platform Working Groups by engaging with key stakeholders and youth organizations to ensure youth perspectives are integrated into discussions on coal phase-out, green jobs, and social justice.
- Collaborate with European institutions and CSOs to advocate for stronger just transition policies prioritising stakeholder engagement, equal opportunities and environmental sustainability.
- Provide capacity-building opportunities for young people by organizing knowledge-sharing sessions on best practices for implementing just transition strategies.
- Contribute to policy monitoring and analysis to track the progress of Just Transition initiatives at the EU level.
- Develop communication materials (briefs, infographics, articles) to simplify and disseminate complex just transition policies to young audiences.
- Develop resources, such as helping create toolkits and materials to support advocacy and awareness on Just Transition.
- Resource Justice
- Join efforts with other NGOs to advocate for the European Commission to start a legislative proposal on a directive on Sustainable Resource Management.
- Build capacity among YEE member organisations through organising workshops where to discuss the unsustainable use of environmental resources, and raise awareness about possible solutions to this problem.
The Liaison Officers will work with the YSAB members to implement the activities, which will include:
- Just Transition
- 🟢 Develop reports and recommendations on best practices in just transition across different regions in Europe.
- 🟢 Raise awareness by writing articles and social media content on the importance of just transition.
- 🟢 Organise online and onsite capacity-building sessions on just transition for the YEE team and member organisations.
- Resource Justice
- 🟢 Advocacy
- Join already existing coalitions
- Organise meetings with policymakers
- Write and disseminate position papers
- 🟢 Awareness raising
- Write one to three articles on the topic of resource justice, beyond growth and overconsumption
- Write small summaries from main policy developments happening at the EU and UN levels.
- 🟢 Capacity building
- Organise one online workshop part of the YEE addressed to youth leaders, focusing on resource justice, overconsumption and beyond growth.
- Organise one onsite workshop for YEE member organisations to deliver during the General Assemblies.
- Organise three online regional workshops for YEE MOs to introduce them to the topic.
- 🟢 Advocacy
The Liaison Officer on Climate Justice will support the work of the Global Dialogues for Climate Justice project and the team advocacy work towards COP30.
The Liaison Officer will work closely with the Youth Advisory Scientific Board (YSAB) members in developing content material related to climate justice topics – integrating the concept of climate justice into mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage. The LO will be supported by the Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator and the Global Dialogues for Climate Justice Lead.
The work on climate justice for 2025 will particularly focus on COP30, however the LO will map other relevant international fora as well.
The activities will include:
- 🟢 Support in the creation of advocacy position papers towards COP30
- 🟢 Support the Global Dialogues for Climate Justice Lead in the creation of training materials for the project – presentations, toolkits, articles…
- 🟢 Support the YSAB in researching climate justice, mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage
- 🟢 Help the YEE team to liaise with European and international youth organisations working on climate justice
- 🟢 Support the YSAB in identifying youth groups particularly affected by climate change in Europe
- 🟢 Identify international negotiation processes where YEE shall advocate for climate justice
YEE’s Membership Team is looking for 4 passionate volunteers to join the team!
About YEE Membership Team
The Regional Contact Persons (RCPs) are an integral part of YEE’s Membership team, which actively works on engagement and collaboration with our members, and to expand our network and reach in the different regions of Europe. As an RCP, you will play a key role in strengthening YEE’s network by building meaningful relationships with Member Organisations (MOs), supporting their work, and encouraging collaboration across regions. This is a great opportunity to gain leadership experience, develop valuable skills in facilitation and networking, and contribute to youth-led environmental action on a larger scale.
About Regional Contact Persons (RCPs)
The RCP mandate is a volunteer position of a one-year term (March 2025 – March 2026).
All RCPs will report to and be supported by the Membership team (Membership Coordinator, Member Organisations Officer, Secretary General), and also be in contact with the rest of the YEE volunteers.
The role of the RCPs is to connect and develop communities of YEE’s member organisations on the regional level and work together to strengthen the connections of young people through YEE.
