EU Future Vision for Agriculture and Food

By Harveet Purewal and Ippokratis Tsevrenis, YEE Youth Scientific Advisory Board Members

We welcome the Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food as a roadmap to create an attractive agricultural sector for youth and future generations. However, we as youth are concerned about the overarching pivot of EU agri-food policy away from the environmentally ambitious Farm to Fork Strategy to more economically competitive policies with fewer environmental safeguards, as reflected by the right-wing shift in EU institutions.

Environmental conditionality: A risky trade-off

One theme identified by the European Commission in the Vision is the need to “cut red tape and simplify the current environmental conditionality system”, aiming to make environmental regulations more efficient and less burdensome. Although this approach may give farmers greater freedom to adapt their practices, this does not ensure that these practices will be sustainable. 

Livestock farming: The missing commitment to reduction

Moreover, the Vision repeatedly mentions the need to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of sensitive sectors such as livestock, stating that livestock is an essential part of EU agriculture. We as youth acknowledge the need to make vulnerable sectors such as livestock farming more resilient to ensure that no individual is left behind as part of a just transition. However, this perspective disregards the ever-growing body of scientific evidence highlighting the negative environmental impacts of livestock farming, as acknowledged at COP28 for the first time at the international level, as well as the potential for Europe to become a world leader in alternative proteins as an increasing proportion of individuals switch to more plant-based diets. Although the vision mentions a “new workstream on livestock” which provides an opportunity to create a framework that mediates consumer demand for meat products with the EU’s climate commitments, there remains no commitment to reduce livestock farming in Europe, even though direct livestock emissions account for two thirds of all reported agricultural GHG emissions.

Sustainability and Agroecology: Gaps in the Vision

Furthermore, the Vision itself provides a vague roadmap in terms of concrete steps the Commission have identified to create a more nature-friendly farming system. Within the document, there are no explicit strategic directions mentioned towards a more sustainable agriculture direction with agroecology as a practice that attracts young farmers, only mentioned once. Linked to this, there remains a strong emphasis on CAP within the Vision, however, CAP reforms are unlikely to be sufficient to address the scale of change needed. Plus, there was no mention of ending area-based payments, which are often not results-based and favour large landowners, putting a disadvantage on smaller farms, which may potentially achieve better environmental outcomes. For the Vision to create tangible impacts, it is crucial that the Commission targets the underlying factors that make it difficult for farmers to successfully implement environmentally friendly practices and incentivise practices that lead to actual benefits for nature, as opposed to payments for generic practices. 

Failing to attract young people to agriculture

Specifically, as youth, we welcome the Commission’s use of dialogue to ensure that the Vision is inclusive. However, the vision lacks measures on how to attract young people into the agricultural sector. With only 12% of all farms in the EU being managed by farmers under 40, it is crucial that any Vision for the agricultural sector targets the ageing population of Europe’s farmers and effectively attracts young people into the agricultural sector. 

Regional decentralisation and the right to stay

The Vision acknowledges and reiterates the “right to stay” in remote regions, yet it fails to quantify or plan research about the desirable approximate population target by region. This can be assigned to member states to come up with certain national decentralisation plans to assess the needs for reinhabiting remote areas, considering each region’s biocapacity and particularities. 

Contradictions with the Mercosur Deal

Another conflictual point is the reference of the Vision to fostering locally sourced and seasonal food, matched with shortening supply chains for fairer farmers’ income. Although this ambition is in the right direction from a societal perspective of justice, it is concerning how it clashes with the Mercosur Deal. When it comes to agricultural affairs of the Deal, it foresees an extra 99.000 tonnes of imported beef to the EU with reduced or no tariffs, which can put European smallholder farms at stake, and jeopardise forest areas in Latin America. Besides this, there is well-established scientific evidence that animal farming is a major driver of climate change and its impacts. This is owed to the fact that animal farming contributes more than 50% of the total methane emissions in the EU, whilst significant landmass and water use are required for livestock breeding, compared to alternative sources of protein production. In light of this current reality, not everyone is equally responsible. In fact, according to Eurostat findings, smallholders (that is, farm properties smaller than 5 hectares) represent 40% of the total holdings, equivalent to just 6% of the total agricultural land. On the other hand, 52% of the agricultural land is controlled by large farms (i.e., properties equal or greater than 100 hectares), representing only 4% of the farming population. Having all that in mind, the Mercosur Deal contradicts the Vision both from a societal and environmental standpoint: it compromises smallholders both in the Mercosur and the EU blocs, ultimately disregarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) which mentions that “States shall formulate […] public policies […] to advance […] sustainable and equitable food systems” and shifts part of the environmental and climate footprint -associated with cattle farming- to Mercosur, without essentially reducing the net volume of red meat production.    

