The problem
Young people are underrepresented in environmental decision-making processes. Governments and corporations are not being held accountable effectively for their contributions to climate change.
Goals
- Empower Young People: Equip them with the knowledge and tools to engage in climate litigation and environmental justice efforts.
- Enhance Youth Participation: Advocate for systemic inclusion of youth in environmental decision-making processes, including climate youth assemblies.
- Strengthen Legal Provisions: Push for more ambitious EU environmental and climate laws, along with robust Access to Justice (A2J) mechanisms.
- Establish connections: Build a network where young people can connect, share, and strategise on climate litigation and advocacy efforts.
Approach
Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) collaborates with universities, NGOs and young climate activists across Europe to implement the Legal Seeds 4 initiative. Through its advocacy, YEE campaigns for more ambitious EU environmental and climate laws, while promoting systemic youth participation in environmental decision-making processes. The capacity-building efforts include workshops and webinars designed to equip participants with in-depth knowledge of climate and environmental legal issues. Additionally, YEE established the Youth Climate Law Hub, a dynamic network connecting young people from diverse backgrounds to share litigation opportunities, advocacy strategies, and campaign ideas.
Features
The Legal Seeds 4 initiative employed a dynamic and inclusive approach to engage young people in environmental law and climate activism. The program promotes young people as legal “champions” equipped to defend their future through climate litigation and advocacy. Workshops and webinars acted as “training sessions,” preparing participants to tackle environmental challenges with confidence. The Youth Climate Law Hub served as a vibrant “arena” where young activists could connect, strategize, and share resources. To capture attention and drive participation, the initiative used accessible and relatable messaging, presenting complex legal concepts in simple and engaging formats. Interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and digital resources further enrich the learning experience and create a strong, interconnected community of young environmental advocates.
Lessons learned
Although environmental law may be considered a ‘bubble’, by using an approachable communications strategy and building a community of likeminded young people, this initiative demonstrates that demonstrated that complex legal topics can be made accessible and engaging.
Find out more: https://yeenet.eu/project/legal-seeds-4/
What you can do
Browse their one stop library to educate yourself on environmental law or alternatively listen to the podcasts series “On Climate and Law”. Find out if there’s a YEE member organization in your country and join the program.