In climate conversations, youth are often invited to the room but rarely trusted with the microphone. Policies are drafted in conference halls, negotiations move between technical language and political interests, yet the communities facing climate impacts every day continue to wait for meaningful representation.
For many young people in Bangladesh, climate justice is not an abstract discussion. It is river erosion in the north, heat trapped in urban settlements, crop uncertainty, and displacement that quietly reshapes lives. The challenge is no longer whether youth should participate in climate governance. The real question is whether institutions are ready to listen.
That is why the Climate Policy Advocacy Cohort 2026 arrives at an important moment.
Organized by Brighters in collaboration with ActionAid Bangladesh under Bangladesh Youth COP, this six-month leadership initiative is designed to strengthen youth capacity in climate governance, negotiation, and advocacy while contributing to youth policy positions for COP31.
At Young Climate Action Network – YOUCAN, we believe representation only matters when it is backed by preparation, knowledge, and action. For that reason, we are proud to announce the nomination of three executive representatives to this cohort:
- Mahim Modassir
- Mahdya Yas Sihra
- Rifat Howlader
Their participation is not simply an individual achievement. It reflects a growing movement of young leaders determined to move beyond symbolic activism and engage directly with climate policy, accountability, and negotiation spaces.
Over the next six months, they will work alongside emerging youth leaders from across Bangladesh to deepen their understanding of climate governance and strengthen collective advocacy for climate justice. The cohort will also contribute to shaping youth-driven policy recommendations ahead of COP31, ensuring that frontline experiences are not erased from global climate discussions.
Bangladesh stands among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, yet its youth continue to build solutions, organize communities, and demand accountability with limited resources and little institutional power. Programs like this matter because they create a bridge between grassroots realities and policy platforms that too often remain disconnected.
As these representatives step into the Climate Policy Advocacy Cohort 2026, they carry more than the name of an organization. They carry stories from communities already living through climate pressure and the responsibility to ensure those voices are heard where decisions are made.
We extend our best wishes to Mahim Modassir, Mahdya Yas Sihra, and Rifat Howlader as they represent YOUCAN Foundation and contribute to advancing youth voices in climate policy and climate justice.