On June 18, 2025, the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) convened at the Istanbul Congress Centre in Türkiye. Organized by Times Higher Education (THE) in collaboration with the Turkish Council of Higher Education and other global institutions, the event featured a youth-focused fireside chat at the Harbiye Auditorium, where Alice Ho, Chief Youth Officer of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), was invited to speak.

Alice Ho emphasized that young people are not only advocates of climate action but also builders of real solutions. Youth leadership, she noted, should go beyond raising awareness to designing cross-border frameworks that ensure climate responses are both community-rooted and globally relevant.

During the session, Ho introduced GAUC’s flagship Climate X Youth Leadership Training Program. Launched in 2022 and opened to students worldwide in 2023, the program has since engaged over 2,000 university students from more than 500 institutions across 79 countries. Built on a modular “1+N” model that integrates academic learning with practical engagement, the program empowers students to translate climate knowledge into tangible action.

She also highlighted how GAUC’s Global Youth Ambassadors work in multicultural, interdisciplinary teams. From climate education games to local community workshops, these projects embody diverse perspectives and drive inclusive climate action across borders.

Ho called on governments, academic institutions, and civil society to work together in building structured pathways for youth—connecting classrooms to policy arenas. She encouraged universities to leverage their observer status at international climate negotiations, such as the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP), to involve students directly in negotiation processes. At the same time, she urged institutions to establish shared governance platforms and intergenerational alliances, ensuring that youth are active contributors—not passive observers—in climate decision-making.

“Only when we trust, invest in, and walk alongside young people can a ‘Three Zeros World’—zero carbon, zero poverty, and zero unemployment—become not only possible, but inevitable,” Ho stated. Her remarks underscored the pivotal role of youth in addressing the global climate crisis and the transformative impact of sustained support and empowerment.

Reporter: Alice HO

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