They act as the point of contact between YEE and the member organisations in their region, hosting meetings for the representatives of the member organisations, and linking them with any relevant projects and opportunities from YEE. They also work to strengthen YEE’s presence in and knowledge of their region, contributing with invaluable information for our expanding network.
The average commitment of the position is between 4-7 hours a week, including bi-weekly meetings with the Membership Team, and bi-weekly meetings with other YEE volunteers, including the YEE Scientific Advisory Board, Liaison Officers, and relevant staff. These meetings will occur on alternating weeks, so you can expect at least one meeting weekly.
What you will gain:
This volunteer position offers valuable insights into working for a large European network of youth-led environmental NGOs, as well as in-depth knowledge of relevant organisations and institutions in your region.
It also provides access to a network of young green activists and professionals and helps develop transferable skills such as time management, organization, and communication, which can boost your CV.
RCPs positions available
We are looking for three volunteers to join us in the mandate of RCP for the East, North, South and West regions*.
Your tasks will include:
- 🟢 Collaborating closely with the membership team to plan, enhance and implement our member engagement strategy;
- 🟢 Organising and chairing online members’ meetings on topics of interest;
- 🟢 Staying updated on the member organisations in your region and give regular updates to relevant staff;
- 🟢 Write articles about our members and topics they work on;
- 🟢 Be a part of the Membership Committee and assess incoming applications to our network;
- 🟢 Co-organise and host open meetings for organisations interested in joining YEE;
- 🟢 Reaching out to and enhancing collaboration with youth movements in your region;
- 🟢 Stimulating and supporting member engagement in YEE activities and projects.
*YEE’s regional division of Europe is based on the UN geoscheme of Europe, but also including the Caucasus. The regions are consequently defined as follows:
East Region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine.
North Region: Åland Islands, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
South Region: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece, Holy See, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye.
West Region: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Switzerland.
Requirements
- be between 18 and 35 years old
- reside in Europe in 2025
- have strong written and verbal communication skills and a good level of English
- have basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, Google Drive)
- be available around 4-10 hours per week (depending on postion)
- be aligned with YEE's core values and mission
- have a strong interest in advocacy and promoting sustainable policy and green goals
- be passionate about helping strengthen the voice of youth in European decision-making
- have a good team spirit and be able to be part of a brand-new team
- be organised and meet deadlines
- be willing to extend your leadership and communications skills
- RCPs specific requirement: live in the region they are applying to become an RCP for (however, nationality doesn't matter)
Equal Opportunity
YEE is committed to diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups.
Selection Process
Interested candidates should submit the application form by 23rd February 2025 to be considered for the position. Selected candidates will be asked for a remote interview.
For any questions regarding the selection process, contact yee@yeenet.eu.
Call for volunteers
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Summary
What are NRPs?
National Restoration Plans (NRPs) explain how each EU country will implement the Nature Restoration Law and how it achieves its targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050!
What is the problem?
- The proposed format fails to recognise youth participation.
- It does not offer countries the space to connect nature restoration with intergenerational equity.
What are our recommendations?
Youth Participation
- Add a “Youth Participation” section
- Ensure youth voices are documented
- Promote youth-led initiatives
Youth Contributions to Restoration Targets
- Recognise youth-led restoration projects
- Ensure youth have resources to contribute effectively
Intergenerational Equity
- New section: “Consideration of Future Generations”
- Make intergenerational equity a required principle in decision-making
Environmentally Harmful Subsidies
- Public funds shouldn’t support activities that harm biodiversity
- Concrete plans to phase out harmful subsidies
- Alignment with EU biodiversity commitment
The European Commission’s proposed uniform format for National Restoration Plans (NRPs) represents a thoughtful and comprehensive framework to support member states (MS) in achieving the ambitious targets set by the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). Nevertheless, reference to a core aspect that is key to the success of this Regulation is missing: youth. This omission is particularly significant, as young people will inherit the long-term consequences of environmental policies and have a crucial role to play in driving innovation, advocacy, and community engagement for successful restoration efforts. We therefore highly recommend the inclusion of the following:
Recognition of Youth Input in the Participation Process for NRPs
We propose adding a distinct priority under section 2.1, titled “Youth Participation,” within the “Public Participation” section. Young people’s lack of participation in environmental decision-making has been evident in the creation of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). However, the NRL, and in particular, the NRPs, offer a valuable opportunity to address this gap by ensuring clear and dedicated participation pathways for young people within the NRL framework.
