UNICEF and TÜSİAD Bring Business Leaders Together to Advance Green Skills for Youth Ahead of COP31

Istanbul, 8 June 2026 – Ahead of the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference, UNICEF Türkiye’s Business Advisory Board (BAB) convened at Turkish Industry and Business Association, TÜSİAD, for a special session. The objective was to explore how private sector leadership can help translate climate ambition into tangible opportunities for young people through green skills development, climate finance and innovative partnership models.

The meeting brought together board members, youth representatives, private sector leaders, financial institutions and development finance partners to discuss how investments in the green transition can also strengthen workforce readiness and create opportunities for young people.

Participants discussed how the transition towards a low-carbon economy is reshaping labor markets, creating new occupations, and increasing demand for green skills across sectors – and the need to match this with the supply of appropriate skills. Discussions focused on how climate finance and sustainability-linked investments can be leveraged to strengthen skills development, workforce preparedness and pathways to employment for young people.

The meeting highlighted UNICEF’s growing work at the intersection of climate action, youth development and innovative finance. Participants from UNICEF shared examples of ongoing partnerships that bring together public institutions, businesses, financial institutions and development partners to support skills development and create employment opportunities for young people. Youth representatives also shared their priorities ahead of COP31 and highlighted ongoing engagement with businesses through initiatives such as the Youth Business Compact.

Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Representative to Türkiye, said: “Climate change is already shaping the world that children and young people will inherit. As economies adapt and new industries emerge, young people will need the skills, opportunities and support to succeed in this changing landscape. The transition to a greener economy will require more than investments in technology and infrastructure. It will require investments in young people. By bringing together the innovation and leadership of the private sector, the resources of financial institutions, and the aspirations and talents of young people, we have an opportunity to ensure that climate action creates pathways to skills, employment and opportunity for the next generation.”

Feyza Narlı, TUSIAD Alternating Board Member and Chair of TUSIAD Education Working Group, said: “The future workforce will be shaped by green, digital and human-centred skills. Our responsibility today is to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to develop them. Governments, businesses, civil society, international organizations and young people themselves must work together to ensure that green and digital transitions create opportunities for every child and young person. The UNICEF Business Advisory Board provides an important platform to connect the rights and aspirations of children and young people with the innovation, resources, and networks of the private sector.”

The meeting concluded with strong interest from participating companies and institutions to further explore partnership opportunities that connect climate action, green skills development, and youth outcomes. Several participants expressed interest in advancing collaborative initiatives that could contribute to Türkiye’s COP31 agenda while helping equip young people with the skills needed to thrive in the green economy.