Opportunities
Zooniverse 🧑🔬
Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular online platform for people-powered research, enabling volunteers worldwide to assist professional scientists by analyzing data, classifying galaxies, and tagging environmental or wildlife images.
Designed as a focused GreenNeXus action path with clear next steps.
Designed as a focused GreenNeXus action path with clear next steps.
Designed as a focused GreenNeXus action path with clear next steps.
Designed as a focused GreenNeXus action path with clear next steps.
Global Youth Climate Network (GYCN) 🪴
Global Youth Climate Network is an empowering leadership initiative designed for high school students passionate about environmental action. Through collaborative projects, expert mentorship, and global advocacy, the program equips young leaders with the skills, resources, and international community needed to drive real sustainability solutions in their local schools and beyond.
Application opens: 1st December Deadline: 28th February
Smithsonian Environmental Internship 🌎
The Smithsonian High School Internship Program offers students a hands-on look behind the scenes of the world's largest museum and research complex. Interns work alongside researchers, curators, and educators on projects spanning environmental science, history, art, and public programming while gaining professional mentorship and real-world workplace experience.
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EarthEcho International Youth Leadership Council (YLC) 🍃
The EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council gives passionate young advocates a direct voice in shaping global ocean and climate conservation campaigns. Members collaborate remotely with peers worldwide to design environmental initiatives, host virtual summits, and advise EarthEcho International on youth-led environmental action strategies.
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Internship
Seaside Sustainability Virtual Internship Program
The Seaside Sustainability Virtual Internship lets high schoolers join global teams working on marine conservation, climate advocacy, and sustainability consulting. Interns gain practical skills by researching policy, creating educational campaigns, and developing real-world solutions alongside industry experts.
The Seaside Sustainability Virtual Internship lets high schoolers join global teams working on marine conservation, climate advocacy, and sustainability consulting. Interns gain practical skills by researching policy, creating educational campaigns, and developing real-world solutions alongside industry experts.
Climate Cardinals Fellowship 2026–2027
The Climate Cardinals Fellowship is a year-long program for young people aged 16–22 who are passionate about climate action and creating positive social impact. Fellows join an international community and develop their skills through mentorship and structured leadership opportunities.
Fellows receive personalized mentorship, leadership training, and a stipend while working to expand climate awareness and accessibility in their communities. The fellowship welcomes young people from around the world, making it an opportunity to gain experience while connecting with an international network of climate-minded peers.
Climate Leaders Fellowship 2026
The Climate Leaders Fellowship is an 8-week online program for high school students aged 14–18 who want to take meaningful action on climate and environmental challenges. Fellows join a global cohort, build leadership skills, and develop a local climate-action project.
The fellowship is fully virtual and requires approximately 2–3 hours per week. Participants receive mentorship and peer feedback while designing and implementing a measurable environmental project in their community. The Fall 2026 cohort runs from October 9 to December 8, 2026, with applications due September 20, 2026.
World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council
The World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council unites young ocean advocates from around the world to shape and lead global marine conservation campaigns. Members work closely together to develop civic engagement strategies, raise environmental awareness, and inspire youth-led action for a healthier ocean and climate.
Council members gain valuable experience in global project management, youth mobilization, and advocacy. Throughout their term, participants collaborate on international campaigns, receive guidance from conservation experts, and represent the global youth voice in major environmental initiatives.
Earth Island Institute — Youth Eco-Arts & Conservation Internship
The Earth Island Institute Youth Eco-Arts & Conservation Internship offers young environmental advocates an online platform to support global conservation campaigns through digital activism, storytelling, and education. Interns work remotely to raise public awareness about marine ecosystems, wildlife protection, and climate action.
Participants gain hands-on experience in environmental advocacy, content creation, and campaign outreach while collaborating with a network of global youth leaders. The program is flexible and beginner-friendly, requiring no prior professional experience.
YUNGA UN Climate & Environmental Challenge Badges
The Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) Challenge Badges, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) alongside partner UN agencies, educate young people globally on pressing environmental and social issues. High school students can complete self-paced action packs covering climate change, ocean health, biodiversity, soil preservation, and renewable energy.
Participants carry out hands-on local environmental activities, community research, and practical conservation projects outlined in each badge guide. Upon completing a challenge pack, students earn an official downloadable UN Completion Certificate and gain actionable skills to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals in their home communities.
Plant-for-the-Planet Climate Justice Ambassadors
Plant-for-the-Planet is a global youth-led initiative that empowers children and teenagers to become Climate Justice Ambassadors. Through interactive online and local academies, participants learn about climate science, ecosystem restoration, public speaking, and organizing local tree-planting campaigns.
Ambassadors gain access to global advocacy toolkits, peer mentorship, and leadership roles within international youth councils. Joining the network connects students with thousands of young changemakers across 70 countries to lead reforestation and climate education projects in their communities.
Eco-Schools Global Environmental Action Program
Eco-Schools is the world's largest global sustainable school initiative, operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The program engages high school students in a seven-step framework to address environmental challenges like waste management, biodiversity loss, energy conservation, and climate change in their schools and local communities.
Student-led Eco-Committees gain hands-on experience in environmental auditing, campaign design, and community organizing. Schools that complete the framework earn the prestigious International Green Flag award, giving participants recognized leadership credentials and connecting them with a worldwide network of student environmental advocates.
AIESEC Global Youth Sustainability Volunteers
AIESEC is the world's largest youth-led organization, providing young people globally with practical leadership and intercultural volunteering opportunities. Through its cross-cultural sustainability projects, high school and young adult participants join local and virtual initiatives aimed at advancing clean energy, responsible consumption, and environmental action.
