This August marked an important step in Armenian Progressive Youth’s (APY) work on climate action, as the organisation launched a new series of activities preparing young people to take part in the process leading up to COP17. So far, eight workshops have been held across four Alternative Youth Centres of APY, engaging around 120 young people. Participants have mapped climate and environmental challenges in their communities, including waste management, water scarcity, biodiversity, and urban green spaces, and have started working on possible local solutions.
“From Communities to COP17: Youth Driving Climate Action in Armenia” project connects local experiences with the wider climate agenda. Young people aged 16–30 are taking part in workshops on climate change, climate justice, and sustainable development, while exploring the environmental issues that affect their everyday lives.
A key part of the programme is the Green Action Labs, where participants work in teams to turn the challenges they have identified into practical initiatives, with the support of mentors. The aim is not only to increase awareness, but to give young people the space and tools to take action on issues that matter in their own communities.
Storytelling is another part of the programme. Through photography, video, and personal stories, participants will document the environmental and climate-related challenges they see around them. These stories will bring local experiences and youth perspectives into the wider conversation around climate action and COP17.
The activities are being organised through APY’s Alternative Youth Centres in Yerevan, Charentsavan, Tsaghkadzor, and Vayk. Bringing together young people from different communities creates opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and develop ideas that can be put into practice locally. The programme is implemented in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, South Caucasus Regional Office in Yerevan.
The work leading up to COP17 is also part of APY’s broader efforts to support youth-led climate action in Armenia. In parallel with this project, APY has been working with UNICEF to support young people in developing and implementing environmental initiatives in their communities.
As part of this cooperation, 40 young people from different regions of Armenia have received grants of up to USD 3,000 to put their ideas into practice. The supported initiatives are currently being implemented and include projects ranging from smart drip irrigation systems to the creation of environmental games.
Together, these programmes show how local youth action can contribute to broader climate discussions. While COP17 will bring together different actors to discuss global climate challenges, many of the solutions begin much closer to home with young people who know their communities, understand the challenges they face, and are ready to take action.
Through climate education, community mapping, practical workshops, mentoring, storytelling, and support for youth-led initiatives, APY is creating more opportunities for young people to participate in climate action. As the road to COP17 continues, their experiences, ideas, and community-based initiatives will become an important part of the conversation.
