Lara Bou Jaber for a Greener Lebanon: Leading Youth Climate Action at EMPOWER 2025

For Lara Bou Jaber, nature has always been home. Growing up in rural Lebanon surrounded by greenery and clean air, she felt deeply connected to nature. But when wildfires swept across parts of the country in 2019, destroying forests and threatening wildlife, that connection suddenly felt fragile. “That moment pushed me to take environmental action and commit myself to advocating for climate awareness” she says “protecting nature is not a choice. It’s a responsibility,” she adds.

Lara’s climate journey began with her active involvement in UNICEF’s Youth Advisory Group and the Youth Climate Advocates, where she contributed to shaping youth-led climate discussions and educational activities. She has collaborated with NGOs and scouts as a Green Orient, promoting environmental awareness and hands-on volunteer activities. She also contributed to the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Lebanon for two consecutive years with the support of UNICEF, helping ensure youth perspectives are included in national climate conversations ahead of the COP summit.

Now an environmental climate advocate as part of the Greener Lebanon project supported by UNICEF aiming to educate and empower youth and enhance their participation in climate action through local initiatives with sustainable impact across all Lebanese governorates, Lara has delivered more than five climate educational sessions across several regions, reaching over 100 young people. She has also supported over 200 students in designing community-based environmental initiatives.

Building on her engagement in Greener Lebanon, Lara was selected to represent UNICEF Lebanon at EMPOWER 2025 in Doha, Qatar, under the theme Driving Climate Action through Green Entrepreneurship in partnership with Education Above All, where she proposed sustainable ideas focused on ecosystem preservation. The two-day global conference brought together passionate young climate leaders from around the world. “It gave me the chance to network, exchange experiences, and learn from inspiring initiatives tackling climate challenges in different countries. I gained not only new knowledge and skills, but also meaningful connections and friendships that continue to motivate me,” she shares.

During several workshops, she shared Lebanon’s perspective and highlighted how local youth initiatives can make a real impact even with limited resources. She learned about green entrepreneurship and how innovation and AI integration can drive sustainable change. “What inspired me most was realizing how powerful youth collaboration can be when we share our experiences, listen, and co-create solutions,” she expresses.

Lara envisions a Lebanon where environmental protection becomes part of the national identity. Through her active role in the Greener Lebanon project, supported by UNICEF Lebanon and funded by Education Above All which aims to educate and empower youth and strengthen their participation in climate action through impactful local initiatives across Lebanon, she is committed to advancing long-term, sustainable climate solutions aligned with a shared regional vision with Jordan and Egypt. Inspired by EMPOWER 2025, Lara hopes to see stronger youth representation and sustained environmental enterprises moving forward.