We work with sector alliances to enhance youth action and with global youth networks to increase their leadership in interventions addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. We also promote sustainable lifestyles habits among youth through gamified platforms and tools.
Tide Turners Plastic Challenge
The Tide Turners Plastic Challenge was developed as part of UNEP's Beat Plastic Pollution campaign with a focus on building the capacities of young people to tackle plastic pollution.
Designed as an engaging, multi-level challenge, it builds young people's skills and environmental awareness, awarding badges and certificates to recognize their leadership. Since launching in 2018, more than 950,000 young people have been engaged in the challenge across 61 countries. But this isn't just any challenge – it's a dynamic, fun-filled quest designed to inspire young minds.
More information: https://tide-turners.org/
Highlights: to be added
Sports for Nature is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. So far, 58 sports organisations are on board, with activities including a guidance produced from World Rugby on what sports in their pyramid can do, new commitments from the Olympic movement ahead of Paris 2024 and a high-level event between France-Kenya focusing on government engagement on this topic.
More information: https://sportsfornature.org/
Highlights: to be added
The Playing for the Planet Alliance, launched during the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit on September 23, 2019, unites the video games industry in the fight against environmental degradation. With the support of UNEP, the Alliance now boasts 50 members, all committed to making a tangible difference.
These companies pledge bold, measurable actions—from achieving net-zero carbon emissions to embedding powerful environmental messages in their games—using the platform of gaming to drive global climate action and inspire millions of players to become environmental stewards.
More information: https://www.playing4theplanet.org/
Highlights: to be added
We are Nature: Youth Biodiversity Challenge
The We Are Nature: Youth Biodiversity Challenge has been developed by UNEP in collaboration with the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) and Greenpop. This initiative is designed to inspire global youth, including Indigenous youth and youth from local communities, to take leadership roles in biodiversity action. The initiative aligns with and will contribute to the fulfilment of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s (GBF) ambitious "30x30" target of protecting and restoring 30% of global biodiversity by 2030.
More information: to be added
Highlights: to be added
Sustainable Lifestyles Academy
The Academy offers educational tools to train youth, youth intermediaries, influencers, and UNEP personnel on transitioning to sustainable lifestyles. The academy aims to empower youth for sustainable lifestyles, and to promote green campuses youth opportunities for green jobs with universities.
“My sustainable lifestyles Challenge”- a six-week gamified program launched on World Environment Day to engage youth in sustainable lifestyle practices. Students from 140 universities across 88 countries (over 2,100 participants forming 307 teams) took part. This challenge empowered young people to adopt sustainable habits in daily domains like food, housing, and transport. It also strengthened partnerships with networks such as the UN System Staff College (UNSCC), ARIUSA, and the Sustainable Lifestyles University Network. Insights from the challenge were used to inform the Sustainable Lifestyles University Network’s 2024–2025 action plan for campus sustainability.
More information: tbc
Highlights: My Sustainable Living Challenge- 2024 Edition
Faith for Earth Coalition Youth Council
The Faith for Earth Youth Council, composed of 36 young men and women representing faith-based organisations globally is part of the larger Faith for Earth Coalition with a main objective of engaging with faith actors for policy dialogue and advocacy on the role of faith values in achieving sustainability.
More information: https://www.unep.org/faith-earth-youth#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20the%20Youth,one%20gathering%20at%20a%20time.
Highlights: to be added
