Young People, Democracy and Climate Action

A very warm welcome to all of you at the Council of Europe Youth Center here in Strasbourg.

I’d also like to extend a heartfelt greeting to those who are very much at home here but still deserve a special welcome: Nina Grmusa, Chair of the Advisory Council on Youth, George Orlando, Chair of the Joint Council on Youth, our colleagues from the EU Council of Youth Partnership, and the dedicated team from the European Youth Center and the youth sector in Strasbourg.

I hope I haven’t missed anyone—if I have, please accept my apologies.

It’s truly fascinating when you reflect on the major global issues we face today. These challenges need not be global in scope, but they are undeniably large, critical, and often threatening. And, time and time again, young people are at the heart of it all. It’s as if you are always directly involved, no matter the issue at hand.

Whether it’s unemployment, economic crises, mental health struggles, or climate change, young people bear the brunt of it all. Unemployment rates rise, and who fills the unemployment offices? Young people. Mental health crises grow, and who suffers disproportionately? Young people. The climate crisis, which is shaping our future, is one that will have far-reaching consequences for today’s youth, who will live with its impacts long after many of us in this room have passed on.

I apologize for the bluntness, but I think it’s appropriate given the urgency of the situation—things are escalating. The "shit is really starting to hit the fan," so to speak. And alongside this environmental crisis, we are witnessing democratic backsliding, which is also intensifying day by day. It’s a worrying trend, affecting not only democratic institutions but also the ability for civil society—especially youth organizations—to voice concerns and bring forward solutions.

These two crises, the climate crisis and democratic backsliding, are deeply interconnected. The consequences of the climate crisis, which we feel more acutely each day, often lead to heightened anxiety and fear. This fear, in turn, can transform into negative emotions like intolerance and hatred. These emotions are being manipulated by those who seek to undermine democracy, often using these fears to advance alternative political agendas. And, in turn, these alternative political forces are blocking meaningful actions to address climate change.

This is the vicious circle we find ourselves in—democratic decline and the climate crisis feeding off each other, spiraling ever faster. And, as always, it’s young people who are in the middle of this storm, facing a shrinking space to voice their concerns, protest inaction, or propose solutions.

That’s exactly why you’re here today—to explore the connection between the climate crisis and democracy. This link hasn’t always been clear, especially within the Council of Europe. When it was founded 70 years ago, the organization’s mission was focused on defending democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Although it began working on environmental issues early on, including biodiversity protection, for many years the connection between environmental crises and democracy was not widely recognized.

However, things have started to shift, particularly in recent years, as the reality of these crises becomes more evident. In many ways, young people have driven this change, raising awareness and demanding action on both climate change and democratic backsliding. You, the young leaders within the Council of Europe, have been at the forefront of this movement, calling attention to these issues and pushing for solutions. Thanks to your advocacy, we’re starting to see concrete action, particularly in the last two to three years.

In 2022, the Committee of Ministers recognized that humanity’s well-being is dependent on our ability to safeguard human rights and ensure a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for future generations. All Council of Europe member states supported the UN General Assembly Resolution of 2022, which declared the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Although some countries may still struggle to fully implement this right, the resolution marks a significant step forward.

The Reykjavik Declaration, issued a year and a half ago, underscored the urgent need to protect the environment and address the triple planetary crisis—pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss—highlighting their impact on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Since then, the Joint Council on Youth has been working on a recommendation to address these issues. At its 50th meeting in Budapest last year, the Committee agreed on a draft recommendation on "Young People and Climate Action," which will be discussed this afternoon by the Committee of Ministers' Rapporteur Group on Education, Culture, Sport, Youth, and Environment.

This is a pivotal moment, and I apologize that some of us will need to leave shortly to present and perhaps defend the recommendation. I promise I will return—if not today, then tomorrow—because this is an extremely important symposium.

Incidentally, the same day the Joint Council on Youth made its decision was the same day the European Court of Human Rights issued a landmark ruling in the case of Vereine Klimasenior in Schweiz and Others vs. Switzerland. While this ruling, especially in Switzerland, has garnered significant attention, it marks a crucial step forward in recognizing the legal implications of climate change. The Court found violations of the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8) and the right of access to the courts (Article 6) under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Climate activism today is not just about raising awareness; it is increasingly about combining social movements with targeted legal action. Young climate defenders are now looking to the law to claim their rights, whether through civil disobedience, direct action, or strategic litigation, as they hold states accountable for their failure to uphold human rights obligations related to climate justice.

However, this advocacy often comes at a cost. We are seeing a rise in the criminalization and repression of young climate activists and human rights defenders, with many being arrested or prosecuted for their activism. This is yet another example of how the climate crisis and democratic backsliding are intertwined.

As we look to the future, young people are calling for a shift from mere climate change mitigation to broader climate justice. They are demanding that we recognize the differentiated impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, including marginalized groups and youth in rural or remote areas.

Anxiety about the future is also on the rise, particularly eco-anxiety, as young people’s mental health and well-being are increasingly affected by these crises. Understanding and addressing these concerns is vital as we move forward.

This symposium was organized with the intention of contributing to our collective efforts on these pressing issues. Your discussions and recommendations will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Council of Europe’s work on the environment, climate change, and youth.

Moreover, the outcomes of your work will also inform the newly established ad-hoc multidisciplinary group on the environment, which is preparing a draft Council of Europe strategy on the environment—a significant shift in acknowledging the importance of environmental issues for democracy.

With this symposium, the European Commission and the Council of Europe continue our long-standing collaboration, making an important contribution to our shared goals of youth empowerment and environmental protection.

As I conclude, I want to emphasize the connection between the climate crisis and democratic backsliding. As we face growing environmental challenges, we must not ignore the anxiety, uncertainty, and fear these crises evoke. These emotions are being exploited, turning into intolerance and hatred, which threatens to destabilize our democracies.

The way forward is not to deny these challenges or to say there’s nothing to worry about. We have real reasons to be concerned, but the answer is to find effective solutions to both the environmental crisis and the crisis of democracy. We must act to mitigate climate change, and, just as importantly, to protect and strengthen our democracies.

That’s why you’re here today—working toward saving our democracies and our environment. It’s no small task, but it’s one we must undertake, because the alternatives are too dire to ignore.

Thank you very much.