Following this, and for the purposes of Article 15(3(w)), we recommend more specificities to be added under Public Participation, such as subsections categorising the involvement of different stakeholders and the inputs they put forward. This way, the NRPs could provide a detailed explanation of the views expressed per category of stakeholder. We further recommend the addition of a section detailing the participation methods that the states followed (such as public consultations, multi-stakeholder group meetings, deliberations, etc…) and a short summary of each.
Youth Contributions to Restoration Targets
In addition to youth involvement in public consultations, we recommend that the NRP format include specific sections that highlight youth contributions to project implementation, citizen science, and advocacy efforts for restoration. For example, we suggest adding a new point (e.g., 14.5.5) to the format: “Describe the role of young people in the implementation of this measure.” This inclusion would support the alignment of restoration activities with national environmental citizen service programs or youth environmental corps, ensuring that young people are actively contributing to these important efforts.
Intergenerational Equity
We propose requiring MS to explicitly document how their plans address the rights of future generations. Intergenerational solidarity is recognised as a fundamental principle within the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. To incorporate this in NRPs and contribute to intergenerational equity, we suggest the following:
- Section 4.1.4: Include “intergenerational equity” as an example under “Other potential co-benefits.” Additionally, we support making this section mandatory instead of optional.
- Section 2.4: Introduce a new section titled “Consideration of Future Generations” to emphasize the importance of long-term planning.
- Section 14.3.4: Add a new section titled “Intergenerational Benefits” to highlight the advantages of prioritizing sustainability for future generations.
Environmentally Harmful Subsidies
In addition to Section 4.3.2, which gives an indication of the harmful subsidies that may negatively impact the achievement of the goals set under the regulation, we would like MS to explicitly include what actions are being taken to phase out the subsidies in question. We recommend expanding the section to include Subsection 4.3.2.1 titled “Actions taken to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies not in line with meeting the goals of the regulation”. In a parenthesis, examples can be included, such as “…(e.g. market-based instruments and green budgeting and financing tools)”. A reference to the supportive actions a state takes to phase out the specific subsidies, in line with the NRL Article 15(3(v)), would also be a useful addition to the format. This would also contribute to fulfilling Decision (EU) 2022/591 Art 3(2(h)), according to which MS “shall identify other environmentally harmful subsidies and report them regularly to the Commission”. Incorporation of more information about environmentally harmful subsidies in the NRL would therefore have multiple positive effects. In support of the latter, we would also like to draw attention to Recommendation 9 of a joint CSO statement on the EU budget for biodiversity, which calls for the harmonisation of the identification of environmentally harmful subsidies, and of a reporting mechanism. Lastly, we would like to draw attention to point 3.2 of NAT/926 of the EESC’s own initiative opinion titled “A comprehensive strategy for biodiversity at COP16”, which highlights the urgency of phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies for the purposes of biodiversity governance.
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This feedback was jointly developed by
Learn more about the EU Nature Restoration Law
National Restoration Plans (NRPs) are a cornerstone of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), outlining how Member States (MS) will implement the regulation
YEE and other youth organisations have sent this letter to European Parliament Members, ahead of the plenary vote on the Nature Restoration
Join us and over 200 NGOs and ask your decision-makers to adopt a solid and urgent implementation of the law that can
Feedback on National Restorations Plans’ format
https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/position.png 250 250 YEE https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/logo-yee-728x1030.png YEE2025-02-07 15:23:032025-02-20 09:43:59Feedback on National Restorations Plans' formatProject assistant
304 hours in total To be distributed unequally*
16.46 EUR per hour (gross)
remote within EUROPE
until October 2025
Start March 2025
Project lead for a short-term assistant on the triple planetary crisis
YEE is seeking a project assistant to support a project lead of a short-term project called Understanding the Triple Planetary Crisis through the Lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE).
