Sign the Arzni Declaration on Youth and Environmental Conflicts!

A call upon all organisations, groups and collectives to support

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Young people from across Europe gathered in Armenia in May this year to co-create the Arzni Declaration on Youth and Environmental Conflicts.

“As young people and members of youth-led organisations, we stand united in our determination to drive transformative change rooted in solidarity, human dignity, and territorial sovereignty. Through this Declaration on Environmental Conflicts, we amplify the voices of young people calling for urgent and meaningful action to address the links between ecological breakdown and conflict. We commit to defending local communities, challenging false climate solutions, and promoting a sustainable future built on justice, peace, and collective responsibility.”

We call on all organisations, groups, and collectives in Europe to sign the Arzni Declaration and demand that all sectors of society take urgent responsibility in addressing the growing link between environmental destruction, injustice, and conflict, taking into account our diverse struggles and realities. We affirm that there can be no lasting peace without ecological justice, and no sustainable future without protecting both people and the planet. 

  1. We demand that the youth be involved in all decision-making processes.

  2. We demand that those responsible for environmental destruction be held accountable.

  3. We call for a future-oriented economy.

  4. We call for democratic cooperation and justice.

“We, the youth of Europe and beyond, unite through this declaration to demand urgent action on environmental conflicts and ecological justice. […] Together, across borders and differences, we will build a future where justice, sustainability, and dignity are realised for all.” 

Sign on to the Declaration using this link by September 11.

You can read the full Arzni Declaration (here).

For questions, please contact Ena Utevska (ena@yeenet.org). 

*The Arzni Declaration was co-created as part of the project Transforming Environmental Conflicts implemented by YEE in collaboration with Yeghvard NGO, supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. 

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Pushing for accountability: Youth voices at the Aarhus Convention

YEE's experience advocating for youth in Geneva

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In the final week of June, the 30th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention was held at the United Nations in Geneva. Conversations and negotiations in the corridors of the Palais were cut short as the mounting heat became increasingly stifling.  Against the backdrop of a sweltering heatwave, the meeting room became a cool refuge. For many of the NGOs and civil society representatives in the Aarhus ECO Forum, the temperature added an undeniable urgency and frustration to discussions which still seemed to lack ambitious commitment.

 

YEE and the Compliance Committee

As the only youth observer to the Aarhus Convention, Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) intervened on topics throughout discussions to ensure that youth perspectives were accounted for during the meeting. For example, we took the floor to highlight youth experiences engaging with the Compliance Committee, the treaty’s independent body that reviews public complaints on environmental rights, and to express concerns on the funding crisis of the convention as well as intergenerational fairness. While a contact group has been set up as a result of this meeting, faced with a piling workload and reduced staff capacity, the invaluable work of the Compliance Committee is undermined if parties continue not to fulfil their financial commitments.

Added to this, a survey to compile experiences of those engaging with the Compliance Committee is going to be published. Over the days, it became clear that parties (namely the UK and the EU and its member states) were pushing for the outcomes of this unwritten survey to have the power to revisit Meeting of the Parties’ decisions and revise core mechanism documents. This is a worrying move as it raises questions as to the intentions behind these powers, which can be easily co-opted and undermine the democratic principles underlying the convention.

 

Raising environmental defenders’ voices

Despite these concerns, there were nonetheless hopeful breakthroughs during the week. For example, the intervention of YEE representative Xabier Gomez raised the challenges and insights gathered from the first-ever Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRD) Forum in Strasbourg, which took place at the beginning of June this year. By amplifying the testimonies of youth defenders and reiterating the need for the explicit protection of young environmental defenders, parties agreed to recognise the importance of ensuring the safety of environmental defenders for effective implementation of the Convention in the outcomes of the meeting.

 

Consolidating support for the Right to a Healthy Environment

The Campaign for the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the Council of Europe is also continuing to build momentum. Gathering outside the Palais des Nations, a lunchtime protest reminded the 46 Council of Europe member States that we still demand political leadership to start negotiations on a binding treaty. States were invited to a roundtable breakfast where representatives from countries, institutions and civil society were able to bring questions and share ideas on the Campaign. At this event, we were able to brief States on youth perspectives taken from the EHRD Forum in Strasbourg to demonstrate how the Right to a Healthy Environment underpins the enjoyment of all other human rights. From these conversations, it is clear that we are at a hopeful tipping point to progressing this topic within the Council of Europe, momentum which provided a glimmer of hope across an otherwise sobering week.

