YOUCAN Hosts Training on Understanding Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Empowering Youth for Informed Climate Action
Dhaka, March 2025 — The Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) successfully conducted a focused capacity-building session titled “Understanding NDCs: A Beginner’s Guide to Climate Action,” aimed at demystifying the concept of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and enabling young leaders to meaningfully engage in national and global climate processes.
This session is part of YOUCAN’s broader commitment to strengthening youth literacy on climate policy and enhancing their capacity to monitor, influence, and contribute to the implementation of climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.
Session Overview and Strategic Objective
The training targeted early-career climate advocates, student leaders, and youth activists across Bangladesh. It served as an introductory course on the architecture, purpose, and policy relevance of NDCs within the framework of the UNFCCC.
Participants explored:
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What NDCs are and why they matter
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Bangladesh’s current NDC commitments and targets
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How young people can monitor and influence NDC progress
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The intersection of NDCs with climate justice, adaptation, and mitigation
Featured Speaker: Porag Aman, Youth for NDCs
The session was led by Porag Aman, Founder and Executive Director of Youth for NDCs, a youth-led initiative advocating for transparency, ambition, and youth inclusion in NDC formulation and implementation.
Porag provided a practical breakdown of Bangladesh’s NDCs, explored global examples, and engaged participants in critical discussion on accountability and youth participation. His expertise and ability to simplify complex policy frameworks were instrumental in creating an engaging learning environment.
“Young people must move beyond awareness into analysis. NDCs are not just technical documents—they are our collective promise to the planet. Youth must hold institutions accountable and be co-authors of national ambition,” Porag shared during the session.
Participant Reflections and Outcomes
Participants expressed a stronger understanding of climate governance mechanisms and were eager to explore advocacy pathways at both local and national levels. Many emphasized the need for ongoing learning platforms that connect grassroots realities with global climate diplomacy.
Looking Ahead
The training marked a crucial step in YOUCAN’s ongoing efforts to democratize access to climate policy knowledge and build a generation of youth who can influence, implement, and lead climate solutions aligned with international standards.
Upcoming sessions will continue to explore themes such as:
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Youth roles in NDC implementation
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Climate finance accountability
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Sub-national climate governance
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Localizing global climate frameworks