Leaders Forum of IUCN Young leaders and inventors who are creating or executing creative environmental conservation or biodiversity action programs in their local communities get together as Changemakers. In October 2024, a group of young changemakers will come together with global leaders at the IUCN Leaders Forum in Geneva to present innovations for radical change, talk about practical steps that put nature at the center of energy systems, food and agriculture, and human health, and promote solutions that benefit the environment. Young activists will get a unique chance to present their projects to powerful international figures in the business, political, and civil society spheres.
The IUCN Leaders Forum 2024 will focus on three primary objectives:
- Convening influential and innovative leaders (government, private sector, civil society, sub-national authorities, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, other) with the aim of: facilitating dialogue and building trust across different groups; building relationships, new partnerships and alliances, identifying innovative collective, multi-stakeholder solutions to critical conservation and biodiversity challenges; and advancing the international environmental policy agenda;
- Offering a platform for global leaders to convene annually in a safe space, to discuss existing and emerging environmental issues and trends, and to continue tracking, monitoring and evaluating progress to ensure nature remains front and centre as countries work towards the 2030 targets and beyond;
- Creating a networking opportunity for young changemakers who are designing or implementing innovative environmental action projects, to connect with potential collaborators from the public and private sectors to further develop their projects.
Benefits:
- Delegate access to the IUCN Leaders Forum in Geneva, Switzerland from 8 to 10 October 2024
- An exclusive opportunity to pitch your environmental action project to influential global leaders from the private sector, government and civil society
- Hotel accommodation in Geneva from 7 to 11 October 2024
- Return travel to Geneva, Switzerland
- Meals and other expenses covered for the duration of stay in Geneva
Eligibility:
You should apply to be an IUCN Leaders Forum Changemaker if you:
- Are aged 18 – 35*.
- Have a track record of leadership and innovation in the fields of nature conservation, biodiversity, climate change and / or sustainable development.
- Are currently working on an innovative solution that addresses the nature, climate and biodiversity crises; and has nature at the nexus of one or more societal challenges (e.g. energy-nature-climate nexus; food-agriculture-nature-climate nexus; transforming urban landscapes for nature and people etc.)
We especially encourage candidates whose initiatives foster equity, inclusivity, intergenerational collaboration, and / or adopt a rights-based approach in the design and implementation of the project, to apply.
We are looking for a diverse pool of global changemakers to participate in the IUCN Leaders Forum. Youth from the Global South are strongly encouraged to apply, as are youth from minority groups, Indigenous peoples and local communities and young female leaders and innovators from around the world
Application:
IUCN Leaders Forum Changemakers will be selected by IUCN from a shortlist created by One Young World. Please complete the application form linked below to be considered for One Young World’s shortlist.