*This remote position involves an uneven workload from 1st March to 31st October 2025, with the following working periods:
- March-May 2025: 76 total hours (app. 25 per month distributed unevenly with an average remuneration of 411.5 EUR per month);
- August-October 2025: 228 total hours (76 per month distributed unevenly with an average remuneration of 1250.96 EUR per month).
Application deadline: 19th February 2025
Background
The project Understanding the Triple Planetary Crisis through the Lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE) addresses the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—focusing on how young people across Europe experience and respond to its varied impacts.
Recognising that these crises transcend borders, the initiative aims to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and empower young people through education, cooperation, and advocacy. By enhancing cross-border knowledge sharing and promoting the right to a healthy environment (RTHE), the project seeks to build a united and strategic youth response to environmental challenges, emphasising the importance of regional and social contexts.
Key objectives include raising awareness of regional differences in experiencing these crises, equipping young people with the skills to advocate for environmental rights, fostering collaboration among youth organisations, and encouraging local and global environmental actions. The project prioritises rural and vulnerable young people across Europe, ensuring inclusivity and diverse representation. Innovative approaches, such as cross-geographical dialogue and visual storytelling, will showcase the role of youth in driving environmental change and strengthen their contributions to a sustainable future.
Responsibilites
The project assistant will support the project lead in carrying out the project activities including:
- Organising a training course for youth workers in Yerevan, Armenia (expected in April/May 2025)
- Developing social media Campaign "Regional perspectives of the RtHE"
- Organising a dialogue in the Symposium comparing the findings of the training course and the academic report conducted by university students. (expected in September 2025)
- Reporting
Candidates we are looking for
- Have experience working on climate change, environmental issues, and local-level advocacy
The ideal profile:
- Has experience in the field of youth work
- Previous experience in project management and/or communications
- Is motivated to interact in an international environment with different organisations, institutions, and individuals
- Is comfortable with being part of a small team
- Has a creative approach and can come up with innovative solutions
- Familiar with non-formal education methodology
Requirements
- Working proficiency in English
- Be able to work remotely and collaborate with the team under this regime
- Be resident in Europe, already with an EU working permit
- Eligible applicants must be younger than 35 years of age
- Be aligned with YEE's core values and mission.
Equal Opportunity
YEE is committed to diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups.
Selection Process
Interested candidates should submit the application form by 19 February 2025 to be considered for the position. Selected candidates will be asked for a remote interview during the week of 24 to 28 February.
For any questions regarding the selection process, contact yee@yeenet.eu.
Call for a project assistant
https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/hiring.png 250 250 YEE https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/logo-yee-728x1030.png YEE2025-02-05 14:25:362025-03-03 09:13:33Call for a project assistant 20 hours/week
1431.8 EUR per month (gross)
remote within EUROPE
until November 2025
Start March 2025
Project lead for a short-term project on the triple planetary crisis
YEE is seeking a project lead for a short-term project called Understanding the Triple Planetary Crisis through the Lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE).
This position is remote and requires an average of 20 hours per week of work until November 30th, 2025.
Application deadline: 19th February 2025
Background
The project Understanding the Triple Planetary Crisis through the Lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE) addresses the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—focusing on how young people across Europe experience and respond to its varied impacts.
Recognising that these crises transcend borders, the initiative aims to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and empower young people through education, cooperation, and advocacy. By enhancing cross-border knowledge sharing and promoting the right to a healthy environment (RTHE), the project seeks to build a united and strategic youth response to environmental challenges, emphasising the importance of regional and social contexts.