 

Civil society, institutions and all other parties to the Convention must continue to advance Aarhus rights: the right to environmental information, the right to public participation and the right to access justice in environmental governance. It is of utter importance, especially during this intersessional period, if we are to safeguard our right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

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Designing Climate Action That Works

Four cases from the Y-RESCUE project

This article was originally written by the European Youth Parliament

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Want to know more about the Youth for Resilient Cities and Urban Environments project? Check out the Y-Rescue dedicated page!

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This report outlines the cultural relevance of the four Y-RESCUE challenge cases and presents our key insights and recommendations for future work packages. We evaluated these cases to ensure they are inclusive, highly adaptable, and meaningful across diverse European cities.

 

Adapting to the local scene

The assessment combined four evidence sources: a desk-based knowledge review, 21 stakeholder interviews, over 300 youth surveys, and a focus group workshop with 16 experts and stakeholders.

Together, these informed the development of challenge cases that reflect shared urban climate issues across Europe, including air pollution, extreme heat, lack of green space, underused urban land, food insecurity, and unequal exposure to environmental risks. The process focused on creating challenge frameworks that are flexible enough to work across different governance systems, climate zones, municipal capacities, and neighbourhood contexts.

 

Making it matter for Youth

The assessment also examined how well the cases align with youth priorities, participation realities, and cultural inclusion. Findings showed that young people are most motivated by climate action that is practical, community-based, visible, creative, and meaningful rather than symbolic.

To reduce exclusion, the cases avoid assumptions about digital access, technical expertise, free time, institutional trust, or identical experiences across countries.

Particular attention was given to vulnerable groups such as low-income communities, migrants, older adults, children, and people with disabilities.

Overall, the assessment confirmed that the four cases address urgent urban climate challenges while supporting equitable participation, youth leadership, local innovation, and practical action adaptable to many European contexts.

 

What is Y-Rescue?

Y-RESCUE is a project that empowers young people to lead transformative climate action in urban areas increasingly threatened by environmental challenges. Launched in 2025, the project is mobilising 300 young participants (aged 18–30) and youth organisations across several European partner countries to co-create local resilience solutions and strengthen youth entrepreneurship in the climate field. More specifically, throughout Y-RESCUE, partners and young participants together attend workshops, identify challenges, and come up with innovative solutions. By making the most of peer learning, mentorship, and shared resources, the project will build its participants’ skills in leadership and project management, while ensuring valuable action is carried out to fight environmental challenges.

Report in German
Report in Czech
Report in English
Report in Danish

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Defending the Environmental Defenders

Key takeaways from the first-ever forum for Environmental Human Rights Defenders

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On the 3rd and 4th June 2026, the Council of Europe hosted the first-ever Forum for Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) in Strasbourg, France. More than 280 defenders from across Europe came together alongside NGOs, EU institutions, and state representatives to exchange experiences, strengthen connections, and advance environmental rights.

As one of the forum’s co-organisers, Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) attended and supported several sessions and initiatives throughout the event. This included the establishment of a Youth Taskforce, bringing together youth representatives from civil society organisations, UN and EU institutions to support the active participation of youth EHRDs and ensure that their perspectives were visible and reflected in discussions.

 

YEE’s contribution to the Forum and support to young EHRDs

The ability to bring, for example, youth EHRDs together is critical to empowering defenders. It is through gathering that defenders are better able to share ideas, advocacy and testimonies. This coming-together is essential to creating vital solidarities in the face of the ongoing persecution of EHRDs.

It is an opportunity for those actively risking their own wellbeing to safeguard our shared Environmental Human Rights and futures to have their voices and stories not only heard, but also amplified and acted on.

Within the organisational structure of the Forum, YEE were proud to be working within the Youth Task Force sub-committee. We aimed to promote and safeguard youth engagement throughout the event. 

From ice-breakers and energisers to logistics and raising concerns, we were the port of call for youth EHRDs navigating both the institutional and emotional landscape of the Council of Europe hosting the Forum. 

