Press release
Minister O’Gorman invites applications to Youth Climate Justice Fund 2021
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman TD, has invited applications from eligible youth organisations for funding under the Youth Climate Justice Fund 2021.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund was established in 2020 following on from the United Nations’ focus on youth engagement as part of the global response to climate change. The purpose of this Fund is to support youth-led action on climate justice at community, regional and national level.
Minister O’Gorman commented:
“Ireland is a recognised world leader in supporting children and young people to have a voice on matters that affect their lives.
“In line with this, the government is keen to enable and empower young voices in the ongoing conversation on climate justice. This also aligns with the ambition of our national Climate Action Plan to enhance citizen and community engagement to support climate action activities across the country.”
Since the launch of the Youth Climate Justice Fund in March 2020, young people, youth workers and volunteers have innovated and collaborated to advance a range of initiatives within the areas of network-building and communications, research, awareness-raising, engagement with policy-makers and the introduction of practical climate justice changes within their communities.
This year’s funding, which totals almost €500,000, is intended to support the further development of initiatives in the area of youth engagement in climate justice.
Minister O’Gorman continued:
"Throughout the world, young people and the youth sector have been at the vanguard of efforts to tackle climate change. They are acutely aware of the threat that climate change poses as well as its uneven and unequal impacts. I am delighted to be able to provide this funding to support and leverage these important youth perspectives and actions."
The Youth Climate Justice Fund 2021 is open to applications from all National Youth Organisations as well as Gaisce –The President’s Award.
Funding provided under the Youth Climate Justice Fund 2021 will support youth-led actions that advance one or more of the following goals:
1. Raise climate justice awareness amongst young people.
2. Educate youth groups and clubs on climate justice, including supporting development education organisations to work with young people.
3. Empower young people to influence, effect and sustain local, regional or national climate justice change, creating dialogue with people outside of the youth sector.
4. Deliver practical climate justice initiatives by young people in their communities, including supports to facilitate the participation of young people with fewer opportunities.
5. Develop youth related activities to embed climate justice communications, network building and deliberative capacity that connects with, and leverages, local youth and community activities.
6. Strengthen youth practitioner capacity to integrate climate justice education into their youth work practice.
7. Participate in and influence local public and private policy formation aimed at environmentally sustainable development and management of climate action.
Applications are open to all national youth organisations in receipt of Youth Services Grant Scheme funding as well as to Gaisce – The President’s Award.
The deadline for completed applications is Tuesday 4 May 2021.