Youth at the intersection of climate, peace and security
INGRID VALLADARES, ERIKA ISABEL BULAN YAGUE AND HELEN BERENTS |
Young people across Southeast Asia and Latin America are increasingly leading efforts to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change, insecurity and social inequality. Yet despite their contributions, their voices remain underrepresented in global policy frameworks on youth, peace and security (YPS) and the emerging climate, peace and security (CPS) agenda.
A recent South-South knowledge exchange brought together youth peacebuilders and environmental activists from both regions to share their experiences. Their discussions revealed common challenges, innovative strategies and a clear message: young people are already driving change, but they need greater support, recognition and access to decision-making spaces.
Shared challenges across regions
While Southeast Asia and Latin America have distinct political and social contexts, young people in both regions face similar pressures. Climate change is intensifying existing inequalities, affecting livelihoods, increasing displacement and creating new security challenges. At the same time, opportunities for youth to meaningfully influence policy remain limited.
Participants noted that both regions are often overlooked in global discussions on peace and security. Much of the international focus remains on conflict zones and traditional security concerns, while the everyday realities of environmental degradation, organised crime, political instability and community resilience receive less attention.
Strategies for change
Despite these barriers, youth advocates have developed a range of effective approaches.
One key strategy is engaging directly with institutions through consultations, working groups and policy processes. While participation can sometimes be tokenistic, these spaces provide opportunities to advocate for more inclusive policies and ensure marginalised voices are heard.
Coalition-building was also identified as critical. By connecting with community groups, civil society organisations, Indigenous leaders and other youth networks, activists can strengthen their influence and sustain advocacy efforts beyond individual campaigns.
Grassroots mobilisation remains central to youth-led action. Community dialogues, awareness campaigns and locally developed resources help build knowledge and create safe spaces for collaboration, particularly in contexts where civic freedoms are constrained.
Participants also highlighted the importance of using legal and policy frameworks to hold governments accountable. Agreements such as the Escazú Agreement in Latin America provide important protections for environmental defenders and support access to information and justice.
Finally, youth advocates emphasised the need to localise global agendas by translating frameworks and adapting them to local realities. Connecting international commitments to community-level concerns helps build ownership and strengthens implementation.
Persistent barriers
The workshop also highlighted significant obstacles facing youth activists.
Many participants described shrinking civic space, increasing surveillance and growing risks for those working on climate, peace and human rights issues. In some cases, activists face harassment, intimidation or criminalisation, forcing them to balance personal safety with public advocacy.
Intergenerational tensions also remain a challenge. Young people often struggle to be recognised as legitimate contributors, with their perspectives dismissed or treated as less credible than those of older decision-makers. Participants stressed that meaningful collaboration requires creating spaces where both youth and senior leaders can learn from one another.
Funding is another major constraint. Many youth-led organisations operate with limited resources and struggle to meet donor requirements. As a result, promising initiatives often remain small-scale despite strong community support and demonstrated impact.
Participants also pointed to a lack of opportunities for cross-regional collaboration. Language barriers, limited resources and geographic distance make it difficult for youth advocates to share experiences and learn from one another, despite facing many of the same challenges.
From participation to partnership
The discussions reinforced the importance of global frameworks such as YPS and CPS as tools for advancing climate justice, human rights and peacebuilding. However, participants argued that meaningful progress requires more than consultation.
The report calls for stronger protections for youth activists, more flexible funding models, greater access to policymaking spaces and structured opportunities for intergenerational dialogue. It also highlights the need for cross-regional collaboration and research partnerships that centre youth expertise from often-overlooked regions.
Most importantly, the findings challenge policymakers to rethink the role of young people. Youth are not simply beneficiaries of climate and peace initiatives; they are already leading them.
As climate and security challenges become increasingly interconnected, effective responses will depend on recognising young people as partners in decision-making, investing in their leadership and ensuring their experiences help shape the policies that affect their futures.
AUTHORS
Ingrid Valladares is a Research Associate at Griffith University, Erika Isabel Bulan Yague is a PhD Candidate, and Helen Berents is an Associate Professor in the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University and a member of the Griffith Asia Institute, Australia.
This article is a synopsis of the full report, Between frameworks and frontlines: Youth leadership for peacebuilding and climate justice in Southeast Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.