Seeing how youth defenders came together so enthusiastically, empathetically and tirelessly was truly inspiring. Their courage to attend, share their stories and wholeheartedly engage in debates must be met by the momentum to protect all of our shared environmental human rights.

 

Formalising the right to a healthy environment 

A core message which arose from the Forum was the need for a legally binding additional protocol for the Right to a Healthy Environment in the Council of Europe. 

Testimonies of repression, persecution and the impacts of undertaking environmental human rights activism on mental and physical health clearly laid out the contemporary hostility for defenders in Europe. 

Without this explicit recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the critical advocacy of defenders can be dismissed and weaponised due to the lack of a legal instrument which can support both those advocating for our shared future, and thus European rightsholders more generally.

Protection, accountability and democratic action are central to mitigating the environmental and climate crisis. As a result, the Right to a Healthy Environment is a precondition for the enjoyment of all other human rights.

 

Holding companies accountable for environmental harm

Legal cases holding companies accountable for environmental damage are beginning to emerge across Europe, building good precedents for further legal action. At the same time, while the 2024 EU Environmental Crime Directive has been an important step forward, its transposition across Member States remains slow, demonstrating little appetite to address the issue.

Participants called for greater recognition of, and stronger responses to, corporate harms affecting environmental protection. They also suggested adopting more preventive approaches, such as the active participation of affected communities in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

 

Recognising and Protecting Defenders

The recognition of EHRDs and the essential role they play for democracies to be considered healthy was at the core of the discussions. Through organising peaceful protests, acting as watchdogs, and building connections with communities, EHRDs contribute to building a sustainable future.

Across their different contexts, defenders shared concerns about Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and foreign agent laws that continue to restrict civic space. For young people in particular, this often translates into even fewer opportunities to participate in civic life, as limited resources make it harder to respond to legal and administrative pressures. 

The 2024 EU Anti-SLAPP directive is a step in the right direction, and should be transposed by Member States widely. Aarhus Convention review mechanisms are also in place to allow for international pressure. In addition, though, participants highlighted that countering this trend requires reclaiming the narrative around environmental activism and increasing the visibility of the contribution that EHRDs make to environmental rights. 

 

A call for action

It is important not to lose the momentum generated by this Forum. This is supported by the legally binding Additional Protocol to the Right to a Healthy Environment in the Council of Europe, as this right is a precondition to enjoy all other human rights.  We hope that the testimonies and common advocacy messages shared during the forum will inspire defenders, CSOs, as well as the EU and its Member States to continue building a strong commitment to creating an enabling environment for defenders across Europe. Therefore, as we look ahead, we must continue to defend the defenders who not only safeguard our shared environment, but also our democratic futures.

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From Bonn to COP31: realising a Just Transition

A reaction to the outcomes of the SB64 negotiations

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Stephanny Ulivieri, Secretary General, and Devina Shah in Bonn, Germany, for the UNFCCC SB64
Picture from the negotiations

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YEE’s take on SB64

In early June, the YEE team participated as observers in the Just Transition negotiating rooms at the 64th session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64). This event gathers the UNFCCC delegates in Bonn to drive preliminary negotiations in preparation for COP31.

As YEE, we believe that a Just Transition is the cornerstone of climate action, because it ensures that the shift to a sustainable economy is fast and fair, while protecting workers, vulnerable communities, and future generations from the socio-economic shocks of a changing energy landscape.

However, our observations revealed that this effort has really struggled to take off. Negotiations were frequently stalled by procedural delays and technical loops, which pulled the focus away from the need to address governance and funding.

 

The outcomes

By the final contact group on 17 June, negotiators had a package on the table: a revised Terms of Reference (ToR) for the review of the Just Transition Work Programme, and an informal note capturing emerging ideas on the long-awaited Just Transition Mechanism (aka. Belem-Antalaya Mechanism, aka. BAM). As there was resistance to the text on “complementarity and coherence” with other instruments, the session ultimately reached a standstill.

Notably, among the delegations that stood up to call for the ToR to be saved were Burkina Faso, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the African Group, the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC), the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG), the Least Developed Countries (LDC), and Brazil. Eventually, the co-chair narrowed the divide, and the text lived.

