2026 SDGs Youth Summer Camp

BACKGROUND

Today, over 60 UN entities and 132 UN Country Teams are actively implementing Youth 2030 alongside youth-led organizations, with the phase built around six strategic priorities: empowering and engaging youth meaningfully; boosting SDG implementation with and for youth; advancing knowledge and enhancing capacities for working with and for youth; unlocking resources for the youth agenda; transforming the UN workforce and organizational culture; and strengthening accountability systems for working with and for youth.The fifth edition of the Youth 2030 Global Progress Report highlights efforts at various levels to fulfill the UN's commitments for and with young people, reaffirming its continued dedication to meaningful youth engagement.

In this context, UNOSD has been implementing an annual youth capacity building programme for sustainable development since 2017. UNOSD began organizing the <SDGs Youth Summer Camp> to empower youth leaders to think critically and get engaged in implementing the SDGs. Since its first summer camp, UNOSD has trained 300 youth.

Climate change remains one of the most pressing challenges of the time and while being one of the most affected groups, youth have the potential to be one of the most creative and innovative problem-solvers. Target 13.3, which focuses on improving education, awareness-raising, and institutional capacity on climate change, is where youth engagement becomes especially critical.

The carbon market is a key financial mechanism driving the transition to a low-carbon economy to reverse the trend of climate change. It serves as a primary policy instrument through which NDCs are operationalized, enabling countries to redirect investments toward low-carbon alternatives through carbon pricing.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the camp will include:

• Build and enhance knowledge of youth carbon markets and its role in advancing climate action (SDG 13) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Foster youth leadership skills through lectures, dialogues, discussing as well as critical-thinking via group activities on carbon market mechanisms and the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

• Strengthen youth capacity to evaluate market-based climate solutions, including their implications for climate justice, vulnerable communities, and the achievement of SDG 13 and related Goals.

• Provide opportunities for meaningful networking among youth participants, practitioners, and policymakers working at the intersection of climate finance and sustainable development.

• Expand the host institution's partnership with youth leaders committed to advancing equitable, and accountable carbon market governance for the SDGs.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After taking part in the "2026 SDGs Youth Summer Camp", students will be able to:

• Articulate and communicate the crucial role of youth in driving universal NDC commitments and climate action under the 2030 Agenda.
• Gain a deep, comprehensive understanding of compliance carbon mechanisms (CCMs) and high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs).
• Comprehend how the transition to a low-carbon future is achieved via strict baseline additionality, anti-double-counting guardrails, and international trade policies.
• Collaborate and pitch innovative policy-advocacy concepts alongside sustainable development and carbon-market experts.

PARTICIPANTS

Those who are born between 1998 and 2008 are eligible to apply regardless of their nationality by submitting application forms and other required documents via online form. Proficiency in English is required for all participants. The participants must cover their own expenses for transportation (including airflight) to and from the venue. Accommodation in Korea and meals will be provided by organizers. The organizers will select a maximum of 30 participants based on their motivation, capacities, and English proficiency while considering gender and geographical balance and potentially countries of participants from previous years.

PROGRAM AND STRUCTURE

The organizers will invite experts and practitioners from international organizations, academia, government sector and the private sector to share their insights on SDGs and facilitate productive dialogues with the participants.

ORGANIZERS

This event will be organized by UNOSD and GGGI in collaboration with K-Eco, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Republic of Korea