ASEAN youth share and learn experience on climate change

On November 17 and 18, 150 youths, including students, union members, young researchers, young farmers, and young journalists from Viet Nam, along with representatives from countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) such as China, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, gathered at the Viet Nam National University of Forestry in response to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which took place from November 10-21, 2025, in Brazil.

Here, the young participants interacted and learned about 23 initiatives implemented by the Youth for Sustainable Development (Y4SDGs) groups in Viet Nam and Cambodia. At the same time, they shared experience in mobilizing resources and effectively implementing solutions to support communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in ASEAN countries.

These initiatives are typical examples among nearly 100 youth initiatives supported by ActionAid International in Cambodia, ActionAid International in Viet Nam, the Fund for Social Security Programs and Projects of Viet Nam (AFV), and funding partners, all within the framework of the project "Collaborative Action on Climate Change Response and Environmental Protection" (P2ACE) for the period 2023-2026.

Concurrently, at the seminar "Climate Finance: Youth Leading Technology and Green Solutions," 150 youths engaged in a direct dialogue with experts from the Vietnam National University of Forestry, the Financial Services and Market Development Board (Institute of Financial Strategy and Policy, Ministry of Finance), as well as policymakers from the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) and business representatives.

The discussions revolved around opportunities, challenges, and sustainable directions for promoting green initiatives and youth-led technological applications aimed at mitigation, adaptation, and recovery from environmental pollution and climate change in the short, medium, and long terms.

The event served as a strong affirmation of the long-term commitment shared by ActionAid International in Vietnam and the Fund for Social Security Programs and Projects of Vietnam (AFV). This commitment involves sustained cooperation with international organizations, academic institutions, and local governance bodies, all aimed at fostering a dynamic generation of ASEAN youth. This new generation is being equipped with essential knowledge, practical skills, and the capacity for concrete action necessary to fulfill regional and national commitments concerning climate change adaptation and environmental protection. For Vietnamese youth, in particular, these efforts represent a significant and practical contribution towards achieving the ambitious national target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

During the dialogue, Ms. Ly Nhac Linh, the P2ACE Project Coordinator for ActionAid International in Vietnam, underscored the pivotal role of young participants: "Youth are consistently one of the main pillars in all of ActionAid's projects, and we take immense pride in the innovative green technology solutions that you have developed with support from the project." She further defined the core objective of the program: "The challenge we want to set, which is also the program's goal, is how you can mobilize resources from the market and consumers, turning creative ideas into commercial products that both contribute to environmental protection and ensure economic competitiveness and sustainability."

Within the framework of the Project "Collaborative Action on Climate Change Response and Environmental Protection" for youth, ActionAid International in Viet Nam, the Fund for Social Security Programs and Projects of Vietnam (AFV), and the Viet Nam National University of Forestry will organize 36 environmental education courses for approximately 2,000 university students via the online platform asaplearn.org.

In addition, the Project will arrange a field study trip for 10 youth leaders from the Viet Nam National University of Forestry to visit ActionAid and AFV's project areas in Vietnam.

COP30 gathered approximately 50,000 delegates from governments, the scientific community, businesses, youth, and indigenous communities. The conference focused negotiations on a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, sharply increasing climate finance, and promoting climate justice. Brazil proposed an initiative to quadruple sustainable fuel expansion by 2035. Additionally, COP30 faced several challenges such as high accommodation costs, concerns about the environmental impact of infrastructure built for the conference, and greater demands for transparency and the rights of indigenous communities. This is considered a crucial conference for translating global climate commitments into concrete action.