Youth for COP is a free online learning program that helps young people understand how international climate negotiations work — the Conference of the Parties (COP) process, climate diplomacy, and the role youth voices can play in shaping climate policy. It is organised by The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia and delivered over roughly a three-month period in the lead-up to each year’s COP, through expert-led thematic sessions and practical workshops. The 2025 edition reached more than 1,500 participants from over 48 countries; the first edition engaged over 1,100 youth across eight South Asian countries. The current Edition 3 (2026) runs ahead of COP31. The program is open to beginners — no prior experience is required.
Benefits & funding
- Free of cost for all selected participants — no registration fee.
- Expert-led thematic sessions and interactive workshops on climate negotiations, COP processes, and climate diplomacy.
- Skill-building in climate literacy, systems understanding, communication, and leadership.
- Access to a global network of young climate advocates and connection to the conversations shaping COP.
- Note: the program is a learning journey; it does not provide a stipend or fund travel to COP.
Eligibility
- Young people aged 18–30.
- Open to applicants from Global South countries, including those living on the frontlines of the climate crisis. (The program FAQ states it is open to youth aged 18–30 from Global South countries; the 2025 edition drew participants from 48+ countries.)
- No prior experience or background in climate issues required — open to both beginners and those already engaged.
- Open to students and young professionals.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Eligible nationalities
Myanmar · Cambodia · China · Fiji · Indonesia · Kiribati · Laos · Malaysia · Mongolia · Nauru · Papua New Guinea · Philippines
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Samoa · Solomon Islands · Thailand · Bahamas · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Albania · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Georgia · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Moldova · Montenegro · North Macedonia · Serbia · Türkiye · Ukraine · Algeria · Bahrain · Egypt · Iraq · Jordan · Lebanon · Morocco · Oman · Palestine · Saudi Arabia · Tunisia · UAE · Yemen · Bangladesh · Bhutan · India · Kazakhstan · Maldives · Nepal · Pakistan · Sri Lanka · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Comoros · DR Congo · Republic of the Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · Tanzania · Togo · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Barbados · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Uruguay · Venezuela · Nigeria · Chad · Sudan · South Sudan · Libya · Iran · Syria · Micronesia · Marshall Islands · Afghanistan
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Age requirement
18–30 yrs
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Register through the program’s official registration link on youth4cop.org (Edition 3 used a Google registration form).
- 2Registered applicants receive a follow-up selection form used to confirm places.
- 3Selected participants join the online sessions and workshops over the program period. Spots are limited.
Program timeline
Edition 3 (2026) registrations opened
early April 2026
Edition 3 registration
now closed (official registration form no longer accepting responses as of late June 2026)
Program delivery
approximately three months in the lead-up to COP31
Next edition
expected to recur annually ahead of the following COP