Project “Jashyl Climate — Youth Resilience to Climate Change”
The project “Youth Resilience to Climate Change” was launched in the Kyrgyz Republic in December 2020. The project was supported by the European Union under the initiative “Support for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Actions in the Kyrgyz Republic.”
Climate change is the global crisis of our time. Climate change threatens the lives of the people of Kyrgyzstan, creates serious economic and social problems, and deprives young people of a safe and sustainable future. More than half of Kyrgyzstan’s population is under 25. 33.9% of Kyrgyzstanis are children and adolescents. Negative climate trends will directly affect more than 40 percent of young people, who have very limited economic opportunities and access to public services. It is Kyrgyzstan’s youth who will face the consequences of climate change, and action needs to be taken now.
The project “Youth Resilience to Climate Change” is funded by the European Union. The project will run for 32 months, from December 2020 to July 2023. The project is implemented under the overall coordination of the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature, in partnership with the Environmental Movement “BIOM” and the public organization Global and Local Information Partnership “GLIP”.

Project Goals
The project “Youth Resilience to Climate Change” has the following specific goals:
Young people and women participate in the exchange of views between stakeholders on climate change adaptation;
Climate change training and education for sustainable development has been integrated into the education system using new tools and technologies;
Best practices for addressing climate change, developed with local multi-stakeholder partnerships in 6 selected rural communities in the pilot regions (Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, and Naryn).

Our Mission
The project’s mission is to strengthen youth capacity and use information and communication technologies in climate change management, resilience, and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The project consists of three components:

Component 1

Engaging young people and women in reducing climate change risks;
Conducting a situation analysis and review of best practices in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and best practices for participation in climate decision-making;
Creating a multi-sectoral online climate change platform to support civil society and local communities of the Kyrgyz Republic in reducing climate change risks;
Integrating young people and women into public dialogue on strategic climate documents (climate change adaptation strategy, NDC, sectoral adaptation strategies, etc.);
Supporting Voluntary Climate Contributions to reducing climate change risks;
Conducting a series of strategic communications with civil society and other sectors on climate change issues;
Developing videos, infographics, and information materials for target groups.

Component 2

Integrating climate change issues into the formal and non-formal education system;
Developing interdisciplinary academic modules on climate change, mitigation and adaptation actions, community mobilization, social responsibility, and sustainable development for universities;
Piloting and launching climate change courses at universities;
Developing and implementing e-courses on climate change for teachers, including in the Kyrgyz language;
Training teachers and educators through organizing and conducting seminars and exchanging methods, tools, and best practices in climate change studies and Education for Sustainable Development;
Creating and supporting the development of a network of young climate change specialists.

Component 3

Piloting best practices to increase resilience and inclusiveness at the local community level;
Developing climate risk assessment tools and climate-adapted, inclusive local development planning;
Building the capacity of local kenesh members on climate change mitigation, planning, and adaptation;
Supporting and implementing at least 10 best practices in pilot local communities;
Supporting the development of local development strategies that take climate change into account and the participation of young people and women in 6 pilot local communities in the Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, and Naryn regions;
Creating alternative environmentally safe forms of income;
Supporting and building the capacity of youth and women’s groups to develop substantive recommendations for local government bodies on reducing climate change risks and monitoring decisions made.

The project's target groups:

Activists from human rights, women's, youth, and environmental networks of public organizations in all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic;
Decision-makers and policymakers at the local and national levels, the expert community;
National and local media.
Pedagogical and scientific higher education institutions, professional development centers/institutes, university and school teachers;
Young people (18 to 35 years old) — youth activists from local public organizations, young women, youth representatives in local government bodies, young university lecturers, young scientists;

Today, climate change is a global problem that is worsening living conditions for all of humanity. It is critically important to understand the consequences of climate change and take action now.
Young people are a driving force and agent of change, and today, more than ever, they need knowledge, skills, and opportunities to participate in decision-making and to demonstrate their position on climate change.
Civil society, women, and young people, by influencing the decision-making process at all levels, can make a significant contribution to addressing climate issues.