Key objectives include raising awareness of regional differences in experiencing these crises, equipping young people with the skills to advocate for environmental rights, fostering collaboration among youth organisations, and encouraging local and global environmental actions. The project prioritises rural and vulnerable young people across Europe, ensuring inclusivity and diverse representation. Innovative approaches, such as cross-geographical dialogue and visual storytelling, will showcase the role of youth in driving environmental change and strengthen their contributions to a sustainable future.
Responsibilites
The project lead will be responsible for carrying out all the project activities including:
- Attending and contributing to a preparatory meeting in March 2025
- Organising a training course for youth workers in Yerevan, Armenia (expected in April/May 2025)
- Developing social media Campaign "Regional perspectives of the RtHE"
- Organising a dialogue in the Symposium comparing the findings of the training course and the academic report conducted by university students. (expected in September 2025)
- Reporting
Candidates we are looking for
- Has previous experience in project management and communications
- Has acquired knowledge on the Right to a Healthy Environment
- Has experience working on climate change, environmental issues, and local-level advocacy
- Have experience and a good understanding of stakeholder’s engagement.
- Undertakes responsibilities and carries out tasks independently whilst being a good communicator
- Familiar with non-formal education methodology
The ideal profile:
- Has experience working with the European Youth Foundation or the Council of Europe
- Has experience in the field of youth and environmental advocacy
- Is motivated to interact in an international environment with different organisations, institutions, and individuals
- Is comfortable with being part of a small team
- Has a creative approach and can come up with innovative solutions
- Has an experience as a trainer in non-formal education
Requirements
- Working proficiency in English
- Be able to work remotely and collaborate with the team under this regime
- Be resident in Europe, already with an EU working permit
- Eligible applicants must be younger than 35 years of age
- Be aligned with YEE's core values and mission.
Equal Opportunity
YEE is committed to diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups.
Selection Process
Interested candidates should submit the application form by 19 February 2025 to be considered for the position. Selected candidates will be asked for a remote interview during the week of 24 to 28 February.
For any questions regarding the selection process, contact yee@yeenet.eu.
Call for a part-time project lead
https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/hiring.png 250 250 Eva Kloudová https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/logo-yee-728x1030.png Eva Kloudová2025-02-05 12:18:262025-03-03 09:13:43Call for a part-time project lead short-term contract
€1,775 – 2,150 in total (gross)
remote within EUROPE
until May 2025
Start March 2025
Intersectionality expert with with experience in non-formal education
YEE is seeking an expert who can bring depth to the training by addressing specific challenges faced by marginalised communities, sharing best practices, and fostering meaningful dialogue among participants.
This position requires remote preparation and travelling to Prague to deliver and facilitate the training in April 2025.
Application deadline: 16th February 2025
Background
Empowering the Unheard is a Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) project centred on intersectionality with a core mission to support young individuals with fewer opportunities in their entry into the climate movement.
Over the past year, the project has supported 10 initiatives across Europe, engaging marginalised and vulnerable communities in environmental actions. As the project nears its conclusion, we are organising a 5-day training to bring together project participants. This training will create a space for sharing regional experiences, exchanging expertise, and building participants’ capacities to continue working with marginalized youth in their communities.
Responsibilites
- Develop a plan for the study session together with the Project Lead
- Attend at least 2 preliminary online meetings with the Project Lead for the preparation of the training
- Support the facilitation of interactive sessions using non-formal education methods for a group of 20-25 participants (3 full days of training plus arrival and departure days with limited activities)
- Conduct at least 2 learning activities within the training specifically focusing on topics affecting marginalised and vulnerable youth
- Support the development of the handbook based on the findings and insights of the training (contribute to the writing and/or editing of the handbook’s content)
Candidates we are looking for
- With expertise in intersectionality, inclusion, and environmental justice through academic studies and/or professional experience;
- With proven experience working with marginalized and/or vulnerable groups (e.g. minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ youth, or others) in an educational or advocacy capacity;
- With at least 1 year of experience designing and delivering youth trainings using non-formal education methods;
- With availability for the specific dates of the training during calendar weeks 15–16 (mid April)
The ideal profile:
- Has understanding of the climate crisis and intersectionality nexus on an academic and/or professional level
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- Be resident in Europe, already with an EU working permit
- Eligible applicants must be younger than 35 years of age
- Be aligned with YEE's core values and mission.
