The TAH Foundation and the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation will jointly fund the climate and nature delegate programme coordinated by The Finnish National Youth Council and Youth Sector (FYCS) for the years 2026–2028. With the support of the foundations, the continuity of the programme is secured for the next three years, enabling long-term and strategic advocacy work.
Halting climate change requires a rapid and large-scale shift in direction. The 2020s are a decisive decade for making the necessary policy decisions and implementing measures with swift impact. The sustainability and effectiveness of these decisions also depend on how the perspectives of different generations are taken into account in preparation and negotiations.
The climate and nature delegate programme is a model recommended by the United Nations to strengthen youth participation. It provides young people with a direct channel to engage in the preparation of climate and biodiversity policy and in international negotiations. The programme strengthens the voice of young people in national and international decision-making.
Climate and nature delegates are young changemakers aged 18–28 whose role is to bring the perspective of their generation into national and international decision-making. The delegates participate, among other things, in the UN climate and biodiversity conferences and their preparatory processes. The position is a competitive appointment of trust, with selections made by Nuorisoala ry. In 2026, the youth climate delegates are Emilia Luiro and Saara Böök, and the nature delegates are Aurora Ruotsalainen and Anton Riihelä.
“The lives of today’s young people will be directly shaped by how successfully we address the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. It is therefore essential that young people’s perspectives are included in both national and international negotiations where decisions on climate and nature action are made. These decisions will have far-reaching consequences,” says Henna Hakkarainen, Executive Director of the TAH Foundation.
Nuorisoala ry has coordinated the youth delegate programme for nearly 30 years. The organisation is responsible for the programme’s structures and practical arrangements. The delegates independently design the content of their work and engage in dialogue with young people and civil society.
“The climate and biodiversity crisis requires broad societal participation. Youth participation is not merely symbolic; it is part of democratic decision-making. The delegate programme ensures that young people are not just subjects of discussion but active actors in international decision-making,” says Iina Koskinen, Science and Executive Director at the Nessling Foundation.
Climate and nature negotiations define shared goals and commitments related to climate change, biodiversity, and planetary boundaries. By supporting the youth delegate programme, we ensure that young people’s views are directly conveyed into these negotiation processes.