In cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation Yerevan Office Armenian Progressive Youth(APY) launched a new project to empower young people in Armenia to actively contribute to climate awareness, climate justice, and youth-led environmental action.
Armenia is increasingly facing the social, environmental, and economic consequences of climate change. Climate challenges are no longer solely environmental concerns; they increasingly influence livelihoods, social resilience, public health, and sustainable development.
At the same time, Armenia is entering a strategically significant period as the country prepares to host COP17. The conference creates an important opportunity to strengthen national dialogue around climate action and sustainability while positioning Armenia as an active contributor to global climate efforts. However, there is a risk that climate discussions and decision-making processes remain concentrated among policy actors and experts, with limited participation from communities and citizens, particularly young people outside Yerevan.
Through this project APY aims to empower young people in Armenia, particularly those from regional communities and with fewer opportunities, to actively contribute to climate awareness, climate justice, and youth-led environmental action by strengthening their knowledge, participation, and leadership capacities, while creating meaningful pathways for connecting local climate initiatives with national dialogue and engagement processes in the lead-up to COP17.
The project will directly engage approximately 120 young people aged 16–30 from Yerevan, Charentsavan, Tsaghkadzor, and Vayk communities through APY’s Alternative Youth Centers.
Additionally, the project will directly involve approximately 8 youth workers and facilitators from APY’s Alternative Youth Centers who will strengthen their capacities to integrate climate justice and sustainability approaches into youth work practice.
The project is expected to indirectly benefit approximately 1,000–1,500 individuals through local outreach activities, awareness initiatives, visibility actions, and dissemination of youth-generated outputs.
The project will result to the strengthened youth participation and engagement in climate-related discussions ahead of COP17 and will contribute to strengthening broader public awareness on climate challenges and promoting a culture of youth participation and local environmental responsibility.