The Strength and Commitment of Costa Rican Youth in Climate Action
The ACCIÓN Clima project concludes a process launched in 2022 with organized youth groups in Costa Rica, advancing advocacy through advisory support for the planning of two National Youth Forums on Climate Action, promoting the foundational draft for the Youth Integration Plan in Climate Action, and facilitating channels to incorporate youth needs into the NDC update process.
© ACCION Clima
Since the beginning of the third and current phase of ACCIÓN Clima – a project implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ, from its acronym in German) on behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI, from its acronym in German) – close collaboration has been fostered with youth organizations active in climate action, creating synergies that strengthen both initiatives and emerging leadership in this field.
In line with the country’s ambitious climate targets, methodological support was provided for structuring the first two editions of the National Youth Forum on Climate Action (FNJAC). This forum, promoted by youth organizations under clear leadership and aligned with the implementation of contribution 10.10 of the 2020 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 2020), aimed to generate input to inform the draft of the Youth Integration Plan in Climate Action (PIJAC), thereby strengthening Costa Rica’s commitment to the effective inclusion of youth in the national climate agenda.
© ACCION Clima
The process culminated in the official presentation of the FNJAC 2024 results in August 2025, reflecting sustained and collaborative work with youth over recent years. This represents a significant step forward in strengthening youth participation in climate decision-making forums, reaffirming the national commitment to effectively integrating their voices into climate governance.
These actions resulted in the follow-up and prioritization of measures within Costa Rica’s current NDC, consolidating the Youth and Climate Action Pillar. This includes the annual implementation of the FNJAC through 2030, the implementation of the PIJAC in 2027, the inclusion of climate action in the update of the Public Policy on Youth, and the establishment and operationalization of the PIJAC Network as an interinstitutional platform for climate governance.
© ACCION Clima
In this way, ACCIÓN Clima strengthens strategic partnerships with Costa Rican youth and sets the country on an irreversible path toward inclusive and innovative climate governance. This milestone reaffirms Costa Rica’s leadership in global climate action, inviting all stakeholders to continue driving a sustainable future in which emerging voices are the engine of change.
- Country: Costa Rica
- Project:
- Contact:
Jose David Arias Calvo