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This is a paid position with a fixed compensation range 1,775 – 2,150€. The final amount will be determined based on the selected candidate’s level of experience and the specific extent of their contributions to the training and handbook development.
Payment will be issued upon invoice submission.
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Call for an intersectionality expert
https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/hiring.png 250 250 Eva Kloudová https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/logo-yee-728x1030.png Eva Kloudová2025-02-04 17:32:552025-03-03 09:13:53Call for an intersectionality expertReflections on INC-5: A Delayed Milestone, not a Failure
This session was supposed to be the “end of the beginning,” when the world would step out with the first-ever global plastic treaty.
- February 3, 2025
Written by
Shellan Saling
Contents
Explainers
In treaty negotiations, brackets indicate text that is still under discussion and might be added, deleted or revised. They help show areas where agreement has not been found yet. This allows negotiators to know which part of the text needs more debate.
A non-paper is an informal document used in diplomatic negotiations to propose ideas, outline potential solutions, or highlight issues without a formal position.
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Expectations ran high as delegates convened in Busan, South Korea, from 25 November to 1 December 2024. They met for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
This session was supposed to be the “end of the beginning,” when the world would step out with the first-ever global plastic treaty, which did not happen. However, calling INC-5 a failure would overlook the complexities of negotiating and treaty-making and the leap forward that took place at INC-5.
Laying the Foundation for INC-5
The intersessional period between INC-4 and INC-5 was busier than ever, marked by the agreed-upon intersessional work of two working groups. With the revised zero text widely declared unworkable due to the text mostly being bracketed, INC Chair Luis Vayada technically went beyond his mandate with good intention by issuing informal drafts called non-papers which aimed to bring member states to an agreement. The final one, non-paper three, outlined a treaty with proposed ways forward to INC-5 and COP-1. As a result, there was a lot of uncertainty over which paper would be used as a starting point for negotiations.
Familiarity with the past at the beginning of INC-5
As the plenary opened in Busan, familiar obstacles emerged. Low-ambition countries applied delay tactics, resurrecting the ever-prolonged debate over the still-in-draft form rules of procedure. Hours of discussion yielded few breakthroughs, but eventually, the chair and most member states agreed to continue with the draft rules of procedures, meaning all decisions would still require consensus. There was also a debate about whether negotiations should start from the revised zero draft or non-paper three. The consensus ruled in favour of starting at non-paper three as the negotiating text with the caveat the Member States could propose additional text. This allowed delegates to break into contact groups earlier than in previous sessions, a small but important step to keep discussions focused on substantive issues. Two new drafts of the treaty (non-papers) were produced throughout INC-5 with an agreement to resume session 5 with the “Chair’s Text” agreed by member states.
From an outsider’s perspective, the negotiations may have appeared to spin in circles. This was further reinforced by major news reporting INC-5 as a failure with headlines such as, “U.N. treaty talks collapse”, “Countries fail to reach agreement in the UN plastic talks”, or “Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty”, painting a picture of deadlock and disappointment. Such characterisations, however, miss a critical nuance: incremental progress often defines the rhythm of international treaties. Expectations to finalise the first-ever global plastic treaty within two and a half years of UNEA Resolution 5/14 at UNEA 5.2 in March 2022 were always ambitious, as they should be to address the urgency of this crisis. Naturally, there was disappointment. Many people who had been working on this process for a long time knew in the back of their minds that INC-5 was going to be a steep uphill battle to finalise a treaty and that additional INCs were likely.