Non-Formal Education: A catalyst for change

As young people, we benefit from lifelong learning and non-formal education opportunities through the EU-funded Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programs. We believe that these programs besides their contribution to the development of soft and transversal skills for youth, are also vital for promoting practical training and sector-specific hard skills, getting to know how food grows, which factors foster or impede a successful yield, as well as its nutritional value in an age where a growing number of young people loses touch with these natural processes, and concurrently health-related issues due to poor nutrition are on the rise. These programs can also act as ambassadors of EU policymaking, since they often raise awareness about EU legislation, via non-formal education and interactive approaches. Therefore, it is pivotal that young people get the chance to receive lived experiences on sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices through these programs. Lived experiences through engaging non-formal education programs can foster a transformative change and spark young people’s interest and curiosity in agriculture-related occupations, enabling a multidimensional set of solutions for the revitalisation of EU rural landscapes, with ecologically and socially innovative ventures that strengthen the EU’s food sovereignty and uplift employability. 

Way forward: Strengthening competences and financial support

The European Commission has already published several competence frameworks (e.g., GreenComp and LifeComp), showcasing that we are heading towards a world where competences are gaining more prominence, alongside the traditional formal educational credentials. Non-formal education is critical for the promotion of these competences, and, in our case, competences related to the agricultural sector. The consultation on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the EU is underway. In line with the trends in budgetary increases between the MFF of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 in the budget share for Erasmus+ and ESC projects, the EU needs to push forward for a further increase that covers both the current inflationary reality and the increased need for skills development that is targeted, accessible, and inclusive for everyone. Delving deeper, the Erasmus+ and ESC 2025 Programme Guides already refer more precisely to promoting chemical-free agriculture projects as enablers of rural revival, confirming what is already outlined in this statement. We hail this trajectory and look forward to its establishment, integrating a more diverse palette of projects, ranging from regenerative agriculture to agroforestry. These programs can further advance the Vision, not only by engaging youth but also by integrating nature-based solutions into agricultural practices. 

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EU Future Vision for Agriculture and Food

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Next Gen EU Parliament: Interviews with young MEPs

As part of the Youth in EU Elections 2024 project, we aim to bring the European Parliament closer to young people and to raise awareness of the impact of the electoral process on European citizens.

720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected in June 2024; among these, 36 were young MEPs under 35 years old after the election. We focused specifically on communicating about the newly elected members of Parliament for the coming cycle. 

As a pan-European youth organisation, we work to amplify youth voices in decision-making. We therefore wanted to hear from the young European parliamentarians and ask them about key topics that are relevant for young people around the continent.

We therefore listed all MEPs under 35 and contacted all to ask to join for an interview on topics of environment and climate change, youth participation, green jobs and education. Out of 36 MEPs contacted, 8 of them responded to the request for an interview and were all provided with the same set of questions they could answer. Below you will find the answers to the interview questions by the 8 young MEPs who chose to participate and their short bio.

Youth participation

Environmental protection and climate action

Erasmus+

European Degree

Future Generations

Green jobs

Environmental Education

Environmental protection and climate action

MEP Peter-Hansen prioritises achieving an ambitious 2040 climate goal and ensuring all EU climate legislation aligns with the Paris Agreement. She calls for increased investments in renewable energy and measures to phase out fossil fuels as part of Europe’s clean energy transition.

Another key focus is banning harmful chemicals in everyday products to protect human health and the environment. She also advocates for stronger risk and hazard assessments to address the long-term effects of chemical use.

Her overarching aim is to align the EU’s climate policies with international agreements while addressing harmful substances that threaten human health and biodiversity.

Climate protection and sustainable regional development are central to MEP Repp’s work, particularly in rural regions like Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt, and the Baltic Sea. She focuses on combining climate protection with regional development, ensuring that investments in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, and modern infrastructure strengthen rural areas while creating jobs and securing their future.

A strong advocate for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, she supports scientifically based catch quotas, expanded marine protection areas, and reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy to reduce pesticide use and promote organic farming. These efforts align with her goal of creating a green transformation that benefits the environment and local communities.

