Mountain communities are among the places experiencing some of the most visible impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, changing snowfall patterns, glacier melt, water scarcity, floods and landslides are increasingly affecting the lives and livelihoods of local communities.

For young people living in these communities, climate change is not a distant issue. It is part of everyday life.

Through the Youth Empowerment Fund-supported project “Climate Resilience Through Youth Empowerment in Mountain Communities,” Youth Action for Next Generations (YANG) has been working with young people to strengthen their knowledge, leadership and capacity to take action on climate change.

The project brings climate education beyond the classroom by creating opportunities for youth to understand the challenges facing their communities and explore locally appropriate solutions.

Building Youth Leadership

A key focus of the project has been strengthening youth leadership. Young people have participated in awareness sessions, discussions, community engagement activities and practical learning opportunities related to climate change and environmental protection.

These activities have helped youth understand how climate change affects water resources, ecosystems and community resilience, while encouraging them to become active contributors to solutions.

From Awareness to Action

The project recognizes that awareness alone is not enough. Young people need opportunities to transform knowledge into action.

Through community-based activities, youth have been encouraged to identify local environmental challenges, engage with their communities and explore solutions that respond to the realities of mountain environments.

One of the key solutions introduced through the project is ICE TOPA, an artificial glacier concept that can support water availability in water-stressed mountain communities.