While the talks in Bonn were often slow and frustrating, they did indeed set the crucial foundation for a serious and meaningful agreement at COP31 (the 31st Conference of the Parties), making the BAM more attainable.

 

Demanding Intergenerational Equity

Inside this delicate process, the Official Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC (YOUNGO)—of which YEE is a member—made a clear structural request. They proposed a Joint Advisory Body for governance modeled after the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) Advisory Board, which would include permanent seats for all nine UNFCCC observer constituencies and an operational entity for continuity.

YOUNGO suggested that meaningful engagement in the governance of this mechanism is what transforms intergenerational equity from a concept into a practice, reminding negotiators that children and youth will inherit the results of the transitions being designed today.

 

YEE’s response statement

What these observations confirm is that Just Transition was the one track in Bonn that kept moving despite the room’s working methods. A mechanism this important should not depend on whether a handful of words survive a midday break. We maintain that the BAM must progress beyond discussion to help make a Just Transition a reality. YEE explicitly calls for the creation of a new constituted body to oversee the Just Transition Mechanism, ensuring we avoid a hollow void outcome at COP31.

Heading into COP31, YEE urges Parties to endorse governance for the Just Transition Mechanism with formal voting seats for youth and other observer constituencies; it is important for it to be funded so that assistance reaches communities directly instead of circulating through further dialogues. The next few months are critical, and YEE will conduct strategic outreach and coalition-building to guarantee that these governance structures are finalised. 

Bonn showed us the vulnerability and resilience of the multilateral process, and we hope COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, will transfer the resilience into action.

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YEE’s reflections on the Santa Marta Conference

A reaction to the outcomes of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

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Our team has spent the last week closely monitoring the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, which took place from 24 to 29 April 2026 in Santa Marta, Colombia. Coming off the back of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP30) in Belém, which was also called the COP of Truth, Santa Marta felt like the first real test of whether governments are actually ready to handle that reality.

If Belém was about securing our seat at the table through the Belém Action Mechanism, Santa Marta was about the how. For the first time, we saw a space not bogged down by UNFCCC veto politics. Because it was a dialogue rather than a formal negotiation, it was a safe space for the willing where fossil fuel lobbies were kept out, allowing youth, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society to raise their voices directly to states in a genuine back-and-forth.

What really hit home for us was the translation gap. Let us be real: the EU does not lack the tools to end the fossil era. We have carbon pricing, trade mechanisms, and massive leverage in the World Bank. The problem we see is political coherence.

Currently, these instruments are still calibrated to protect incumbent interests like the old industry while maintaining a thin veil of climate credibility. We saw EU representatives talk about global leadership while greenlighting new domestic gas projects in Germany and the Netherlands back home. This approach seems like a choice to protect the status quo over our future. For instance, while France has submitted a roadmap with time-bound phase-out dates, the broader EU submission remains vague and relies too heavily on loan-based support, and others like Norway, unfortunately remain committed to being stable suppliers of oil and gas.

 

Why this matters for youth

The Childhood and Youth Subchapter group pushed for change in how we judge progress by demanding that the best interests of the child become a binding legal criterion for every single energy project. This is both a moral plea and a structural necessity tied to the new Science Panel for the Global Energy Transition (SPGET), which is a massive win because it can finally close the discrepancy between high-level policy and the indigenous and local expertise that has been ignored for too long.

However, we are wary of the shift toward a technocratic space. If we treat the transition as a technical exercise of energy addition rather than a rights-based phase out, we risk repeating old inequalities. We noticed a clear gap: while there is mention of consulting communities, there is still very little on the actual decision-making power for youth. We must ensure the three new workstreams on roadmaps, economic dependencies, and trade do not become mere technical blueprints but tools for social justice.

This shift is even more urgent given the current security crisis. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and Europe’s fossil fuel bill jumping by 24 billion euros in just a few months, the old argument that quitting fossils is an economic risk has been exposed as a myth. The real risk to our generation is staying hooked on a volatile and expensive past. By moving the next conference to Tuvalu in 2027, the movement is officially putting the people on the absolute frontlines in the driver’s seat. We are no longer waiting for the powerful to catch up; instead, we are shifting the center of gravity toward those who have the most to lose and the most to teach us about resilience.