She backs ambitious EU climate targets, including a 2040 emissions reduction target, and highlights the importance of socially just transition through tools like the Just Transition Fund and Social Climate Fund. MEP Repp works to ensure rural areas contribute to and benefit from the EU’s climate neutrality goals.

As a member of the ENVI Committee, MEP Ridel views Europe as the ideal place to address climate change, which she believes is spiralling out of control. She places significant emphasis on protecting biodiversity, warns against the ongoing sixth mass extinction, and highlights the role of nature in combating the climate crisis.

MEP Ridel is committed to fighting environmental disinformation, which threatens public debate, especially on social media. She stresses the importance of protecting scientists from fake news and online violence and recommends exploring Quota Climat’s work for insights.

Her efforts extend to opposing the criminalisation of environmental activists, such as Paul Watson. She considers protecting activists vital for maintaining momentum in preserving a habitable planet.

MEP Schilling is focused on protecting the European Green Deal, particularly against efforts by conservative forces to undermine it. They advocate for ambitious climate targets, calling for a 90–95% reduction in emissions by 2040, as recommended by the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.

She emphasises that politics happens beyond parliaments, advocating for greater grassroots engagement and bridging the gap between politics and citizens. Protecting the Green Deal and implementing ambitious climate laws are top priorities.

MEP Schilling also stresses the importance of ensuring the green transition is socially just. To meet the EU’s Fit for 55 goals, transformative changes across the transport, industry, and energy sectors are needed.

MEP Scuderi emphasises the need for a holistic industrial policy that goes beyond decarbonisation to address biodiversity loss, deforestation, and soil degradation. She argues that focusing narrowly on emissions risks perpetuating superficial solutions while ignoring systemic environmental crises.

Her vision includes integrating biodiversity and natural resource conservation into industrial strategies to prevent past mistakes and create sustainable change. She prioritises re-industrialising nations to produce tools for the energy transition, ensuring clean energy access and job creation.

Scuderi also advocates for community involvement in renewable energy projects through energy citizenship and shared governance. By fostering local support, she aims to accelerate the adoption of renewables and ensure equitable benefits from the transition.

MEP Strolenberg’s primary focus within the Agriculture Committee is transitioning toward more plant-based agriculture to reduce reliance on animal-based products. This transition has multiple benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, healthier diets for Europeans, reduced soil degradation caused by livestock waste, and improved resilience to climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts. She strongly advocates for crop diversification, viewing it as essential to building a more climate-resilient agricultural sector.

In practical terms, MEP Strolenberg has questioned the Agriculture Commissioner about crop diversification targets for 2026. Although the response was disappointing, she welcomed the promise to update the EU protein strategy. She is now collaborating with NGOs, scientists, and parliamentary colleagues to build a coalition and develop a detailed plan for advancing this transition.

She emphasises the lack of specific greenhouse gas reduction targets for the agricultural sector, which she considers essential for achieving the EU’s climate neutrality goals. MEP Strolenberg plans to advocate for such targets, potentially through a future reform of the Emissions Trading System.

Environmental protection is a core priority for MEP Sieper, a member of the TRAN Committee. He is committed to green mobility and promotes electric vehicles, improves public transport, and advances green freight solutions. His vision includes a unified European public transport system with integrated ticketing across borders, which he views as one of the most impactful and easily implemented climate solutions.

He also champions the energy transition, with a strong focus on scaling renewable energy sources such as water, wind, and solar power. A particular priority is the renewal and expansion of Europe’s solar industry, which he believes is crucial for a sustainable future.

MEP Sieper is deeply committed to environmental protection. He emphasises the importance of reforestation and establishing animal protection zones free from human interference. He believes harming ecosystems directly harms biodiversity and creates wider-reaching environmental impacts.

MEP Vieira sees environmental protection as inseparable from her work on the Trade and Human Rights Committees. She prioritises ensuring that partnerships with third countries provide mutual benefits in sustainable development, focusing on resources needed for Europe’s energy and climate transition. MEP Vieira highlights the importance of redirecting trade investments to support climate action and the energy transition while protecting environmental defenders from harm. Her integrated approach links trade, human rights, and environmental priorities.

She also emphasises the interconnection between human rights and environmental protection and advocates for the rights of environmental defenders. Many NGOs approach her about addressing human rights issues outside the EU, and she is committed to bringing environmental concerns into these discussions.

