LocationsUNDP and MASE present Generation Trust: The story of a model that puts young people at the centre of climate action
January 29, 2026
Minster Gilberto Pichetto Fratin (Minister of the Environment and Energy Security) and Agostino Inguscio (UNDP Rome Centre Coordinator) at the Italian premiere of Generation trust, a film by Youth4Climate.
Rome, 29 January 2026 – In a global context where less than 1% of climate finance reaches youth-led initiatives, Youth4Climate stands out as one of the few structured models capable of turning young people’s participation into concrete, measurable and replicable climate action. This was the key message emerging from the Italian premiere of Generation Trust, the documentary dedicated to the Youth4Climate initiative, promoted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with the support of the 8x1000 funds of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai, presented last night at Casa del Cinema in Villa Borghese.
The screening provided an opportunity for dialogue among institutions, young people, civil society and the cultural community, confirming Youth4Climate as a solid and innovative tool for participation in climate policies and showcasing Italy’s commitment to supporting the younger generations through resources, training and concrete opportunities to contribute actively to pathways towards more sustainable development.
Italian premiere of the film documentary Generation Trust
The evening opened with remarks by the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, and the Director of the UNDP Rome Centre, Agostino Inguscio. Representatives from the cultural sector also took part, including Alessandro Preziosi and Samuele Carrino. At the end of the screening, a dialogue with the young people in the audience reinforced the sense of shared responsibility in responding to the climate crisis.
“This documentary does not tell only of an outcome, but of a process and a methodological choice: to make the journey of climate action a shared one, together with its results,” said Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. “Youth4Climate shows that investing in young people means investing in concrete solutions that can grow, be replicated and generate trust. The climate challenge will only be effective if it is also fair, inclusive and participatory.”
“Generation Trust tells what happens when young people are not only asked to participate, but are given real trust—through resources, support and networks. Through Youth4Climate, UNDP, thanks to the support of MASE, works to turn ideas born in local contexts into concrete climate solutions that can grow and generate impact, while strengthening cooperation among institutions, communities and the private sector,” said Agostino Inguscio, Director of the UNDP Rome Centre.
Handing over the film poster to the Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.
Generation Trust: the story of a model that works
Generation Trust tells five emblematic stories of young innovators from Pakistan, Liberia, Uganda, Colombia and Bolivia, leading projects supported by Youth4Climate, highlighting how solutions rooted in local contexts can generate impact far beyond national borders.
From female-led marine ecosystem restoration to electric mobility, innovative waste management, the use of second-life batteries for clean energy, and school gardens as educational and community tools, the documentary brings together a mosaic of replicable practices. Different experiences, united by a shared understanding: climate action is only effective when it is inclusive, participatory and rooted in communities.
Directed by Clara Wetzel and Fanny Lindström of the international film collective What Took You So Long, Generation Trust weaves the stories of the young protagonists with a broader institutional reflection that recalls the value of multilateral action grounded in trust in the younger generations—an element central to the pathway promoted by Italy through Youth4Climate.
Generation Trust is not only a story about climate; it is a narrative about shared responsibility, the new generations as protagonists of change, and the ability of institutions to evolve by opening space for new languages, new leadership and new forms of collaboration. Following the Rome premiere, Generation Trust will be screened in other Italian cities, including Turin and Milan, with additional stops currently being defined.
Two of the youth protagonists connecting to share their work and experiences with Youth4Climate during the Italian premiere of Generation Trust.
Youth4Climate: a model for investment and multilateral governance
Youth4Climate (Y4C) is an international initiative promoted by the Italian Government, with UNDP support, created to give young people a concrete and structured role in climate-related decision-making processes.
Launched in 2021, the project has already supported around 150 initiatives in 59 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, the Arab States and Europe. Over time, the focus has increasingly centred on key themes such as sustainable energy, agriculture, environmental protection, digital innovation applied to climate action, as well as health and safety.
The results are significant: over 215,000 direct beneficiaries, more than 1,600 new professional opportunities created, and 55 initiatives integrating digital components. In addition, more than 30,000 young people have participated in training, advocacy and capacity-building programmes, helping spread essential skills for the future.
The achievements to date have led UNDP and MASE to renew Youth4Climate for a further three years, continuing to support youth empowerment and climate innovation globally.
📸 Photos from the Italian premiere of Generation Trust:
https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/824b68e1-8644-4e20-9a8c-8ce52cd3cc8a
🎬 Watch the trailer:
https://youtu.be/upZ2r4-CmgU
Contacts:
Malak Chabar – Communications & Project Analyst, UNDP Rome Centre
malak.chabar@undp.org