Youth Together for Arctic Futures

Launched in January 2024, Youth Together for Arctic Futures is a four-year EU-funded project aimed to support a critical mass of Arctic and European youth with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to work towards implementing good climate and nature policy for the Arctic.

The project will encourage and empower youth to be active citizens and decision-makers for a sustainable Arctic. It brings together Arctic and European youth to collaborate on advocacy and establish the EU-Arctic Youth Dialogue, with youth-created local, regional, national, and international activities. The EU-Arctic Youth Dialogue will become part of the EU’s flagship events on the Arctic, namely the EU Arctic Forum and the EU Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue.

Who is involved?

The project is led by the WWF Global Arctic Programme. In cooperation with organizations that bring decades of experience in youth empowerment, policy shaping, and research and conservation of Arctic ecosystems and livelihoods:

• Arctic Youth Network

• European Youth Parliament (Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa) and its Norway Alumni Association

• Arctic Mayors’ Forum

• Tromsø Municipality

• University of Tromsø

• Association of Polar Early Career Scientists

The project is supported by the Norwegian Arctic Council chairship, WWF Greenland, and Arctic Frontiers as associates.

The project is funded by the European Union through the European Commission (Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, FPI). Its governance primarily includes FPI, the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and the European External Action Service (EEAS)

Photo: Youth Together for Arctic Futures

What are the project activities?

• Establishment of Arctic Youth Dialogues: A framework for collaboration and dialogue between European and Arctic youth to foster strong ties and cultural understanding as well as encourage and create opportunities for engagement in policy processes. The dialogues will inform views and give recommendations about decisions that impact youth in the Arctic by closely coordinating with the EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue.

• The State of the Arctic Youth Report will allow youth to formulate policy demands and hold policy makers accountable.

• Subgranting scheme for youth-led projects.

• Training in advocacy, networking, negotiation, journalism, storytelling, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

• Mentorship programme and alumni network.

• Crash course on EU and Arctic policy-making.

• Regional and national Arctic Youth gatherings.

• Youth-led media and arts production.

This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Saami Councils and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.