The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Namibia, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), is proud to highlight the growing leadership of Namibian youth in advancing climate action and inclusive development. This engagement has been made possible through UNDP’s Climate Promise 2, with kind financial support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).

Climate Promise 2 provides integrated support to the Government of Namibia in the implementation of its national climate targets through the development and operationalisation of strategic frameworks such as the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), and Climate Budget Tagging and the Climate Public Investment and Expenditure Review (CBT–CPIER). These efforts have served not only to guide national climate policy, but also to create new spaces for meaningful youth engagement and participation.

From Vulnerability to Leadership: Youth Rising in the Face of Crisis

Namibia is already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. The 2024 drought—described as the worst in 90 years—left over 1.2 million people food insecure, severely affecting livelihoods in both urban and rural areas – and now experiencing floods due to heavy rains in 2025. Young people, especially those in subsistence agriculture and informal employment, continue to bear a disproportionate burden of climate shocks.

But they are not standing still.

Through Climate Promise 2-supported initiatives, youth across Namibia are now co-creating innovative, localised solutions to climate challenges. At the Youth and Climate Change – What’s Next? forum held in March 2025 in Windhoek, over 60 young leaders came together to co-develop future solutions for national climate frameworks.

Among the initiatives and solutions proposed, the youth are calling for further development of various technologies and communication channels to effectively reach rural communities, including:

• Citizen science early warning mobile app to reach farmers with real-time alerts to reduce crop and livestock losses.

• Solar-powered desalination systems to provide potable water to households.

• Climate-smart agriculture podcast in local languages promoting sustainable farming.

• Exploration of blue carbon for habitat restoration and carbon trading.

A Climate Promise Framework for Youth Inclusion

Under Climate Promise 2, Namibia is not only strengthening policy and institutional frameworks; it is also promoting inclusive ownership and participatory implementation, especially among young people. Youth have been directly engaged across three flagship areas of work:

1. REDD+ and Climate-Resilient Landscapes

Youth perspectives have been consolidated to support sustainable land use, community forest monitoring, fire management, and the restoration of degraded woodlands. Their active participation has contributed to the development of the Gender and Youth Strategy under the framework of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+), which advances equitable access to natural resource governance.

2. Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy)

Youth voices were included in consultations informing Namibia’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), which outlines the country’s vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050; youth-led solutions—particularly in solar energy, low-emission transport, and regenerative agriculture—are directly contributing to the transition towards a green and inclusive economy.

3. Climate Budget Tagging and Climate Public Investment and Expenditure Review

Youth organisations and advocates have actively contributed to national dialogues on climate finance tracking, promoting transparency and ensuring that public investments align with the priorities of future generations. Under Climate Promise 2, efforts are underway to mainstream youth-disaggregated budget data, thereby enhancing the responsiveness of climate investments to the needs, perspectives, and initiatives of young people..

Organising for Influence: How Youth Are Mobilising

Namibian youth are not only participating—they are organising. Youth participants at the 2025 forum called for the establishment of a National Youth Climate Council, with elected regional representation and a formal role in national climate governance platforms such as the National Committee on the Rio Conventions.

They also proposed:

• The creation of regional youth climate hubs to support local innovation and knowledge exchange.

• Dedicated financing through a Youth Climate Innovation Facility, targeting USD 2 million by 2026.

• Mainstreaming of climate education and systems thinking in schools, universities, and vocational training programmes.

• Institutionalisation of youth seats in climate decision-making at all levels, including the forthcoming NDC 3.0 update process.

By self-organising into cooperatives, digital collectives, and regional action groups, young Namibians are building lasting movements that connect climate action with job creation, food security, and community resilience.

Youth Are Not Just the Future—They Are the Present

The climate crisis is a defining challenge for Namibia—and for its youth. But as Climate Promise 2 has shown, young people are already at the forefront of the response. They are co-creating solutions, building the partnerships, and creating the systems that will define Namibia’s sustainable future.

UNDP Namibia, through Climate Promise 2 and in alignment with the UN SDG Acceleration Framework, remains fully committed to strengthening youth agency in climate decision-making and implementation.

UNDP is honoured to stand with Namibian youth as they lead us towards a climate-secure, just, and inclusive society.