By Abbas Nazil
Young people in Belarus are being empowered to take a leading role in climate action through a new education initiative that connects learning with environmental responsibility.
The two-day seminar, Climate of the Future: Education for Sustainable Development, held from 30 September to 1 October in Minsk and online, brought together youth representatives, educators, and climate experts to explore how education can drive sustainability and equip the next generation to tackle global climate challenges.
The event created a dynamic space for young participants to share their ideas, learn from experts, and understand how they can contribute to shaping the planet’s future.
Discussions centered on how students can become active agents of change, not just recipients of knowledge.
One of the most celebrated approaches presented was the peer-to-peer learning model — an initiative where young people teach and inspire one another to adopt sustainable lifestyles and engage in environmental projects within their schools and communities.
Participants emphasized that youth must be part of climate conversations from the beginning, bringing creativity and energy to finding practical solutions to climate change.
Speakers highlighted that the role of youth goes beyond classroom awareness; it extends to real-world leadership in promoting sustainable practices and climate advocacy.
The seminar explored scientific, social, and economic dimensions of the climate crisis, focusing strongly on gender equality and youth participation as key components of climate education.
Through lectures and interactive sessions led by experts from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), participants learned about the country’s climate policies, international commitments, and contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 13 — Climate Action.
For young people, these sessions provided valuable insights into how global frameworks connect to local actions and how their voices can influence national strategies.
A highlight of the event was the online session Voices of the Future, where youth participants discussed how they can help shape climate policy and bring their ideas to life.
This platform gave young climate advocates a chance to share their visions and propose creative ways to make climate education more interactive and impactful.
Participants were also introduced to Climate Box, a UNDP-developed toolkit featuring lessons, activities, and community projects that help students and teachers integrate climate topics into daily learning.
The initiative aims to turn schools into hubs of climate innovation, where young people learn by doing — from tree planting and recycling projects to awareness campaigns and scientific experiments.
The seminar formed part of the Climate Education to Advance SDGs and Climate Action (Climate Box) and Global Climate Promise – From Pledge to Impact – Belarus projects implemented by UNDP.
By fostering youth leadership, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, the event reaffirmed that today’s young generation is not only the most affected by climate change but also the most capable of driving meaningful, lasting solutions for a sustainable future.