Youth participation

MEP Peter-Hansen fosters youth participation through social media channels, where she collects input and ideas from young people. She also conducts workshops and lectures with Danish school groups visiting the Parliament. Open to new approaches, she actively seeks ways to further engage youth voices.

MEP Repp is dedicated to ensuring youth voices shape EU policymaking. She champions initiatives like youth parliaments and mentorship programs to empower young people and supports a Youth Check to ensure EU policies reflect their concerns.

Repp actively connects with young people through school tours, political education programs, and digital platforms, making the EU accessible and relatable. She collaborates with youth organisations to gather input and promote opportunities for active engagement. Her goal is to create a Europe where young people feel represented and involved in shaping their future.

MEP Ridel created a group of young MEPs within the Socialists & Democrats group, a first in the European Parliament. This group focuses on representing the expectations of younger generations and influencing the political faction’s positions.

She strongly advocates for lowering the voting age to 16, citing its success in Belgium and expressing a desire to expand this measure across the EU. She views this reform as essential to empowering young people and amplifying their voices in public debate.

MEP Schilling prioritises amplifying youth perspectives, which are often overlooked in policymaking. As a young MEP, she emphasises the importance of directly engaging with young people to ensure their concerns are represented.

Her primary focus is climate justice. She advocates for protecting ecosystems and biodiversity to secure a sustainable future for young generations. Schilling connects environmental priorities with broader social concerns, such as affordable transport, housing, and food, stressing the need for an equitable green transition.

By participating in panels and discussions, she strives to include young voices in negotiations and policy processes, ensuring meaningful participation rather than token representation.

MEP Strolenberg integrates youth perspectives into her policymaking by engaging directly with young people, including young farmers, to understand their concerns. She believes in the importance of involving women in the green and just transition, emphasising that education is the starting point. Her party applies a youth test to all policies, assessing their impact on future generations to ensure inclusivity and long-term thinking.

MEP Sieper has outlined four key priorities to enhance youth participation:

  1. Improving Education: He emphasises the need for better education systems, particularly in Germany, where 16 state-level variations complicate the unified system. MEP Sieper is advocating through his European office to address these challenges and promote new courses on democracy and political systems, as well as digital competencies.
  2. Erasmus+: He strongly supports Erasmus+, which he considers the best program for fostering diversity. Concerned about potential budget cuts proposed by the Council, he is determined to advocate for increased funding through his committee.
  3. Promoting Transparency: MEP Sieper is committed to transparency by uploading all his interactions on YouTube. He requires that any lobbyist requesting a meeting with him agrees to a transparency clause he has established, namely being filmed and uploaded on YouTube during the interaction.
  4. Democratic Participation: He actively engages his community in decision-making processes, such as using Instagram to gather opinions on whether Ursula von der Leyen should serve a second term. He also involves German citizens in drafting his priorities and strategy to ensure their voices shape his program.

MEP Vieira gave four priorities for youth participation

  1. Diversity: MEP Vieira values diversity and is pleased to see greater representation of different age groups within the Green Party and across the Parliament.
  2. Climate: She is committed to advancing climate policies that protect current and future generations. MEP Vieira will fight in the Parliament to maintain and expand its ambition on climate matters.
  3. Fighting for rights and freedoms: She ensures young people are active in the fight for human rights, decent living conditions, standing against racism and sexism, and protecting the rights of LGBTQIA+ people.

Green jobs

MEP Peter-Hansen highlights the importance of involving schools and preparing training programs to equip young people with the new skills needed for the green transition. She stresses that education systems must align with the demands of a greener economy to ensure the workforce is future-ready.

MEP Repp focuses on expanding access to vocational training, higher education, and lifelong learning to enable young people to participate in the green transformation. She emphasises the development of green and digital skills while advocating for linking the European Education Area, Higher Education Area, and Research and Innovation Area to provide quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.

She champions initiatives like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, working to make them more inclusive and accessible, especially for young people in rural areas. In regional development, she advocates for the “right to stay” concept by investing in local job opportunities, sustainable infrastructure, and high-quality education in less-developed areas. Repp believes that fostering regional growth will empower young people to contribute to the green and digital transitions, strengthening social cohesion and equal opportunities across Europe.

MEP Scuderi prioritises creating quality jobs for young people, emphasising that reindustrialisation can drive stable and better-paid employment. She calls for banning unpaid internships to ensure equitable access to the job market, which aligns with their work as shadow rapporteurs on related initiatives.

