The city of Turku empowers young people aged 15-24 to design and lead their own climate projects, positioning them as key actors in the transition. Dedicated funding and partnerships with schools and universities support youth-led initiatives that combine climate action with skills development. This approach reflects a broader shift from top-down governance to an enabling, co-creation model, strengthening participation, ownership and innovation in local climate action.
Youth‑led climate initiatives in Turku
Abstract
The Youth Climate Projects in Turku aim to actively engage young people aged 15 to 24 in climate action by supporting youth-led initiatives that are designed, implemented and managed by young people themselves. By providing dedicated funding and a structured framework for participation, the programme seeks to empower youth as key contributors to the city’s climate transition. The initiative responds to the growing urgency of the climate crisis and the increasing prevalence of climate anxiety among young people. Recognising that young people require both meaningful opportunities for action and access to clear, age-appropriate information, the programme aims to transform concern into agency by enabling concrete, locally grounded climate initiatives. Building on earlier pilot projects and strong political commitment, particularly through the Mayor’s Programme, the initiative strengthens young people’s capacity to act, reinforcing their sense of belonging, inclusion and ability to influence change. By positioning youth as active partners rather than passive recipients, the programme promotes more inclusive and participatory climate governance.
The objectives also contribute directly to Turku’s broader climate ambitions, including its target to become carbon neutral by 2029 and climate positive thereafter. The initiative contributes to both equity and long-term economic resilience. The participatory approach broadens access to decision-making and resources for a group that is often underrepresented, helping to reduce generational inequalities in civic and economic participation. At the same time, by equipping young people with skills, networks and experience in climate action, the programme supports human capital development and prepares a more diverse pipeline of talent for the green transition. This strengthens the capacity of the city’s economy to innovate and adapt.
Youth-led climate initiatives in Turku
Policy title: Youth-led climate initiatives in Turku
Country: Finland
City: Turku
EU member state: Yes
Geographic scale: City
City size: Midsize (210 000 in the city, 367 000 in the FUA)
Date launched: 2024
Current status: Ongoing
Policy pillar(s): Fair climate action
Target group(s): Youth
Funding and budget:
Total budget: EUR 130 000
Funding sources: Local government (City of Turku)
EU funds/programmes: Not applicable
Turku’s policy builds on a demographic context characterised by a high concentration of young people, with around one in four residents being a student. At the same time, the city faces ambitious climate objectives, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2029 and becoming climate positive thereafter. Despite this favourable context, engaging young people in climate action remained a challenge. Traditional approaches were largely top-down and did not fully capture the potential of youth as active contributors. In parallel, growing awareness of climate change has also led to increased climate anxiety among young people, reinforcing the need for more inclusive, empowering and participatory approaches.
Turku has positioned children and youth as a strategic priority within its climate and sustainability agenda, recognising them as key actors in shaping long-term environmental outcomes. The city has prioritised strengthening youth agency and participation, moving beyond consultation towards meaningful involvement in decision-making and action. This approach is aligned with broader commitments, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Turku’s participation in initiatives such as UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities. It also reflects a strategic shift towards viewing youth engagement not only as a social objective, but as a lever to accelerate climate action.
The city has mobilised a broad ecosystem of stakeholders to support youth participation in climate action. This includes strong collaboration between municipal departments, particularly Climate, Nature and Circular Economy Department, as well as partnerships with universities and educational institutions. Crucially, Turku has adopted a new model of engagement based on equal partnership with young people, shifting from top-down approaches to more collaborative, project-based methods.
Implementation is centred on empowering young people to design, lead and deliver their own climate initiatives through a structured yet flexible funding mechanism. Groups of young people aged 15 to 24, living or studying in Turku, are eligible to apply for project funding. To ensure accountability and administrative capacity, funding is channeled through registered organisations, such as associations, which are responsible for managing the grant and its proper use. The programme offers grants (from EUR 1 000 to EUR 4 500), allowing projects of varying scale and ambition to be implemented. Funded projects span a wide range of activities, including awareness-raising campaigns, sustainable mobility initiatives, repair lessons, and other practical applications of circular economy principles. In parallel, the city provides complementary support through in-person workshops, lectures and collaboration with higher education institutions, helping participants develop project management, communication and sustainability-related skills.
Monitoring of the initiative is embedded in the city’s internal project management system, which tracks progress, timelines and outputs across supported projects. This is complemented by systematic feedback collection from participants, allowing the city to assess levels of engagement, motivation and perceived impact of the programme. The evaluation approach places strong emphasis on reflection and learning, with a focus on identifying what works and how successful practices can be scaled or adapted. Notably, many project groups and participants expressed a desire to continue their work beyond the duration of the programme. This highlights a key success factor of the initiative: its ability to motivate participants and serve as a catalyst for sustained climate action.
Align youth engagement with tangible personal benefits. To effectively reach young people, participation must deliver clear and immediate value beyond climate action alone. Linking projects to existing youth structures, such as schools, clubs or associations, can significantly improve uptake and continuity. Providing concrete benefits helps sustain long-term engagement.
Adopt an enabling, partnership-based approach. Moving from a top-down model to one based on equal collaboration increases motivation, ownership and impact. By acting as an enabler, providing resources, guidance and a supportive framework, cities can empower young people to design and implement their own initiatives. This approach fosters peer-to-peer engagement and gives youth genuine opportunities to influence climate action.
Embed continuous feedback and adaptive learning. Effective programmes evolve over time. Turku’s experience shows the importance of systematically collecting feedback and adjusting implementation accordingly. Enhancing communication to highlight both climate objectives and personal development opportunities, as well as providing clearer guidance, can significantly improve participation rates and the overall effectiveness of projects.
Youth-led Climate Projects in Turku (website): Youth-led Climate Projects | Turku.fi
Mayors programme (website): https://www.turku.fi/en/administration-and-decision-making/mayors-programme-2025-2029#anchor-4-education-competence-and-employment-into-the-new-century
Climate Plan 2029 (website): https://www.turku.fi/en/city-climate-and-nature/turku-climate-plans-and-reports#anchor-climate-plan-2029
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Photo credits: Youth-led Climate Projects | Turku.fi
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