 

YEE response statement

The era of voluntary promises has reached its limit. The Santa Marta Conference has exposed a dangerous translation gap where the EU possesses the tools to end the fossil era but lacks the political courage to deploy them fairly. We demand that the best interests of the youth move from a box-ticking exercise to a binding legal mandate for every energy project. If Europe wants to be a partner to the Global South, it must stop using trade mechanisms as protectionist shields and start funding a just transition that does not leave our generation with the bill. We must move beyond temporary windfall taxes toward permanent frameworks and the immediate redirection of the $1.2 trillion in fossil subsidies to end the proliferation of fossil fuels once and for all. We are moving toward a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty with or without the powerful leading the way.

We have followed Santa Marta with mixed feelings but renewed clarity. The willing are not yet powerful, but the momentum is past the point of no return. We specifically look to the new Science Panel (SPGET) to bridge the gap between high-level science and national roadmaps that prioritize social justice over technocratic blueprints. To the governments back home: the economic and security case for a phase-out is closed. The only thing left is your decision to act.

As we move forward in 2026, we will be rigorously following this agenda in the run-up to the 64th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB 64) intersessional meetings in Bonn (8–18 June 2026). Our focus is on accountability. We will be tracking the formal submission of the conference report as it is handed over to the COP30 Presidency to influence the 2nd Global Stocktake. Furthermore, we are demanding that the Santa Marta outcomes, including the new subsidy disclosure methodology, are officially integrated into the global roadmap heading toward COP31 in Antalya. 

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Training course on Transforming Environmental Conflicts

Share tools, build solidarity and learn how to transform conflicts rather than be worn down by them.

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Practical information

  • When

    10-17th May 2026

  • Where

    Tsaghkadzor, Armenia

  • Costs

    Accommodation, meals, and travel expenses are fully funded.

  • Deadline

    9th April 2026

Co-organised with

Funded by

Related project

Trasforming Environmental Conflicts

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Any questions?

Contact the project lead Ena at ena@yeenet.eu

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE), in collaboration with “Yeghvard” Youth Ecological NGO, invites young activists and youth workers to join a fully funded international training course in Armenia as the first activity of our program on Transforming Environmental Conflicts: Youth for Dialogue and Rights.

It is the first of three interconnected activities in a project that will continue through youth-led activities in participants’ own communities, including a mentoring process throughout the implementation, and a wellbeing retreat in late October 2026. Participants must participate in all three activities of the project.

Why is this topic important?

Across Europe and beyond, many communities are living through ongoing conflicts, political tensions and environmental destruction. If you are working on environmental issues right now, you are probably feeling the sense that the conflicts around us are multiplying faster than our capacity to respond. That is exactly why coming together right now is crucial: to share tools, build solidarity and learn how to transform conflicts rather than be worn down by them. 

What is this training course about

Environmental conflicts are not only happening far away or in the future. They are present in many communities, from disputes over water and land, pollution affecting rural areas, mistrust between youth and local authorities, and the internal tensions that arise inside movements trying to change things under pressure. Young people are often at the centre of these conflicts, and they are rarely given the tools to engage with them constructively.

The training course equips participants with practical skills in nonviolent communication, conflict analysis, intercultural dialogue, negotiation and advocacy. It also creates space to explore the inner dimension of this work: the eco-anxiety that comes with caring about the environment at this moment in time.

What to Expect?

The training course is built on non-formal education methods: no lectures, no passive learning – everything is experiential, participatory and grounded in participants’ own realities.

The programme includes:

  • Conflict analysis workshops using mapping tools and the iceberg model to understand what drives environmental disputes at different levels, from the personal to the systemic.
  • Non-Violent Communication (NVC) practice and communication skills.
  • Intercultural dialogue sessions designed to build genuine solidarity across the different political and environmental realities that participants come from.
  • Negotiation and multi-stakeholder simulations, including role plays with diverse stakeholders.
  • Advocacy tools to develop concrete youth-led actions.
  • Sessions on eco-anxiety and collective care, exploring how to sustain long-term engagement without burning out.
  • Co-creation of a Youth Declaration on Environmental Conflicts, as a shared output and advocacy tool for the group.
  • A field visit in the Tsaghkadzor area to connect the training to live local environmental situations.

Who should apply?

