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Empowering the next generation of leaders at the frontline of climate change
The Earth’s cryosphere – its frozen water – is rapidly disappearing, changing life dramatically in two of the most climate-vulnerable regions: the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) and the Arctic. The HKH is warming at twice the global average; the Arctic is warming nearly four times faster. At the heart of this crisis are the young people of these regions, who are already feeling the impacts on their homes, cultures, and the future. More than passive observers, they are custodians of ecological knowledge, stewards of biodiversity, and key stakeholders in building resilient futures.
The HKH–Arctic Youth Leadership Forum, facilitated by ICIMOD and Arctic Circle, aims to connect youth leaders from both regions to build solidarity, amplifying local and mountain youth voices towards co-creating sustainable and inclusive climate solutions.
Through a one-year fellowship, 12 youth champions (aged 19–35) will gain the knowledge, skills, and networks to lead from the frontlines, bringing local realities and experiences to global climate platforms.
HKH Warming
Arctic Warming
Youth Champions
Age Range
Year Fellowship
The HKH–Arctic Youth Leadership Forum aims to establish an annual Youth Leadership Forum that promotes a new generation of mountain and polar youth climate leaders. The Forum will inform, empower, and support youth from the HKH and Arctic regions by giving them a platform to bring in their perspectives and voices, strengthen their leadership skills, build capacity, and promote intergenerational dialogue to help ensure more youth-focused climate decision-making processes on cryosphere and biodiversity.
ICIMOD intends to explore possible new partnerships to make this Forum sustainable for multi-year engagement and beyond.
Create a platform for underrepresented youth to share knowledge, engage in science-policy interfaces,and become visible climate influencers. Equip youth with skills to build partnerships and fundraise, enabling them to support future youth champions.
Acknowledge youth as bearers of Indigenous, local, and scientific knowledge systems. Equip them with tools to document, protect, and transmit this knowledge to influence climate science and diplomacy.
Support youth-led outreach, storytelling, and campaigns to ensure grassroots realities inform regional and international climate responses.
Empower youth to contribute to major forums like COP, UNFCCC, SBSTA, IPCC, Arctic Council, and HKH platforms.
Facilitate exchanges between youth, elders, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and policymakers to co-create knowledge rooted in traditional and cultural practices.
Selected through a nomination and selection process, ICIMOD and Arctic Circle are looking for 12 youth leaders from the HKH and the Arctic regions.
The youth champions will form the first-ever HKH-Arctic Youth Leadership Forum, a dynamic platform focused on youth-led climate action, cross-regional collaboration, and the preservation of the cryosphere and biodiversity. Together, the Champions will share lived experiences, co-develop solutions to shared challenges, and amplify youth voices in national, regional, and global climate dialogues.
Actively participate in the in-person/virtual Leadership Forum to be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in October 2025.
Represent the region and organisation in monthly virtual meetings, webinars, and workshops.
Lead and contribute to local, regional, and global joint campaigns, storytelling projects, and youth consultations focused on mountains, cryosphere, biodiversity, and climate issues.
Develop and share climate knowledge and advocacy materials with regional and global platforms.
Serve as a bridge between youth communities and decision-makers across both the HKH and Arctic regions.
If funding is available, there are potential opportunities to attend other HKH and Arctic-related conferences and events.
To apply, complete the nomination form and upload the following documents:
