As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change, a new initiative seeks to amplify the voices of the youth. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, and the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance have unveiled plans for the Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit, set to take place annually on June 5, UN World Environment Day.
This collaborative effort, spearheaded by Oxford Saïd and UN Human Rights, will see participation from leading universities across the globe, including CU Boulder. The summit will gather young leaders, scholars, and policymakers to push forward human rights-focused climate solutions.
Panelist Julieta Martinez addresses the audience during a youth panel at the 2022 Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit hosted by CU Boulder. Photo by Casey Cass/CU Boulder.
CU Boulder’s engagement in this event will be driven by the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education, the Center for African and African American Studies, and the Conference on World Affairs. These bodies work towards integrating sustainability into education, promoting equity and justice in climate discussions, and providing platforms for global dialogues.
Max Boykoff, the faculty executive director of the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education, emphasized the critical role of youth in climate action, stating, “Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the drivers of positive climate solutions today. The Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit elevates youth voices at a moment when their leadership is absolutely essential to advancing collective climate initiatives that protect the planet and benefit generations to come.”
The summit aims to be a cornerstone for global collaboration and capacity-building in human rights-based climate efforts. Reiland Rabaka, professor of African, African American, and Caribbean studies at CU Boulder, highlighted the summit’s focus on youth leadership in shaping equitable futures, especially for marginalized communities, stating, “The climate crisis is not only an environmental issue, it is a human rights issue that touches every dimension of social life.”
Set for 2026, the summit will delve into aligning climate technologies with human rights obligations, exploring tools for a just transition to sustainable economies. It will examine the human rights implications of technologies like renewable energy and artificial intelligence, proposing strategies to mitigate risks and protect rights.
The hybrid format of the summit, with its physical base at Oxford Saïd and a global livestream, ensures extensive participation while minimizing environmental impact. Young delegates from 12 regions will discuss the nexus of climate change, human rights, and technology, presenting scalable solutions for community resilience.
Andrew Mayock, vice chancellor for sustainability at CU Boulder, remarked on the importance of global collaboration, stating, “CU Boulder’s sustainability vision recognizes that climate change is a global challenge, and we need to act from the campus to the global level to address this challenge.”
The first Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit took place at CU Boulder in December 2022, focusing on the interplay between human rights and climate change. It brought together diverse voices to commit to actionable strategies addressing the adverse effects of climate change on human rights. In June 2025, CU Boulder will continue its support in hosting a four-day global summit alongside the University of Oxford and United Nations Human Rights.
Original Story at www.colorado.edu