She focuses on addressing the skills transition, supporting both workers already in the workforce and marginalised groups, such as young people, women, racialised individuals, and people with disabilities. By taking an intersectional approach, she aims to ensure opportunities reach all groups, fostering equity in the green economy.

Scuderi also links tackling climate challenges with creating a better future for youth. On housing, she advocates for affordable and sustainable housing solutions, including building more social housing, renovating vulnerable homes for energy efficiency, and reducing financial speculation in the housing market. For young people, access to sustainable housing is integral to a fair and just transition.

MEP Strolenberg emphasises the importance of equipping young people with the skills and tools needed to actively participate in the Just Transition through education. She advocates for organising youth citizens’ assemblies to involve young people more directly in policymaking and ensure their input shapes the green transition.

Environmental education

MEP Peter-Hansen engages with citizens, especially young people, through social media, lectures, and talks. She prioritises educating young visitors to the Parliament and sharing insights about the EU’s environmental goals and policies. Her work focuses on achieving climate neutrality by 2050, with renewable energy as a top priority. She emphasises creating an economy that works for people and nature over corporate interests, using her leadership role in the Greens/EFA group to drive these efforts.

As part of her commitment to supporting young people, MEP Repp integrates environmental education into broader youth initiatives. She focuses on making education and mobility more accessible, with plans to expand Erasmus+ and increase its budget to €56 billion by 2028. She also aims to strengthen the European Solidarity Corps, which fosters social cohesion and supports environmental and social projects.

Repp highlights the importance of engaging young people politically through youth parliaments and youth organisations, which provide positive perspectives to counter right-wing ideologies. She sees education and environmental awareness as integral to equipping a generation to tackle future challenges.

MEP Schilling views politics as a societal activity and emphasises the urgency of addressing the climate crisis through education and communication. She stresses that the transition must be socially just and that desirable and meaningful green jobs must be created.

Schilling highlights the importance of communicating the positive outcomes of climate action, such as improved public transport and affordable travel options, which not only combat climate change but also enhance quality of life. By focusing on these benefits, she aims to make the transition more relatable and widely supported.

MEP Scuderi reflects on key victories in the climate fight, including securing ambitious emission reduction targets, but stresses that implementation and education are critical next steps. She highlights the need for substantial investment in the energy transition and advocates for framing arguments around competitiveness and convenience to counter opposition.

Scuderi also emphasises the importance of engaging citizens through accessible narratives, arguing that environmental education and awareness are essential for achieving sustainability and global competitiveness.

MEP Strolenberg promotes environmental awareness and education by engaging with young people and NGOs within and outside the Parliament. She prioritises including youth voices in policymaking and actively uses social media to amplify her advocacy efforts, ensuring broad engagement and visibility.

MEP Sieper acknowledges that climate awareness already exists but emphasises the importance of bringing all generations on board. He values strong partnerships with civil society organisations and focuses on educating people about local opportunities to foster engagement. While global problems require global solutions, he highlights the importance of local perspectives to inspire fresh approaches. MEP Sieper remains committed to advocating his convictions at the Commission to achieve concrete progress.

MEP Vieira believes that effective communication is key to fostering environmental education. To stay informed about developments outside the Parliament, she dedicates 35% of her time to meeting with knowledgeable individuals, including representatives from civil society organisations. Her approach centres on amplifying the voices of those who voted for her and ensuring their perspectives are reflected in her work.

European Degree

MEP Repp fully supports the EU Council’s goal of establishing a European Degree to ensure the uniform recognition of higher education qualifications across Europe. She views this initiative as vital for enhancing student mobility and creating equal opportunities for young people to study and work throughout the EU.

Repp advocates for strengthening initiatives like the European Universities Initiative, which fosters collaboration between universities and businesses to align curricula and qualifications. She also supports the full implementation of the European Education Area, which promotes the recognition of qualifications, skills, and learning periods across borders, ensuring equal access for students from diverse educational backgrounds.

To make the European Degree more inclusive, Repp highlights the importance of integrating non-formal and informal learning into the recognition system. This approach would ensure that all types of education and training are acknowledged, further advancing accessibility and inclusivity for students across Europe.

Erasmus+

MEP Peter-Hansen sees Erasmus+ as an important tool for cultural exchange and friendship. In her view, it helps young people learn about European culture and build lasting relationships. She strongly supports the program’s mission and its potential to connect young Europeans.

MEP Repp is deeply committed to Erasmus+, which she recognizes as a crucial tool for mobility, intercultural understanding, and equal education opportunities across Europe. As part of the S&D group, she advocates for doubling the program’s funding to €56 billion for the 2028-2034 period.

