Adolescents for Climate Action in Communities

Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate activist, who has become the symbol and a world leader for climate action and an inspiration for adolescents around the world to take action.

No one is more affected by a changing climate and its implications than children and adolescents. A child born today could be living in a world with an average temperature that is 4°C warmer by their 71st birthday.

The Armenian climate highly varies due to a diverse topography, its landlocked central continental position and widely varying elevations, which result in a wide range of microclimates and the presence of diverse ecosystems.

Current climate conditions result in drought, heat waves, flooding, landslides, hailstorms, frost, rock falls, flash floods, mudflows and avalanches. This leaves a negative impact on the livelihoods and food security of rural communities.

UNICEF and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation, believe that these risks can be reversed or slowed down.

Here’s what we will do in 52 consolidated communities in Armenia!

Adolescent girls and boys are worried about climate change and are agents of climate action around the world. They are actively engaged in proposing solutions on how to slow down climate change and environmental degradation and create socially and environmentally sustainable communities. However, traditional classroom teaching is not enabling them to use 21st century skills and participate in the development of their communities.

With this project, UNICEF aims to showcase the importance of integrated and improved curricula and learning on climate change and environmental issues in schools through the application of 21st century skills and linking their learning to the development and improvements in their communities.

Through this innovative learning approach, we will:

a) strengthen the relations between schools and communities;

b) teach project planning and implementation to students;

c) engage and empower adolescent girls and boys from vulnerable groups;

d) create links and opportunities for adolescents to contribute to the development of their communities;

e) provide platforms for equal and meaningful participation of adolescent girls and boys to improve their knowledge and take actions to mitigate climate change.

We will work directly with schools and through teachers to build their capacity, develop learning materials, and enhance school curricula on climate change and environmental issues.

We will also work with communities to develop viable mechanisms for integrating strategic climate action in the community plans and budgets, guided by the principles of child-friendly communities.

What we will achieve by November 2022!

Over 28,000 adolescent boys and girls, aged 12-18, will be empowered to act as climate agents in their communities through their schools. We will also reach and engage the 644,184 residents (22% of Armenia’s population) of the 52 consolidated communities in Armenia to stand up for climate action and take measures to adapt or reduce the impact of climate-related risks affecting their communities, families and children.

“Adolescents for Climate Action in Their Communities” (2019-2022), funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation, and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with Ministries of Environment, Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Education, Science, Culture and Sport. The project will be coordinated with consolidated communities, marzpetarans, schools and teachers, and, more importantly, adolescents.