YOUCAN Climate Leadership & Advocacy Workshop

Building Youth Power for Climate Action: YOUCAN Hosts National Leadership & Advocacy Workshop

Dhaka, Bangladesh — March 2025 — TheYoung Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) successfully organized theYOUCAN Climate Leadership & Advocacy Workshop, a high-impact capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping young climate leaders with strategic skills in advocacy, policy engagement, and grassroots organizing. The workshop convened dynamic youth from across the country, reinforcing YOUCAN’s commitment to nurturing an informed and action-oriented climate movement led by youth.

This flagship event reflects YOUCAN’s broader agenda of advancing youth leadership in line with global frameworks such as theUNFCCC Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) andSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularlySDG 13 (Climate Action),SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), andSDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Workshop Objectives and Approach

The workshop was designed to:

Strengthen the capacity of youth leaders inclimate advocacy, policy influence, and campaign strategy
Enhance understanding ofclimate diplomacy and global political frameworks
Foster skills inmedia engagement, branding, and grassroots mobilization

Facilitated through interactive sessions and expert-led modules, the program emphasized both conceptual clarity and practical application to empower participants as changemakers in their communities.

Strategic Leadership and Moderation

Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas, Founder and Executive Director of YOUCAN, played a central role in designing and moderating the workshop. As a lead facilitator, he guided multiple high-level discussions on youth-led advocacy, participatory governance, and climate justice. His sessions provided young participants with tactical insights on how to navigate political processes, mobilize communities, and translate activism into policy impact.

“Empowering youth with strategic tools and spaces to lead is not optional—it is essential. Climate justice will only be achieved when young people are not only present but positioned to lead,” Yudhishtir noted during his opening session.

Key Thematic Sessions and Speakers

Media Advocacy and Narrative Building

Habibur Rahman, Senior Reporter at Ekattor TV, delivered a powerful session onjournalistic storytelling and media strategy for climate justice. He trained participants on how to counter misinformation, engage with journalists, and influence public discourse through credible reporting.

Policy Influence and Youth Engagement

Dewan Obayedullah Al Emon, Program Officer at ActionAid Bangladesh, shared tactical approaches tonavigating national policy spaces, influencing climate agendas, and effectively engaging government stakeholders.

Global Climate Politics and Youth Diplomacy

Saidur Rahman Siam, Founder & Director of Brighters, provided an in-depth exploration ofinternational climate negotiations, diplomacy, and governance structures. His session linked youth movements with multilateral climate action frameworks, equipping participants with a global perspective.

Brand Awareness and Outreach Strategy

Faez Belal, Executive Director of Bangladesh Youth Society (BYS), led a session onbrand positioning and advocacy visibility. He guided participants on building strong organizational identities, expanding outreach, and strengthening movement coherence through effective communication strategies.

Outcomes and Reflections

The workshop succeeded in strengthening the capacity of a new generation of climate advocates who are now better equipped to lead community-level action and national policy engagement. Participants emerged with enhanced knowledge, refined advocacy strategies, and a renewed commitment to shaping Bangladesh’s climate future.