At the edge of the Amazon in Belém, Brazil, the UN Climate Conference (COP 30) usually remains a world of technical protocols and a place dominated by adults in suits. Last year, Plant-for-the-Planet bridged that gap by bringing 10 Climate Justice Ambassadors, aged 9 to 15, directly into the high-stakes Blue Zone, the primary venue for official negotiations.
They weren’t just observers or symbolic guests; they were active contributors. They participated in high-level dialogues with global leaders like Mary Robinson and presented the results of our Global Ethical Stocktake consultations, in which around 600 children across four continents shared their ideas and demands for a livable future.These young leaders proved that children are not just victims of the climate crisis, but powerful agents of change. Their message was simple: “Nothing about us, without us.” By overcoming the traditional hurdles of accreditation and funding, our Ambassadors moved from the sidelines to the center of the global conversation.
Beyond Representation: Leadership at the Heart of the Movement
From local communities to global forums, children and youth are often excluded from the decisions that shape their future. Yet their inclusion strengthens climate action – making it fairer, more accountable and genuinely future-oriented.
At Plant-for-the-Planet, we have learned that the most effective climate solution isn’t just a tree in the ground – it is a young person empowered to lead. This is why moving from being heard to taking action and being an active part of decision-making is the core of our mission. To put this into practice our newly elected Plant-for-the-Planet Global Ambassador Council (GAC) for 2025–2027 shows what happens when climate education evolves into true empowerment. The GAC is our official youth leadership body, a cohort of 16 driven individuals from 12 countries who bridge the gap between local grassroots realities and global strategy. These young leaders do not just represent the movement; they actively shape its direction.
As one Council member explains: “Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up consistently, learning with humility, and taking bold steps to drive change.” By providing the structural scaffolding for this leadership, we ensure that youth voices are not reduced to symbolic participation but meaningfully integrated into decision-making processes.
Personal Journeys, Collective Impact
For many Council members, the motivation to lead comes from a moment when the climate crisis became personal. In New York, Matilda watched her commute vanish as subway lines flooded. In Jakarta, Bryan witnessed the disappearance of mangrove forests, turning that loss into a mission for restoration. In Cameroon, Hilux’s journey began as a climate refugee – an experience he transformed into a platform for digital advocacy.
Investing in these young leaders means more than funding programs; it is funding the agency of those who have the most at stake.
This active inclusion is what sets our movement apart. Our 17-year-old Council President, Eva Jedani, explains that the GAC ensures youth voices are included “not only in theory, but in practice.” This approach allows young leaders to build on their lived experiences, and step into meaningful leadership roles, strengthening and connecting the movement globally.
A Call to Action for Philanthropy
The climate crisis will not wait for the next generation to grow up. Young people are already on the front lines, organizing, advocating, and restoring ecosystems.
Since youth already possess the vision and commitment to lead, our focus must shift from merely discussing them to providing the high-leverage investment and decision-making power they need to drive real progress. Investing in youth today is a high-leverage, strategic necessity.
We invite the philanthropic community to move beyond symbolic inclusion and join us in this urgent mission: By resourcing young leaders, we ensure that those who will inherit the Earth are not only heard, but empowered to shape its future.
About Plant-for-the-Planet
Plant-for-the-Planet is a global initiative fighting for climate justice and a livable future for all. To do so, we empower children and youth to speak up and take action now. We protect and restore forest ecosystems, conduct research and provide free software tools and advice to restoration organizations around the world.
We believe that the world’s three trillion trees need to be protected and we are part of bringing back a further trillion trees.
Climate Solutions Magazine: April 2026
We encourage you to read this edition of the F20 Climate Solutions Magazine in full. We invite you to take some time to read these thought-provoking articles, which focus on the leaps and bounds that can be made in climate work through networked learning and local, community-led action.
Expand the preview below and immerse yourself in these thought-provoking articles.