Nine groups of young people received grants for 14 exciting projects from the Youth Climate Action Fund at Höfði today. Mayor Einar Þorsteinsson and Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir, chair of the Environment & Planning Council, presented the grants. The projects are all designed and implemented by young people to address climate change. The total grant amount is 5,800,000 ISK. There were 21 applications to the fund, which is a collaboration between Reykjavík City and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Project examples include a youth hackathon on wetland recovery, recycling damaged tents to reduce textile waste at outdoor festivals, a competition for primary school children to write stories about environmental issues with the best one published, peer education on recycling, a youth discussion forum on sustainability and the film industry, publishing a climate magazine, field trips, and various educational events.
The fund aims to engage young people in finding climate solutions and support new projects addressing climate change. Grant requirements were that projects be designed and implemented by 15-24 year olds and directly relate to Reykjavík's Climate Policy. Organizations, groups, student associations and schools could all apply.
More about the grant recipients, projects and selection committee comments
Framtíðin, debate and student association of Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík
Education: climate crisis and how to combat it
The project aims to increase education about climate change issues through interesting lectures for students.
- An engaging project with clear links to Reykjavík's Climate Policy is sought.
Field trip for learning
Funding is sought for a field trip for students in a specific secondary school to either ecosystem recovery or recycling and waste management sites.
- The project is fun and the idea is good. The project strongly aligns with Reykjavík's Climate Policy, e.g., in circular economy or waste management projects.
MR Climate Magazine
Funding is sought to publish an educational magazine about climate change issues in a specific secondary school.
- The project is ambitious and likely to draw attention to Reykjavík's biggest climate change challenges. The project aims to make students think about and act on climate change issues.
Gleðibankinn youth center
How far can I go?
Funding is sought for a public transportation competition organized by a youth center in Reykjavík. The grant will cover event preparation, prizes, and other competition-related expenses.
- The idea is very strong and takes an original approach to promoting active travel modes to young people. The project aligns well with the main challenges in Reykjavík's Climate Policy regarding transport emissions reduction. It is also likely to engage and empower young people.
Young environmentalists
Youth hackathon on wetland recovery
Funding is sought to hold a hackathon on wetland recovery.
- Drained wetlands are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland. The project takes a new approach to harness young people's imagination, creative thinking, and knowledge to accelerate wetland recovery within Reykjavík City.
Fridays for Future fall 2024
Funding is sought to revive Fridays for Future in fall 2024.
- According to applicants, the goals of Fridays for Future are to educate young people about climate issues and empower them to participate more actively in discussions about their future. The project also aims to give young people a platform to express their opinions, convey them, and have a voice in the most important issue of our time. Previous projects have been successful and had a visible impact on climate change discussions.
ÍS: COP REYKJAVÍK, conference and themed party
The project involves organizing a fun, ambitious event that draws attention to climate issues and biodiversity at the intersection of COP29 on climate and COP16 on biodiversity.
- The selection committee finds the application very ambitious and takes an enjoyable approach to combining climate issues and nature conservation, which have much in common.
Young writers for the environment
- The project aims to engage primary school children to write stories related to environmental issues. Submitted stories will be sent to a competition where a jury will select the best one. The winning story will be published and sent to schools across the country. The other stories will be placed in a story bank where they will be accessible.
- The idea is likely to present climate issues in an interesting light and make this big topic fun.
Borgarholtsskóli student association
The Sorter - better sorting, less air pollution.
Funding is sought for increased education on sorting and environmental issues in a specific upper-secondary school in Reykjavík. Peer education about the project will be set up and events held.
- The selection committee believes the project is likely to engage students to pay more attention to waste sorting. An interesting method is proposed to monitor the project's success.
Haxi - Biology students' interest group
Soil bandage
Funding is sought for a research project aimed at making the aftermath of construction (new residential areas, road construction, etc.) greener by finding a simple/inexpensive solution to soil erosion following such developments.
- This is a very original and interesting idea that not only supports the city's Climate Policy but also its biodiversity strategy.
RIFF Reykjavík International Film Festival
Young Nordic think tank
- Funding is sought to create a strong and safe consultation forum where the voices of future leaders in the film industry can be heard and strengthened.
This discussion platform gives participants the opportunity to actively work for a better future, with the goal of changing the industry landscape to better meet the needs and expectations of young people. It also provides a valuable opportunity to bring ideas to the surface that could actually lead to improved environmental attitudes within the film industry, including the carbon footprint within the industry and how to reduce it. - This is a fun project that takes a new approach to provide young people with a platform to discuss climate issues and the film industry. It provides an opportunity for young people to express their views and is likely to create discussions on an equal footing.
Association of Icelandic Secondary School Students (SÍF)
Raising awareness among secondary school students
The project aims to increase education and access to information about climate issues targeted at secondary school students. The education will be written by young people for other young people.
- The project is likely to impact many people and is on a large scale.
Fjölbrautarskólinn við Ármúla student association
Secondary schools' climate party
The project aims to strengthen cooperation between several secondary schools with a fun event about climate issues. Emphasis is placed on students learning more about climate issues and making the event enjoyable. The event is still in development but will be organized by students for other students in the schools.
- The goal is to activate the schools' environmental councils and create a new platform where environmental issues progress faster within them under a banner of positivity.
- The selection committee finds it particularly positive to engage different schools to collaborate on climate issues and make them more accessible by presenting them in a lighter context.
Students in design, innovation, and entrepreneurship at Fjölbrautaskólinn í Breiðholti
Eco-friendly tent solutions
The project aims to raise young people's awareness of textile waste at outdoor festivals and point to circular thinking by demonstrating innovation from used tents.
- The selection committee finds the project takes a very original approach to engage and make young people think about the circular economy.
- The project is fun, and its product could well be at home at DesignMarch, for example.