Participants build global leadership skills, manage community projects, and gain hands-on experience driving social and environmental impact. Completing an AIESEC initiative provides students with an internationally recognized leadership certificate and access to a worldwide alumni network across more than 100 countries and territories.
Climate Interactive Youth Ambassador Network
Climate Interactive, in partnership with MIT Sloan, provides open-access climate simulation models like En-ROADS to empower youth leaders globally. High school students learn to run interactive climate role-playing games, simulating United Nations negotiations and analyzing real-time data on carbon reduction, renewable energy, and economic policy.
Participants gain access to training tools, user manuals, and online workshops to become certified Student Facilitators. By organizing local or virtual climate summits for schools and youth groups, students earn global leadership experience, quantitative policy analysis skills, and inclusion in an international ambassador directory.
UN Youth for Climate Action Global Training
Youth for Climate Action is an open-access global leadership program launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Learning for Nature platform. Designed specifically for teenagers and young adults, the curriculum guides participants through climate science, ecosystem-based solutions, local policy advocacy, and community project planning.
Students complete interactive self-paced modules, analyze real-world case studies, and design actionable environmental initiatives for their local regions. Upon completing the program requirements, participants earn an official UN-backed completion certificate to showcase their leadership credentials in climate advocacy.
WWF Youth Action & Conservation Challenges
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) provides global youth and students with open-access platforms to lead environmental conservation, wildlife protection, and climate resilience projects. Through self-guided toolkits, global action guides, and seasonal challenges, participants learn to conduct local environmental audits, reduce community waste, and restore regional habitats.
Students execute local conservation campaigns and document their environmental impact directly on WWF's digital platform. Participants gain global recognition for their sustainability efforts, earn certificates of achievement, and access educational toolkits to build environmental advocacy campaigns in their schools.
Global Youth Action Platform
UNICEF U-Report Global Youth Advocacy Platform
U-Report is UNICEF’s global digital messaging platform that empowers youth ages 13–18 to lead action on climate change, sustainability, and community rights. The network allows participants to report local environmental issues, share real-time community data, and inform policy decisions made by global leaders. Participants receive free climate advocacy toolkits, access to local volunteer networks, and opportunities to join global UNICEF campaigns. By joining U-Report, teens participate in international polls, gain civic leadership experience, and amplify their environmental work on global stages.
U-Report is UNICEF’s global digital messaging platform that empowers youth ages 13–18 to lead action on climate change, sustainability, and community rights. The network allows participants to report local environmental issues, share real-time community data, and inform policy decisions made by global leaders. Participants receive free climate advocacy toolkits, access to local volunteer networks, and opportunities to join global UNICEF campaigns. By joining U-Report, teens participate in international polls, gain civic leadership experience, and amplify their environmental work on global stages.
Policy Simulation & Leadership
Climate Interactive World Climate Simulation
Developed by Climate Interactive and the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, the World Climate Simulation allows young people to step into the role of international climate negotiators. Using scientifically validated climate policy software (C-ROADS and En-ROADS), participants test the real-world impact of global emissions reductions and energy policies. Teenagers can join local roleplay simulations or train as facilitators to host interactive climate workshops for their schools and communities. Through hands-on data analysis and negotiations, participants develop key skills in public speaking, climate policy, and international diplomacy.
Developed by Climate Interactive and the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, the World Climate Simulation allows young people to step into the role of international climate negotiators. Using scientifically validated climate policy software (C-ROADS and En-ROADS), participants test the real-world impact of global emissions reductions and energy policies. Teenagers can join local roleplay simulations or train as facilitators to host interactive climate workshops for their schools and communities. Through hands-on data analysis and negotiations, participants develop key skills in public speaking, climate policy, and international diplomacy.
Global Youth-Led Climate Advocacy & Grant Program
Youth Climate Justice Fund Leadership & Capacity Grants
The Youth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF) is a global, youth-led funding and resource platform that supports emerging climate activists and community organizers ages 35 and under. The initiative provides flexible grant funding, capacity-strengthening tools, and peer-to-peer mentorship to youth groups working on local climate resilience, environmental justice, and sustainability campaigns. Participants gain access to international networks, leadership training modules, and educational workshops designed to build organizational skills. The program helps grassroots youth initiatives scale their local projects, participate in policy advocacy, and lead impactful environmental action within their communities.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF) is a global, youth-led funding and resource platform that supports emerging climate activists and community organizers ages 35 and under. The initiative provides flexible grant funding, capacity-strengthening tools, and peer-to-peer mentorship to youth groups working on local climate resilience, environmental justice, and sustainability campaigns. Participants gain access to international networks, leadership training modules, and educational workshops designed to build organizational skills. The program helps grassroots youth initiatives scale their local projects, participate in policy advocacy, and lead impactful environmental action within their communities.
Ocean Health & Circular Economy Youth Volunteer Network
Global Plastic Action Partnership Youth Network
Hosted by the World Economic Forum, the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) engages youth volunteers and activists worldwide to address plastic pollution through community action and circular economy projects. The program connects young conservationists directly with local clean-up initiatives, policy task forces, and environmental monitoring projects. Participants contribute to local environmental field assessments, participate in waste management education campaigns, and receive direct guidance from marine experts. The platform offers youth practical volunteer experience in circular strategy, community mobilization, and plastic reduction advocacy.
Hosted by the World Economic Forum, the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) engages youth volunteers and activists worldwide to address plastic pollution through community action and circular economy projects. The program connects young conservationists directly with local clean-up initiatives, policy task forces, and environmental monitoring projects. Participants contribute to local environmental field assessments, participate in waste management education campaigns, and receive direct guidance from marine experts. The platform offers youth practical volunteer experience in circular strategy, community mobilization, and plastic reduction advocacy.