Inclusivity is a key focus for Repp, as she works to make Erasmus+ more accessible to disadvantaged and rural youth while reducing administrative barriers. She also aims to integrate sustainability and digital skills into the program, ensuring it prepares young Europeans for future challenges. By strengthening Erasmus+, Repp seeks to foster a more connected, resilient, and united EU.

MEP Ridel expresses concern over potential cuts to the Erasmus+ budget and calls such developments regrettable. In response, the French delegation in the European Parliament launched a communication campaign and petition to protect the program’s funding. Ridel pledges to fight to preserve and support Erasmus+ throughout the next five years to ensure it remains a pillar of European education and cultural exchange.

MEP Scuderi emphasises the need to strengthen and restructure Erasmus+ to enhance youth participation across Europe. She advocates for increased funding and direct support to national and local organizations, particularly in countries where youth participation is undervalued or underfunded.

Scuderi highlights the political challenges faced by youth organisations, particularly in countries where far-right governments interfere with funding. To address this, she proposes direct EU funding for youth councils to prevent political bias and ensure consistent support across member states. Her ultimate goal is to tackle systemic inequities and ensure that Erasmus+ provides equitable opportunities for young people, enabling them to actively shape their future regardless of their background or country of origin.

MEP Sieper strongly supports Erasmus+, which he views as the best program for fostering diversity and intercultural understanding. Concerned about potential budget cuts proposed by the Council, he is committed to advocating for increased funding through his committee to ensure the program continues to meet its goals.

Future Generations

MEP Repp emphasises the importance of appointing a Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice to address challenges different generations face. She strongly supports Commissioner Glenn Micallef, highlighting his shared vision as a Social Democrat and his unique perspective as the youngest member of the Commission. MEP Repp praises his commitment to including young people in decision-making processes and developing policies with their input, particularly in areas such as intergenerational justice, education, skills development, mental health, youth employment, and mobility programs like Erasmus+ and the European Voluntary Service.

Repp stresses the need for collective action between young and older generations to tackle pressing challenges like climate change, social inequality, and digital transformation. She advocates for mutual understanding and cooperation across age groups to achieve solutions that benefit all and foster a more inclusive Europe.

Regarding Micallef’s mission, Repp identifies his focus on centralising youth issues in EU policy-making as essential. She suggests he engage closely with youth organisations, promote cooperation on topics such as youth employment and mental health, and strengthen the EU youth strategy. She underscores the importance of providing Micallef with the tools and resources necessary to succeed in his role, emphasising his competence, passion, and commitment to youth well-being and intergenerational fairness.

MEP Peter-Hansen strongly supports the concept of intergenerational fairness, emphasising the need to ensure that future generations inherit a planet in better condition than the one we received. She views the role of a Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness as a valuable initiative, provided it is equipped with the right tools and responsibilities.

However, Peter-Hansen cautions that this role must not become a symbolic title with an empty portfolio or act as a substitute for a green Commissioner. During the confirmation hearings, she plans to use her platform to ask critical questions about the Commissioner’s focus, such as whether their priority will be safeguarding the interests of future generations or addressing the concerns of older people.

Profiles

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Next Gen EU Parliament: Interviews with young MEPs

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Call for board members 2025/2027

Apply now

10-15 h/ month

volunteering

remote

elected

Start July 2025

Open call for the Executive Board 2025/2027

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) is pleased to announce the open call for the Executive Board 2025/2027. The members will be voted in during our Annual Meeting 2025 in Prague.

Board members of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) are responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring its activities remain aligned with its mission to unite environmental youth non-profit organisations across Europe.

They supervise the implementation of policies, manage resources efficiently, and represent YEE in various forums to promote international cooperation and raise awareness of environmental issues.

How to apply?

All interested candidates are invited to fill in the application form including a CV and nomination letter from any of YEE member organisations by the 1st June 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Application deadline: 1st June 2025

What you will get?

By assuming the position of a Board Member you will:

  • Get an excellent opportunity to work in an ambitious multinational team
  • Get international exposure and hands-on experience in your selected domain
  • Develop your competencies and acquire a range of skills that will be beneficial for your future
  • Attain concrete opportunities for your education or career development

Who are we looking for

The Chairperson is, together with the Secretary General, the legal representative of the network. They lead the Board and are chiefly responsible for coordinating its activities, preparing and chairing the Board’s meetings, and ensuring effective communication among Board members.

