International Day of Democracy

Today is International Day of Democracy (15 September)—a reminder that democracy is both a process and a goal, grounded in inclusivity, participation, and accountability. At UNDP, empowering young people, especially in climate governance, is key to building a just and resilient future. As climate decisions increasingly shape our societies, it is crucial that youth have the tools, platforms, and recognition to participate meaningfully in governance at all levels.

On this occasion, the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) is pleased to launch our campaign: “Youth Advancing Effective Climate Governance at All Levels.”

This campaign celebrates youth as climate leaders, innovators, and equal development partners. We invite you to join us and our partners in spotlighting youth-led solutions and advancing youth engagement in climate policy.

•  Thematic Video – Featuring stories of youth members from the Regional Youth Parliament on Climate Action (RYPCA) who are shaping climate governance across Asia and the Pacific

  • Youth driving disaster risk governance in Malaysia video

  • Youth negotiating for island resilience in Palau video

  • Youth advancing climate innovation in China video

  • Youth leading NDC implementation in Indonesia video

•  RYPCA Dialogue Outcome Statement – Youth-led insights and policy recommendations from 15 young leaders across 12 countries

•  Blog Post – Exploring how the digital conversation tool Ekota is used to gather youth insights and inform climate policy