You do not need to have previous experience with conflict transformation or formal advocacy training. You need to be genuinely engaged with environmental issues in your community and genuinely committed to the full scope of this project. 

Specifically:

  • Youth workers and youth leaders affiliated with YEE member organisations.
  • Young people from rural areas who are working on or affected by local environmental conflicts.
  • Young activists from minority communities or from regions where environmental activism is particularly difficult or politically charged.
  • Young people who are prepared to organise and implement a local dialogue, workshop or campaign in their own community in the months following the training.

We particularly encourage applications from young people in countries that are living close to environmental conflict: where communities are fighting against extractive industries, where the consequences of armed conflict are visible in the landscape, where the climate crisis is already disrupting livelihoods, or where the space to organise is restricted.

Eligibility

  • You are between 18 and 30 years old.
  • You are based in one of the following countries: Armenia, Albania, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Georgia, Germany, the Republic of Moldova, the Netherlands, or Kosovo.
  • You have a good working level of English, the language of the training.
  • You are prepared to organise and implement a local dialogue, workshop or campaign in their own community in the months following the training.
  • You are available for the full training week in Armenia and committed to participating in the local campaign phase (Activity 2) and the retreat in late October 2026 (location to be announced).

Costs and funding

This training course is fully funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. Accommodation and meals are covered for the full duration. Travel costs will be reimbursed according to YEE travel policy. Further details will be provided to selected participants. There is no participation fee.

How to apply

Applications are submitted through an online form. The form asks you to describe the environmental conflict or challenge you are working on in your community, your motivation for joining this project, and your idea for the local action you would implement after the training.

Please note that the use of AI tools to fill in the application is discouraged, as we are interested in your personal reflections and original input.

Note on safety

The training course is organised in Tsaghkadzor, a small northern mountain town in Armenia, and while we are aware that Armenia is a country close to regional conflict, it is safe, calm and far from any area of tension. YEE’s member organisation and project partner, “Yeghvard” Youth Ecological NGO, is rooted in this region and is experienced in conflict situations.

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#HandsOffNature petition

We demand that our European leaders defend the laws that protect people and nature, not bow to polluters and vested interests.

Why does it matter?

Attacks on our drinking water are happening as we speak. 

Right now, our leaders are handing out permits to poison our water. Powerful polluting industries (e.g. mining, chemical, industrial agriculture) and reckless lawmakers are tearing down the EU water law that keeps our water toxic-free, your rivers clean, and your health protected. For the past 25 years, this water law has driven the clean up of our rivers and lakes.

And that’s not all. Forever chemicals might now stay with us indefinitely, deforestation cannot be stopped in the future anymore, and protecting iconic species and landscapes will be a thing of the past. They are killing vital nature laws one by one.

In Europe, we have decades-old laws that protect people and nature. They work well. Let’s keep it that way. 

Stand up for yourself, for your water, for nature, for your children. Sign our petition now and share it widely.

Help us spread the word! Share this campaign.

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Call for volunteers

Become an influential young leader.

Apply now

7-10 h/ week

EU/Europe

Remote

Start March 2026

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Application deadline: 22nd February 2026

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Have questions?

For any questions regarding the selection process, contact yee@yeenet.eu

YEE’s Advocacy Working Group is looking for 11 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 2026 – March 2027).

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.

Importantly, while LOs support ongoing advocacy priorities, they are also encouraged to take initiative and further develop their portfolio. This may include proposing new campaigns, building new partnerships, launching youth consultations, drafting position papers, or identifying emerging policy processes where YEE should engage. The role offers both structure and creative space for leadership.

The average commitment of the position is between 7-10 hours a week, including meetings every two weeks with the YEE Scientific Advisory Board, External Relations Officer, 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

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:

  1. Advocacy
    1. 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).
    2. 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.
  2. Youth empowerment: collaborate with existing youth networks to amplify voices and share best practices.
  3. Education and communication:
    1. organise workshops and awareness-raising publications, materials on regenerative agriculture, food waste management, and sustainable diets for youth and local communities.
    2. use social media platforms to run awareness campaigns targeting young Europeans on sustainable food systems and healthy diets.
    3. create content (e.g., videos, infographics) to explain complex policies, funding opportunities, and practical solutions in an engaging way.
    4. 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:

  • 🟢 Follow the work of bigger network organisations.
  • 🟢 Organise online consultation sessions 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 Officer on Climate Justice will support the work of the Global Dialogues for Climate Justice project and the team advocacy work towards COP31.

