Climate Advocacy Training for Youth (CATY) aims to identify young people with strong commitment and dedication to advocating issues related to the climate emergency, carbon neutrality, climate just transition, sustainable development, and other related environmental issues, and nurturing them to be the next-generation leaders in climate advocacy. The programme also acts as a climate advocacy campaign incubator, providing training, mentorship, and support to committed youth eager to launch a climate advocacy campaign after completing the programme.

The programme will consolidate students’ knowledge in climate emergency and broaden their horizons in the various aspects and the current development of climate advocacy. The programme will also allow students to network with and learn from renowned local and international climate advocacy leaders. In addition, to horn their skills in advocacy, training in different advocacy techniques through lectures, workshops, and experiential learning will be provided. Moreover, as a climate advocacy campaign incubator, the programme encourages students to take the initiative to develop their climate advocacy campaign and seek guidance and support from renowned leaders and CCIL. It aims to equip talented youths from Hong Kong with the confidence and ability to participate effectively in local, national, regional and global conventions on environmental and social issues; most particularly on meetings related to the achievement of the Paris Climate Agreement, but also on meetings related to Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Outstanding students will be selected as CCIL’s youth delegates to participate in the international climate forums, like the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Youth4Climate or Asia-Pacific Climate Week. CATY 2023/2024 (cohort 4) is funded by HKEX Foundation.

CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL) has been the observers of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP). We witnessed national leaders and representatives from non-governmental organisations, the business sector and youths voiced their opinions and promoted climate actions. After COP24, the aspiration on youth empowerment on climate action initiates CATY to train Hong Kong climate youth leaders to make their voices heard on local and international platforms.

The first four cohorts of CATY were successfully held, and we are looking forward to continuing to nurture more Hong Kong climate change leaders to engage in climate advocacy in CATY 2024/25 this year.