They represent YEE at official functions and serve as the primary link between the Board, the management of the organisation and the General Assembly.

The Treasurer oversees YEE’s financial affairs, including budgeting, financial planning, and the monitoring of expenditure. They ensure that the organisation’s funds are managed responsibly and transparently, together with the Finance Manager, prepare financial reports, and advise the Board on financial matters to maintain the organisation’s financial stability.

These four Board Members are not assigned specific roles during the election. Instead, after the election, portfolios will be distributed among the Board Members according to YEE’s board policy, skills, and needs of the network.

The Board is composed of six members. The position of a Board Member of YEE is voluntary and remote. 

Learn more about the Executive Board in our Board Members Policy, and more about the current board in their workplans.

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Call for board members 2025/2027

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Emilie Tamo Kamguia

Candidate for the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe (2026-2027)

Contents

Short bio

Nationality: French (with a Cameroonian twist)

Pronouns: she/her

Academic background: Agronomy engineering degree with a specialisation in rural development and a Master’s in Forest and Ecosystems Management

Current job: Blue Book trainee at the European Commission’s DG Environment, working on nature conservation

Youth representation & voluntary experience:

  • ◦ Member of the Youth Scientific Advisory Board of YEE, Member Organisation delegate and former Liaison Officer on Biodiversity 
  • ◦ (Soon former) President of the Euroregional Youth Assembly (AEJ) Pyrenees Mediterranean and member of its Commission on Environment & Sustainability
  • ◦ Board Member of the Mediterranean Youth Council, involved in the working groups on Environment & Climate and Gender & Discrimination
  • ◦ Member of the European Commission Trainees Association’s Diversity & Inclusion subcommittee
  • ◦ Former Vice-President of the Student Events Committee and former member of the Sustainability Commission at ENSAIA (Lorraine University)

My super skills

Unshakable optimism, empathetic leader, skilled mediator and collaborator, project coordination ninja, multitasking master, calm under pressure, quick learner and highly adaptable

Passions & hobbies

Hiking, yoga, bouldering, photography, poetry, painting, fighting for people and our beautiful planet and sunny days!

Why am I running?

We, young people, are the generation that will suffer the most from the consequences of past generations’ inaction on global changes, pollution, and the collapse of biodiversity, as well as their failure to adopt resilient, sustainable, and just systems on a global scale, guaranteeing our future well-being and that of all living beings.

Young people have already expressed their deep concerns and commitment and are calling to be heard by policymakers. Yet, we continue to be represented only marginally and symbolically in decision-making spaces, too often falling victim to youthwashing, where our presence is showcased but our voices remain unheard. I believe that not only do young people deserve a real say, but their vision should also be central in shaping the policies that impact our present and future.

What can I bring to the Advisory Council?

As Youth and Environment Europe (YEE)’s candidate, I bring experience in environmental governance, youth representation, education and advocacy. As an engineer, I have both hands-on technical environmental experience and in-depth knowledge of European and international environmental policies and legal frameworks. My participation in the 53rd meeting of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) and the 52nd Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) in Budapest as a substitute has deepened my understanding of the Council of Europe’s unique co-management system.

If elected, I will build upon the work of my predecessor, Agnès, who successfully co-led the environmental portfolio and played a key role in the adoption of the Recommendation on Young people and climate action in 2024, while bringing my own approach. I am to ensure that youth rights, climate and environmental action, and social justice are at the core of the Council of Europe’s policies and funding, making them truly reflect our needs and aspirations as young people, particularly those who are marginalised, and fostering more inclusive and representative decision-making processes.

My priorities

My three main priorities and how I intend to work towards them:

I will place a strong focus on underrepresented youth inclusion in environmental decision-making processes and advocate for the recognition of the right to a healthy environment as a basic human right. I will work to ensure that young people have the tools, platforms, and support they need to be effective agents of change, driving the sustainability agenda forward.

Strengthening meaningful youth participation and intersectional approaches in environmental decision-making processes 

Young people are often excluded from decision-making processes that directly affect their lives, especially the ones from marginalised communities. These communities are also the most severely affected by the impacts of the triple planetary crisis. Climate and environmental justice are therefore intertwined with intersectionality and inclusivity. Moreover, youth must not only be recognized as victims but also as powerful agents of change.

