Connacht Youth Climate Justice Assembly 2025: Empowering Young Voices for a Sustainable Future
On Tuesday, 4 November 2025, the University of Galway came alive with energy, creativity, and purpose as young people from across Connacht gathered for the region’s first Youth Climate Justice Assembly. The event marked a major step forward in youth participation in Ireland’s climate action movement, creating a powerful space for young voices to shape the future of their communities and the planet.
A Platform for Youth Leadership
The Connacht Youth Climate Justice Assembly is the first of four regional events planned across Ireland in 2025–2026. It was hosted by the SAUTI-Youth Project and Youth Work Ireland Galway) and supported by a dynamic partnership of organisations committed to youth empowerment and environmental justice.
The Assembly was made possible through funding from the Department of Education and Youth’s Climate Justice Fund, Léargas and the University of Galway, with additional support from Atlantic Technological University and the Galway National Park City Initiative.
Together, these partners created a platform for young people to learn, connect, and influence real-world decision-making on climate action, moving from awareness to meaningful change.
Inspiring Contributions and Interactive Workshops
Over the course of the day, participants took part in a rich and varied programme of keynote talks, workshops, and youth-led discussions. Highlights included:
Laura Costello on Effective Climate Communication
Dr Sinéad Sheehan on Active Hope
Aisling Maloney, UN Youth Delegate, on Youth Representation at the Global Level
Eva Lambert, Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group – Fair Seas Campaign)
Clara Blodau, Youth Climate Activist
Interactive sessions invited young people to explore issues such as ocean sustainability, transport, and climate justice through creative, collaborative activities. A Youth Manifesto exercise gave participants the opportunity to identify priorities and propose concrete recommendations for regional and national climate policy.
Outcomes from the Assembly will feed into ongoing work to develop youth-led recommendations for policy and planning, strengthening connections between young people, decision-makers, and environmental organisations.
Looking Ahead
The Connacht Youth Climate Justice Assembly is only the beginning. Youth Work Ireland are planning similar assemblies for Munster, Ulster, and a national gathering in 2026. Each event will continue to centre youth voices in Ireland’s climate transition, building regional networks of young climate leaders who are ready to act, advocate, and inspire.
The energy, ideas, and hope shared in Galway this November make it clear: the future of climate justice in Ireland is in passionate, capable hands.