The UNICEF Summer School on Climate Change for Youth has concluded in Ashgabat.

The Summer School sessions were conducted by UNICEF with the participation of national partners – the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Red Crescent Society, the Kopetdag State Nature Reserve and local NGOs, as well as international organisations including UNDP, FAO, UNFCCC and GIZ.

Over three months, 35 young participants played a central role in discussions and activities covering climate, environment, energy, agriculture, water, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, waste management, project planning and youth leadership.

Visiting sites including the Toprak waste treatment plant, they explored practical solutions and turned their ideas into real projects, demonstrating how youth leadership can drive climate initiatives at the community level.

During the programme, participants gained practical skills, strengthened their advocacy capabilities through public speaking and project management training, and deepened their understanding of global climate policies such as the Paris Agreement. Their active participation highlighted the role of youth as drivers of climate action and sustainable development.

As a key outcome of the programme, participants developed a National Youth Statement for LCOY (Local Conference of Youth) 2025 and designed youth projects to implement in their communities, ensuring that their learning would lead to concrete action on the ground, according to a UNICEF press release.