Minister Ryan and Minister O’Gorman welcome the convening of the second National Youth Assembly on Climate

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, welcome the convening of the National Youth Assembly on Climate 2023 this weekend in Dublin.

Pictured at the National Youth Assembly on Climate is Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, with Youth Assembly Delegates Jessica Gill and David Giles. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography.

The National Youth Assembly on Climate is a forum where young people aged between 12-24 from across the country are provided with the opportunity to make recommendations directly to Government to inform the Climate Action Plan.

Approximately 60 young delegates from Comhairle na nÓg (Local Youth Councils), various youth organisations and climate organisations contributed.

In advance of the Assembly, each delegate was given the opportunity to vote on key themes arising from the previous Youth Assembly on Climate (March 2022). The three themes that received the most votes are the focus of this Assembly. These are:

• sustainable transport;
• circular economy; and
• communication, engagement and climate literacy.

Speaking about the Assembly, Minister O’Gorman said: “The young delegates of the National Youth Assembly on Climate are playing an important role in ensuring that young people have a say in the Government’s response to climate change.

“The National Youth Assembly on Climate is a really great opportunity for young people to feed directly into Government policy and have their voice make a difference to how we respond to some of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Minister Ryan said: “In the Climate Action Plan 2021 we committed to the establishment of the National Youth Assembly on Climate in response to the call from young people already actively engaged in taking climate action.

“Last year I had the privilege of meeting with the delegates at the first Assembly where I heard their concerns and listened to their suggestions about how we take urgent climate action across a number of key areas like transport and agriculture; the importance of ongoing and active community engagement; and ensuring that climate action is just and equitable.

“These recommendations are now reflected in the Climate Action Plan 2023, and are at the centre of special cross-Government delivery taskforces which I have established.”

Preparation sessions for this year’s Assembly indicate that delegates continue to be concerned about sustainable transport, citizen engagement and the circular economy.

“We will continue to develop solutions by engaging with young people this year as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action and use the ideas we capture to guide policies, including the Climate Action Plan, the National Sustainable Mobility Policy, and the delivery of the Circular Economy Act through the Circular Economy Strategy”, Minister Ryan continued.

“It is only by working together through meaningful and ongoing dialogue that we can co-create solutions and realise the opportunities that the transition to a carbon-neutral society offers us all.”

Anna, a member of the Youth Advisory Group that helped plan the Assembly, said: “The environment created at the National Youth Assembly is empowering and refreshing. The Departments and the Government Ministers really do value our opinions and even follow up on them by inviting delegates to other events after the Assembly.

“When the Assembly is focused on climate, the discussion is like our ever-changing weather: there are both good and bad actions taking place. Sometimes we tend to only remember or discuss all the bad things but the Assembly also gives us a chance to hear about all the important, positive actions that take place around the country.”

Emily, also a member of the Youth Advisory Group, said: “For this Assembly, I hope for everyone to take away the passion of caring for the climate and the ongoing climate crisis; after all, it’s our future.”

A report detailing this weekend’s discussions and recommendations will be published in the coming weeks.

National Youth Assembly on Climate:

This is the second annual National Youth Assembly on Climate. The Assembly first convened online in March 2022, when, following a day of discussion and deliberation, the delegates made the recommendations to Minister Ryan. Key recommendations from the 2022 Assembly can be found on gov.ie.

The National Youth Assembly of Ireland:

As part of the Programme for Government, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) established the National Youth Assembly of Ireland in 2022 and collaborates closely with other Government Departments on convening youth assemblies on a range of topics.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications committed in the interim Climate Actions 2021 to establish a Youth Climate Council as part of the new National Dialogue on Climate Action engagement model and annual Climate Action Plan consultations, to help support future dialogue with young people. The two Departments collaborate closely on convening the National Youth Assembly on Climate to fulfil these commitments.

These commitments were made following consultations with young people as part of the ‘Climate Conversations’, when young people consulted requested that the Government commit to ongoing involvement of young people in Ireland’s updates to the annual Climate Action Plan.

Youth Assembly on Climate Membership:

The Youth Assembly on Climate 2023 has 42 delegates; 19 are sitting delegates who have attended previous National Youth Assemblies and 23 are guest delegates.

National Youth Assembly delegates range in ages from 12 to 24 years and come from across Ireland. 50 young people were selected to sit on the National Youth Assembly of Ireland for a term of 18 months. The sitting delegates are nominated by Comhairle na nÓg (Local Youth Councils) and by established youth and climate organisations.

Youth Advisory Group (YAG):

The YAG consists of approximately eight Assembly delegates who play an important role in planning the Assembly. They help co-design the format for the day of the Assembly, pilot the interactive activities, test consultation methods, suggest expert speakers and make decisions alongside officials from DCEDIY and National Participation Office. YAG members also host the preparation session for the delegates and co-facilitate the Assembly event.

National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA):

Delivering on our climate ambition requires that the Government and the people of Ireland come together in a strengthened social contract for climate action and the co-creation of real solutions to these challenges. The National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) is led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and delivers an annual programme, including broad public consultation, engagement activities, and robust social and behavioural research, to deliver this two-way dialogue and inform the annual Climate Action Plan and wider sectoral policy. It is comprised of Government Departments and agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and the Local Authority sector, and also includes input from a wide range of experts, as well as insights from ongoing active engagement with stakeholders and the wider public. The National Youth Assembly on Climate is a key milestone in the delivery of the annual NDCA programme.

The National Participation Office:

The National Participation Office (NPO) was established in 2021 within DCEDIY to manage and coordinate the activities of The National Youth Assembly of Ireland, Comhairle na nÓg (youth councils), Dáil na nÓg (youth parliament) and other related youth-participation initiatives and structures.