What are the NDCs?

The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are the climate action plans each country submits to contribute to reducing emissions and combating the climate crisis. The third round of NDCs are due in February 2025, and we must see greater ambitions than ever before to ensure a hospitable future. 

What is the Universal NDC Youth Clause?

The Universal NDC Youth Clause is a commitment governments can make within their NDCs to commit to engaging children and youth as stakeholders and partners in climate action. Currently, young people are underrepresented from decision-making rooms throughout the environmental movement, despite the unique knowledge and values they bring to the table as natives of the climate crisis. The Clause aims to change that, building a bridge for intergenerational collaboration to accomplish the ambitious and urgent climate action we must to secure a hospitable future on Earth.

The Universal NDC Youth Clause was written by youth policy experts at Care About Climate in alignment with the youth inclusion frameworks published by UNFP, UNESCO, and UNICEF.

Why should governments adopt the Universal NDC Youth Clause?

The Universal NDC Youth Clause is not another demand from the “outside.” Instead, it represents an offer from young citizens to contribute to the ambitions being set in the new NDCs. We often talk about multisectoral collaboration to achieve NDC implementation, but the Clause expands that idea to promote intergenerational collaboration too. It is the first step toward empowering young people as agents of change and decision-makers to support your country’s climate action plan. 

What are some examples of intergenerational collaboration supporting effective climate action?

We’re so glad you asked! There are many examples of successful intergenerational collaboration across the environmental movement, and by adopting the Universal NDC Youth Clause you will join our community — composed of governments, youth organizations, and private and third sector representatives — committed to promoting effective intergenerational collaboration. Some examples include:

• The Climate Youth Negotiators Programme: CYNP trains, connects, and empowers youth negotiators to participate meaningfully in the UNFCCC processes, placing youth directly into governments’ climate delegations. Learn more about CYNP here. 

• The NDC Equity Tracker: Care About Climate trains youth to evaluate their countries’ NDCs for gender and youth inclusivity. Check out the NDC Equity Tracker here, and reach out to ruth@careaboutclimate.org to have your NDC 3.0 evaluated.

• We Are Family Foundation’s empirical study presents many more case studies on effective intergenerational collaboration — and additional insights on the value of youth inclusion. 

I represent my country’s government. How can I commit to the campaign?

To commit to adopting the campaign, a ministerial-level government official working directly on your country’s NDC must fill out this form. The full details are available here, and you can contact us for support.

I am not a government representative but I want to support the campaign. How can I help out?

Thank you for your support! Our goal is to get every country to include the Universal NDC Youth Clause in their upcoming NDCs, so we encourage you to reach out to government officials in support and to amplify the message using our social media kit. Learn more here.

I am a media representative. Where can I find more information about the launch of the campaign?

Download the press release and reach out via email for additional media inquiries.