Description
Climate change is a global challenge that will particularly affect younger generations. However, they are often not given a voice in energy and climate planning. Vulnerable communities have even more difficulty in having their voices represented, despite being the ones most likely to suffer the most severe consequences of climate change. For this reason, young people from vulnerable communities represent a particularly under-empowered sector of society on this issue, and at the same time, one that is very difficult to reach.
With EYES we aim to implement and evaluate an innovative method based on the participation of young people in energy and climate planning at the local level. We accompany them, especially those from vulnerable groups, in order to structure their discourse and collective action and enhance key skills such as leadership, communication and political culture.
EYES creates Local Youth Groups, spaces for dialogue on energy and climate change for young people from diverse backgrounds. Special emphasis is placed on the composition of its members, ensuring that they represent different social contexts, with the aim of fostering work and mutual understanding.
These Local Youth Groups conduct research, conduct a survey of other young people and conduct interviews to identify the main concerns and barriers around energy and climate, from the perspective of young people. This aims to improve their skills in analyzing social problems and proposing solutions to the identified barriers.
The process is mentored by a multidisciplinary Advisory Board, formed by representatives of relevant agents, who adopt the role of different profiles related to climate change. Collective work with other young people and with the Advisory Board serves to increase the participants’ capacities for dialogue and their civic and social skills.
As a final result of the Youth Groups, the Advisory Council proposes to the City Council of their municipality recommendations for the drafting of policies on energy and climate planning and on how to involve young people in these issues. The feasibility is also analyzed and various strategies are evaluated to encourage the participation of young people in the definition of local energy and climate policies on a permanent basis.
Ecoserveis participation
The Ecoserveis team coordinates the project and provides support in the design and implementation of the pilot test in Granollers.
Objectives
- Promote social cohesion among young people.
- Improve young people’s civic skills and their ability to analyze social issues.
- Improve local Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) by offering policymakers the perspective of young people.
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