European Children & Youth Environment Manifesto 2025: Voices From 56 Countries Unite For Environmental Action

The European Children & Youth Environment Manifesto 2025 brings together the voices of children and youth from 56 countries across Western and Eastern Europe. These consultations were held virtually under the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG), in collaboration with the UNEP Civil Society Unit (CSU) and the European Regional Facilitators of the Major Group Facilitating Committee (MGFC).

Through this process, young people reaffirmed their commitments under the UN 2030 Agenda, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the 2024 Global Youth Environmental Declaration, and past UNEA resolutions. The manifesto emphasizes the irreplaceable role of children and youth in shaping a just and sustainable future.

Below is a clear and faithful presentation of their demands.

1. Urgent and Ambitious Climate Action

Children and youth express deep concern about the insufficient progress in limiting global warming to 1.5°C. They call for:

  • Unprecedented political will at national, regional, and international levels.

  • Legally binding instruments to address the Triple Planetary Crisis.

  • A stronger UNEP Medium-term Strategy (2026–2029) focusing on CO₂ and methane emission reductions.

  • Recognition of diverse knowledge systems and the One Health approach.

  • Meaningful youth contributions to climate planning and implementation.

  • Attention to major emission sectors, including animal agriculture.

2. Transformation Toward Sustainable Food Systems

The youth demand a shift from intensive commercial farming toward resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems. This includes:

  • Ensuring healthy, affordable, and just food for all.

  • Reducing reliance on harmful fertilizers, pesticides, and concentrated animal feed.

  • Integrating regenerative agriculture into climate strategies.

  • Introducing “plant-based schools,” zero-waste programs, and climate-resilient agricultural education.

  • Training and financial support for youth innovation, agri-tech, green labs, and practical food sovereignty skills.

3. A Strong Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

Children and youth affirm their right to a toxin-free and plastic-free environment and call for:

  • A comprehensive and legally binding Global Plastics Treaty.

  • Active and meaningful child and youth participation in negotiations and implementation.

  • Integration of Indigenous knowledge and gender-responsive approaches.

  • Legal recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

  • Strong regulatory frameworks addressing harmful chemicals, pollutants, and corporate responsibility.

4. A Just Transition to a Circular and Green Economy

The manifesto demands an equitable and gender-balanced shift to a circular economy that supports:

  • Sustainable production and consumption.

  • Local innovation and youth-led entrepreneurship.

  • Pollution reduction in high-impact sectors such as textiles, electronics, and tourism.

  • Accessible hubs, training centers, and resources for scaling youth-driven solutions.

5. Protection of Oceans and Water Resources

Recognizing the ocean as key to survival, food security, and cultural identity—especially for coastal and island states—youth call for:

  • Full and equitable youth participation in ocean governance.

  • Stronger conservation of marine ecosystems.

  • Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.

  • Enforcement of Regional Seas Action Plans.

  • Youth co-leadership in the sustainable blue economy.

6. Inclusive Protection of Marginalized Communities

A just transition must uplift vulnerable groups. The manifesto highlights the need to include:

  • Children and young people,

  • Women and girls,

  • Gender-diverse individuals,

  • LGBTQIA+ youth,

  • Immigrant communities,

  • People with disabilities,

  • Indigenous Peoples,

  • Religious minorities,

  • People at risk of poverty.

Governments must dismantle systemic inequalities through capacity building, accessible climate and biodiversity education, and expanded access to green financing.

7. Recognition and Integration of Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous children and youth are acknowledged as essential environmental stewards. Their Traditional Knowledge and rights must be:

  • Recognized,

  • Protected,

  • Integrated into climate and biodiversity policies,

  • Included in national and international environmental processes.

8. Integrating Ethics and Reforming Education Systems

Young people emphasize the importance of ethical, moral, faith-based, and scientific worldviews in environmental decision-making. Governments should:

  • Embed climate literacy and sustainable living into all curricula.

  • Support community-based green innovation.

  • Promote sustainable design and lifestyle transitions.

9. Corporate Accountability and Anti-Greenwashing Laws

Youth demand:

  • Full disclosure of environmental impacts throughout supply chains.

  • Strict bans and penalties for greenwashing.

  • Expanded extended producer responsibility frameworks—especially in textiles and electronics.

10. Meaningful Youth Engagement and Long-term Support

The manifesto strongly pushes for:

  • Inclusive, accessible, and structured platforms for youth engagement.

  • Long-term funding for youth-led environmental initiatives.

  • Gender-balanced youth representation in national and international delegations—including UNEA-7.

  • Transparent and fair selection processes (elections, standardized rubrics, nominations).

  • Protection for women environmental human rights defenders.

Youth voices should be actively included—not tokenized.

11. Holistic and Synergistic Environmental Governance

The youth call for greater synergy across Multilateral Environmental Agreements and science-policy interfaces. They urge governments to adopt:

  • A systems-thinking approach,

  • Rights-based and gender-transformative strategies,

  • Measures that protect the interests of future generations.

Our Commitment

Children and youth reaffirm their dedication to peace, justice, sustainability, and multilateralism. They welcome the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (July 2025), which clarifies the legal obligations of states to protect the climate system for current and future generations.

They call on environmental authorities to champion youth-led initiatives, strengthen regional solidarity, support South–South collaboration, and recognize children and youth as essential co-creators of environmental solutions.