Island Youth Network
Founding Cohort 2026
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A world where island youth are recognised as important leaders in shaping resilient and sustainable futures for island communities.
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To connect, equip, and amplify young people from island communities so they can engage more effectively in environmental leadership and international decision-making.
Why This Matters
Island communities are on the frontline of climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean degradation, and demographic pressure.
Yet young islanders remain underrepresented in many of the global discussions shaping their future.
The Island Youth Network is being created to help change that.
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Island communities are among the most exposed to climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean degradation, and extreme weather. Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, many islands are already experiencing rising seas, coastal erosion, and ecosystem decline.
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Many island economies face high transport costs, dependence on imports, tourism vulnerability, limited economic diversification, and exposure to global shocks. Climate impacts and environmental degradation increasingly threaten livelihoods, infrastructure, fisheries, food systems, and long-term economic resilience.
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Island communities often experience demographic pressures, youth outmigration, housing challenges, and limited political representation in international decision-making spaces. At the same time, young islanders remain underrepresented in many of the global discussions shaping the future of their communities.
A Global Initiative
Aims
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Build meaningful connections between young people from island communities across different regions, cultures, and experiences.
The network aims to create a global community where young islanders can share ideas, challenges, opportunities, and perspectives while learning from one another.
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Provide young islanders with opportunities to develop skills, build confidence, access international networks, and engage with environmental, policy, and leadership discussions.
The network aims to help participants become stronger advocates and leaders within their own communities.
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Support greater visibility and representation for young islanders within regional and international conversations connected to climate change, biodiversity, oceans, resilience, and sustainable development.
The network aims to help ensure island perspectives are present in the discussions shaping the future.
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Create an active and lasting international network of young islanders that continues beyond individual programmes, events, or COPs.
The long-term ambition is to strengthen collaboration, solidarity, and shared learning across island communities globally.
Founding Cohort 2026
The first phase of the Island Youth Network will launch as a Founding Cohort of 10 young island leaders from across island communities around the world.
Between July and December 2026, the cohort will journey together through the UNCCD COP 17, CBD COP17 & UNFCCC COP31.
The programme will run fully online and combine short interactive sessions, guest speakers, collaborative discussion, and youth-led outputs connected to island priorities.
While 10 participants will form the Founding Cohort, every applicant will become part of the wider Island Youth Network community and will receive future updates, opportunities, and invitations to engage.
We welcome conversations with island leaders, funders, and partners who wish to shape global island participation in the climate process.