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 2026 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 COP31
  • 🟢 Act as YEE’s focal point for the Children and Youth Pavilion
  • 🟢 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 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

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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. 
  3. 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 to the BeLIFE 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:

  1. Advocacy: build a solid youth voice in advocating for reducing environmental pollutants, enhancing ecosystem resilience and strengthening public health systems.
  2. 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.

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:

  1. Just Transition
    1. 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.
    2. Collaborate with European institutions and CSOs to advocate for stronger just transition policies prioritising stakeholder engagement, equal opportunities and environmental sustainability.
    3. Provide capacity-building opportunities for young people by organising knowledge-sharing sessions on best practices for implementing just transition strategies.
    4. Contribute to policy monitoring and analysis to track the progress of Just Transition initiatives at the EU level.
    5. Develop communication materials (briefs, infographics, articles) to simplify and disseminate complex just transition policies to young audiences.
    6. Develop resources, such as helping create toolkits and materials to support advocacy and awareness on Just Transition.
  2. Resource Justice
    1. Join efforts with other NGOs to advocate for the European Commission to start a legislative proposal on a directive on Sustainable Resource Management. 
    2. 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:

  • 🟢 Develop reports and recommendations on best practices in the just transition across different regions in Europe.
  • 🟢 Raise awareness by writing articles and social media content on the importance of just transition, resource justice, beyond growth and overconsumption.
  • 🟢 Organise online capacity-building sessions on just transition for the YEE team and member organisations.
  • 🟢 Write small summaries from main policy developments happening at the EU and international levels.

This portfolio strengthens YEE’s work on ocean governance, marine conservation and freshwater protection at EU and international levels. The Liaison Officer will coordinate the YSAB Task Force on Water and Marine Systems and work closely with the Advocacy Manager.

The portfolio focuses on three pillars:

  • Advocacy – Amplify a strong youth voice in EU and global water and ocean governance processes, advocating for ambitious protection frameworks, transparency and meaningful civil society participation.
  • Representation – Ensure youth representation in relevant decision-making fora and stakeholder platforms, safeguarding intergenerational equity.
  • Education and mobilisation – Translate complex marine and freshwater governance processes into accessible content for young people and mobilise youth engagement.

Policy Focus

The Liaison Officer will monitor and engage with key frameworks, including:

  • 🟢 The European Ocean Pact and its implementation into a future Ocean Act (including the 2027 revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive), advocating for conservation-focused and participatory approaches.
  • 🟢 The Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ / High Seas Treaty), with emphasis on strong marine protected areas (MPAs) and meaningful youth participation in its COP processes.
  • 🟢 The Water Framework Directive, focusing on implementation, monitoring and inclusion of emerging pollutants such as PFAS.
  • 🟢 Advocacy for highly protected MPAs in Europe, including addressing pressures from industrial fisheries.

Key Responsibilities

  • 🟢 Coordinate monthly meetings of the YSAB Task Force on Water and Marine Systems.
  • 🟢 Monitor policy developments at EU and international level and provide short summaries and briefings.
  • 🟢Contribute to drafting position papers and advocacy inputs.
  • 🟢 Represent YEE in relevant coalitions and working groups, including collaboration with partners such as Surfrider Foundation Europe, Coalition of Emerging Ocean Leaders (CEOL) and European Environmental Bureau (EEB).
  • 🟢 Support youth consultations, workshops and awareness-raising activities on ocean and freshwater governance.
  • 🟢 Collaborate with other YEE portfolios (Biodiversity, Health, Climate Justice, Agrifood Systems) on cross-cutting issues such as marine pollution, ecosystem resilience and water-health links.
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Call for Communications Manager

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40h/week

€3,603.19 per month

remote, in europe

9 months contract

Start april 2026

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) is looking for a Communications Manager to strengthen the visibility, coherence, and impact of its work from April 2026 onwards.