Despite these challenges, INC-5 marked a subtle, yet significant turning point. For the first time, we saw a clear majority emerge with more than 100+ countries uniting in wanting a treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics that includes production limits. This is in addition to many stakeholders and observers including youth, children, scientists, businesses, indigenous, frontline communities and rights holders having voiced this from the very beginning of negotiations, if not long before the treaty negotiations began. This emerging consensus on reduction-oriented measures contrasts sharply with the minority of member states wanting strictly a waste-management treaty, an approach that has been long favoured and known by less ambitious member states and industry stakeholders. Had negotiators settled for a weaker, waste management-focused deal in Busan, the world might have walked away with a quick agreement, but at the cost of ignoring scientists and jeopardising lasting solutions to protect vulnerable groups from the impacts of plastic pollution. Growing voices argue that no treaty is better than a weak one.
Lessons from History
It is critical to look at these negotiations in the history of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Building on decades of advocacy and awareness around plastic pollution, these negotiations are moving at a pace that reflects both urgency and complexity. While addressing the plastic crisis with this treaty is extremely urgent with current predictions seeing plastic production triple by 2060 without intervention negotiations are still going at a swift pace compared to other MEAs. Notably, the Paris Agreement took 6 years to negotiate, building from the momentum of decades of climate talks. The most recent High Seas Treaty, finalised in 2023, took nearly two decades of discussions and five years of formal negotiations. Countless other MEAs have taken more than two years to be negotiated. Even though the plastic treaty negotiations are being extended to 2025, if countries can agree, it would remain one of the fastest global environmental agreements ever forged. Based on INC-5 and the unity that has converged it is possible for countries to agree by the end of 2025, if not sooner.
Challenges and looking ahead
Negotiations are still expected to overcome plenty of challenges before reaching a conclusion. Observers were locked out for nearly half of the negotiations and must be included in all negotiations going forward. Youth delegates (35 and younger) continue to lack power and decision-making authority over their own future. Whether part of government delegations or observers, young people and future generations are set to be the most impacted by the plastic crisis. Some of the most contentious sections of the treaty include those addressing hazardous chemicals in plastics (Article 3), sustainable production (Article 6), and funding mechanisms (Article 11)., yet are some of the most important articles in the treaty. They must be ambitious with bold targets and robust funding mechanisms. Ultimately, this treaty will have a significant impact on our generation and those to come. It is up to us to decide how we want to change history.
While we await when and where session 5 will reconvene, it is evident the debate is no longer confined to the technicalities. It is a fundamental question of whether the treaty will embrace meaningful reductions in plastic production, supply, and demand and provide strong protection for vulnerable communities and ecosystems. Resisting compromise on ambitious goals and ensuring active engagement from all stakeholders, including youth, will determine the treaty’s trajectory. History suggests it will take time, and INC-5, far from failure, may be remembered as another critical stepping stone toward a strong, science-based, ambitious global plastics treaty.
There are still many unresolved questions and concerns, including procedural matters and the critical issue of determining which document will serve as the basis for negotiations in section 5.2. Options include using the Chair’s text, combining different drafts, or allowing countries to make further changes to the text. A final critical question remaining from INC-5: Is multilateralism the right path forward for this treaty? While consensus has been foundational for treaty-making, the urgency of addressing the plastic crisis is a reason to look at alternative approaches such as voting on unresolved issues. Although untraditional in the treaty-making process, it could speed up the progress towards reaching an agreement.
The path forward requires bold and daring action to keep up the momentum by reconvening as soon as possible for session 5.2 because our generation and those to come are on the line if we do not get an ambitious treaty as soon as possible.
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Reflections on INC-5: A Delayed Milestone, not a Failure
https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/INC5.png 540 540 YEE https://yeenet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/logo-yee-728x1030.png YEE2025-02-03 09:40:182025-02-03 13:15:04Reflections on INC-5: A Delayed Milestone, not a FailureOur mission
YEE aims to unite environmental youth non-profit organisations in Europe in order to enhance international cooperation, increase knowledge about the climate crisis, raise awareness of environmental problems and to strengthen participation of youth in environmental decision-making.
Financially supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Council of Europe