This is why I will advocate for ensuring that young people are not only represented but actively involved in policymaking, ensuring diverse and underrepresented voices are included in a meaningful way, not just symbolically, and going beyond tokenism. This includes promoting an intersectional approach across all youth policies to address structural inequalities and ensure policies reflect the realities of all young people. 

How?

  • ◦ Promoting youth-led solutions and advocating for stronger youth representation in decision-making processes at all levels
  • ◦ Promoting an intersectional approach to ensure policies reflect the realities of all young people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or geographic location.
  • ◦ Fostering better representation of young people from diverse backgrounds in the youth programmes, projects and activities supported by the CoE
  • ◦ Working towards simplifying policy language to make it more accessible and understandable to young people.
  • ◦ Strengthening youth co-management within the Council of Europe and push for its expansion at national and local levels. 
  • ◦ Contributing to the implementation of CoE existing policies on youth participation and on inclusivity 
  • ◦ Contributing to the development of the roadmap to support the implementation of the Recommendation on Young People & Climate Action across Member States

Advocating for climate justice and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution disproportionately affects young people, who will live with the consequences the longest.  In light of the current geopolitical situation in Europe, particularly the ongoing Russian aggression towards Ukraine, reaffirming young people’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is more crucial than ever. 

I will therefore continue working to ensure that climate justice and the right to a healthy environment are recognised as both youth and human fundamental rights, directly linked with health and safety. In addition to the extensive work already done on climate change, I particularly intend to expand efforts on the two other planetary crises of pollution and biodiversity loss, pushing for young people’s reconnection with nature as a well-being issue and for the right to clean, unpolluted air, water and food products. 

How?

  • ◦ Advocating for climate justice and the right to a healthy environment to be fully recognised within the CoE human rights framework.
  • ◦ Contributing to the development of the roadmap to support the implementation of the Recommendation on Young People & Climate Action across Member States 
    • Contributing to the action plan of the Council of Europe strategy on the environment and ensure its coherence with the Recommendation 
  • ◦ Making sure the planetary crises of biodiversity loss and pollution, and their impact on youth, are adequately tackled by the CoE action plan on the environment 

Fostering education, capacity-building and youth empowerment for a green and social transition

For young people to be equipped to lead change and create a just and green future, they need knowledge, skills, and opportunities. In today’s context of widespread misinformation, particularly on environmental and climate issues, it is vital to ensure that young people are empowered to critically assess information and become reliable messengers of climate truth and social justice. 

I will work to ensure the Council of Europe’s youth policies provide young people with tools to engage in both environmental and social governance and to become future-proof individuals, particularly by supporting capacity-building, non-formal and formal education, awareness-raising, and youth-led initiatives focused on sustainability and social justice. I aim to empower youth to take an active role in addressing the triple planetary crisis while also fostering social justice, inclusion, and equality. 

How?

  • ◦ Ensuring that CoE youth policies provide young people with real opportunities to gain skills in environmental and social governance.
  • ◦ Promoting education as a key tool for advancing climate justice, social rights, and sustainability.
  • ◦ Supporting the development of youth-led capacity-building programs that empower young people to take action and become ambassadors and disseminators 
  • ◦ Tackling climate disinformation by promoting media literacy, critical thinking, and accessible, science-based information available for young people 
  • ◦ Contributing to the development of the roadmap to support the implementation of the Recommendation on Young People & Climate Action across Member States

Want to connect or ask questions about my candidacy?

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Emilie Tamo Kamguia – Candidate for the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe (2026-2027)

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7-10 h/ week

EU/Europe

Remote

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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.

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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:

  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 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:

  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.

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. Farmer-consumer partnerships: launch local campaigns to encourage young people to support community-supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives and local markets.
  4. 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:

  • 🟢 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:

  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 organizing 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Resource Justice
    • 🟢 Advocacy
      1. Join already existing coalitions
      2. Organise meetings with policymakers 
      3. Write and disseminate position papers 
    • 🟢 Awareness raising
      1. Write one to three articles on the topic of resource justice, beyond growth and overconsumption
      2. Write small summaries from main policy developments happening at the EU and UN levels.
    • 🟢 Capacity building
      1. Organise one online workshop part of the YEE addressed to youth leaders, focusing on resource justice, overconsumption and beyond growth. 
      2. Organise one onsite workshop for YEE member organisations to deliver during the General Assemblies.
      3. Organise three online regional workshops for YEE MOs to introduce them to the topic.

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.

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Project assistant

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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.

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Reflections 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.

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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

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