The Communications Manager coordinates and steers the organisation’s internal and external communications across projects, campaigns, and organisational processes. Furthermore, the Communications Manager ensures that YEE’s messaging is consistent, accessible, values-aligned, and reflective of its youth-led, intersectional approach to environmental and climate justice.

Through this role, YEE strengthens its outreach to member organisations, partners, and wider audiences, while ensuring that project outputs, advocacy messages, and organisational developments are communicated effectively across digital platforms. The Communications Manager plays a key role in translating YEE’s work into clear, engaging, and strategic content, supporting both public-facing communications and internal coordination.

Role scope and functioning

The Communications Manager is a central figure within YEE, working closely with the Communications team, the Executive Board, and the Secretariat. The role combines strategic coordination, content creation, and operational oversight to ensure smooth and consistent communication flows across the organisation.

The Communications Manager collaborates with YEE staff, volunteers, member organisations, and external partners. When communications support is required for projects or initiatives without dedicated communications capacity, the Communications Manager leads the development of strategies and materials, coordinates inputs, and ensures timely delivery.

Responsibilities

  • ⚬ Developing communications workplans and internal guidelines.
  • ⚬ Supporting the strategic planning and implementation of YEE’s 2026–2030 priorities.
  • ⚬ Coordinating fundraising and reporting activities for communications-related projects.
  • ⚬ Producing quarterly communications reports.
  • ⚬ Contributing to communications-related data and content to broader project reporting.
  • ⚬ Creating social media content and designing visuals for publication across platforms.
  • ⚬ Managing website updates and digital presence.
  • ⚬ Producing and disseminating the (bi)monthly public newsletter
  • ⚬ Administering digital tools such as Canva, Mailchimp, WordPress
  • ⚬ Coordinating the Communications Department’s weekly tasks and long-term goals.
  • ⚬ Participating in internal meetings.
  • ⚬ Maintaining close collaboration with the Membership Coordinator
  • ⚬ Providing communications support to projects through tailored strategies and materials.
  • ⚬ Participating in external communications networks with YEE partners
  • ⚬ Representing the organisation in meetings with project partners and potential collaborators.

Candidates we are looking for

  • Are aligned with YEE's core values and mission
  • Have previous experience with team leadership
  • Have experience in creating and designing digital communication materials (such as social media posts, brochures, short videos)
  • Have a strong working knowledge of the current environmental issues and EU policies
  • Have experience with managing websites
  • Are comfortable working as part of a small, collaborative team.
  • Have a creative and solution-oriented approach, with the ability to propose innovative ideas and methods.
  • Are motivated to interact in an international environment with diverse organisations, institutions, and individuals.

Essential requirements

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  • Are a resident in Europe, preferably already with an EU working permit.
  • Are younger than 35 years of age by the end of the contract period.
  • Have at least 2 years of experience in a communications-related position.

Selection process

The call for a new Communications Manager is open until 15th February 2026. During this period, interested candidates are required to:

  • Prepare your CV (listing relevant education, voluntary and professional qualifications)
  • Prepare your portfolio showcasing your previous work
  • Fill out the application form by 15th February 2026 at 23:59 CET

Please note that late submissions will be considered ineligible.

Shortlisting will begin after the deadline. Selected candidates will be invited for online interviews, to be held during the late second and third weeks of March and will be asked to prepare a short exercise (estimated time commitment: 1 hr) before the interview. 

Please note that the use of AI tools to fill in the application is discouraged, as we are interested in your personal reflections and original input.

Contract and remuneration

The Communications Manager will be offered a service contract and be remunerated according to YEE’s internal regulations, with a gross monthly amount of €3,603.19 for a total of 40h/week.

The Communications Manager mandate begins on 1 April 2026 and ends on 31 December 2026 (with possibility of renewal pending funding availability), with a 2-month provisional period. 

The Communications  Manager must be able to issue invoices in compliance with their national legislation. Alternatively, candidates based in the Czech Republic may be offered a local employment contract, in line with Czech labour law. Should this be the case, the value of the gross monthly salary may vary.

Equal opportunity

We strongly encourage applications from candidates who do not meet every point above for the Communications Manager role. If you are passionate about environmental issues and youth engagement, are motivated to grow professionally, and align with YEE’s values, we welcome your application. We also value diversity and have a strong commitment to a diverse work environment. 

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Call for Communications Manager

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