UN in Viet Nam promotes youth leadership in climate governance

The panel discussion is part of the YECAP Shakers Fellowship in Viet Nam, a localized initiative of the Asia–Pacific YECAP Shakers Fellowship, co-led by UNDP and UN Women, and implemented by the Youth Climate Action Network (YNet) in collaboration with Sustainable Development with Youth (SDY) and Viet Nam Youth Parliament (VNYP).

The fellowship identifies and supports 30 outstanding young leaders from across Viet Nam who are leading organizations, social enterprises, and community projects related to environment and climate. From March to July 2025, these young leaders participated in a series of specialized trainings on climate governance, systems thinking, fundraising, impact measurement, volunteer management, and leadership development.

Addressing the workshop, Ms. Do Le Thu Ngoc, Head of Inclusive Growth Unit, UNDP in Viet Nam, emphasized the urgent need for inclusive climate governance in the context of climate change and other factors threatening to slow down or even reverse improvements in the Human Development Index (HDI).

She noted that countries with inclusive institutions and strong social cohesion tend to demonstrate better resilience to climate and economic shocks. In this model, youth are seen as the pioneering force driving innovative climate solutions, contributing to the protection and enhancement of the HDI amid increasing global challenges.

“To promote accountable, inclusive, and effective governance, I propose four mutually reinforcing priorities: improving access to goods and public services; empowering people to lead positive change; ensuring gender equality in all governance systems; and integrating governance across all sectors, including climate action.

On this foundation, multi-sectoral and intergenerational cooperation among civil society, youth, the private sector, government, and academia is needed, with youth playing a central role in developing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and climate policies. At the same time, we must promote women’s leadership in climate decisions and combine digital transformation to enhance transparency, participation, and accountability. Through these efforts, we will collectively help build an adaptive, equitable, and sustainable governance system,” Ms. Ngoc stated.

According to Ms. Luong Nhu Oanh, Programme Analyst, Gender, Climate Change & DRR at UN Women, climate response must place people and the planet at the center. Specifically, all action programs need to integrate gender considerations and aim to reduce the vulnerability of communities to climate impacts. At the same time, they must ensure gender equality and the right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

UN Women is focusing on three leading solutions: enhancing women’s resilience to disasters and extreme climate events; promoting gender statistics and gender mainstreaming in climate policies; expanding renewable energy in rural communities; and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

The organization calls for the involvement of all stakeholders to act in a gender-sensitive manner. Women and vulnerable groups should participate as key agents in climate decision-making and disaster risk reduction processes while also ensuring sustainable livelihoods and climate adaptation.

Within the dialogue's framework, the Panel Discussion on Inclusive Climate Solutions for Human Development created a space for experts and young people to share perspectives, experiences, and inclusive climate solutions that contribute to advancing human development in Vietnam. The event not only encouraged multi-sectoral cooperation and enhanced intergenerational participation but also affirmed the pioneering role of youth in driving a just climate transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.

International Youth Day (IYD), observed annually on August 12th, is a worldwide initiative dedicated to acknowledging the pivotal role young people play in fostering development, peace, and societal advancement. It serves as a crucial platform to amplify youth voices and encourage their active participation across all levels of society.

The 2025 IYD theme, "Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond," highlights the transformative power of young people in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This theme underscores youth as not just beneficiaries, but as dynamic agents of change, innovation, and leadership. Their creativity, energy, and community insights are indispensable in tackling today's complex global challenges.

The YECAP Shakers Fellowship is a three-month capacity building programme for youth climate leaders in Asia and the Pacific. The fellowship provides capacity-building on community mobilization, resource mobilization, team building, communications, Leaving No One Behind, and gender equality, fosters collaborative networks among civil society organizations (CSOs), and equips CSOs leaders with tools and resources to expand their climate advocacy.