The aims of Ireland’s Climate Youth Delegate Programme are: 

• To provide a platform for young people living in Ireland to be represented at international climate negotiations within Ireland’s delegation.  

• To ensure Ireland’s delegation benefits from perspectives and knowledge from youth in its work. 

• To directly involve young people living in Ireland in the international climate policy and decision-making agenda. 

• To hear and include the voice of young people on key climate issues under negotiation at international level. 

• To promote climate, development, and youth policies among young people living in Ireland, creating awareness of Ireland’s climate diplomacy activities sharing information via social media. 

• To familiarise young people living in Ireland with the UN climate process and opportunities for action. 

• To support climate, global citizenship activities, and development initiatives in Ireland. 

• To strengthen the link between the official delegation and civil society, including by organising a meeting between the Irish delegation and other Irish youth representatives in attendance. 

• To build relationships and networks with others including other youth delegates and civil society from across the world to support the broadening and deepening of insights and understanding of the issues. 

• To ensure the official delegation is informed on broader youth priorities regarding climate, facilitated through youth consultations conducted by the Climate Youth Delegate. 

• To provide the Climate Youth Delegate with relevant training (diplomacy, media, etc.) that will support the work of their term and beyond.  

Call for Applications

Applicants should:

• Be between the ages of 18 – 25 years (on March 18th 2025). 

• Be resident on the island of Ireland for the duration of the term (May 2025 – October 2026). 

• Be a self-starter, experienced in organising events and committed to organising consultations with young people and others in Ireland. 

• Be committed to giving significant time to the Programme, on a voluntary basis. 

• Interested in policy making and writing, capable of digesting a lot of information and quickly turning around policy papers/speeches. 

• Work collaboratively with others and be willing to engage with other youth representatives living in Ireland and abroad to exchange knowledge and experiences. 

• Have a valid and in date passport. 

• Abide by an international country’s (Germany, Brazil, etc.) requirements for entry (e.g. Vaccinations, visas, etc). 

Skills and Qualifications:

Remember, no one has every skill or experience needed for this role. You will have lots of opportunity to learn also.

Someone who has experience in several of these areas should apply:

• Good knowledge and understanding of climate issues 
• Good knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Ability to and experience of working collaboratively with others (e.g. young people, youth organisations, senior NGO representatives, Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, National Youth Council of Ireland, and others). 
• Experience in event organisation, including leading workshops. 
• Experience in public speaking. 
• Be culturally competent. 
• Have experience in and commitment to using social media and online communications tools to share their experiences with others, through written reports and social media, including blogs, videos, webinars, articles, social media posts, etc. 
• Have experience in policy making and advocacy work on climate. 
• Have previous experience at similar events, travelling for meetings/conferences/workshops. 
• Knowledge of Development Education, Global Youth Work, Global Citizenship Education, and Youth Work. 

What you must commit to if selected:

• To conduct part of the term in collaboration with the current Climate Youth Delegate (2024-2025); part of the term as the single Climate Youth Delegate for Ireland; and to assist with the hand-over process of the subsequent Climate Youth Delegate for the 2026-2027 term. 

• Be willing to participate in relevant trainings over the course of the term (eg. Diplomacy, media, social media, etc). 

• Be willing to engage with the delegation managing the Irish Presidency to the EU (July – December 2026). 

• Be able to travel to Germany to attend international climate meetings (SB 62) between 15th June – 27th June 2025 and again in 2026 (dates TBC). 

• Be able to travel to Belém, Brazil to attend the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) between 9th November – 22nd November 2025. 

• Be able to attend regular meetings of the National Climate Delegation (approx. once a month). 

• Be able to participate in an online climate negotiator training course between July – November 2025 (sessions likely to be held for two hours roughly every fortnight with some additional online learning required between sessions). 

• Conduct consultations with young people to understand their priorities with regards to the climate and biodiversity crises, and to represent young people’s voices at both national and international events. 

• Be able to provide a mid-way and end-of-term report to NYCI and DECC, and where appropriate present your experiences, learning, insights, and future ideas for action and engagement. 

• Consistent PR and social media, as negotiated with DECC and the National Youth Council of Ireland, throughout your term of office, through the publication of blogs, videos, photos, and articles when travelling in Climate Youth Delegate capacity, at local, national, and global level. 

• Work with Youth Delegates from other countries on policy issues, planning meetings, organising events, social media campaigns, and networking. 

• Particular to this term (until the end of the term in October 2026), to engage with relevant stakeholders as Ireland undertakes its Presidency of the EU between July and December 2026.
  
• Undergoing the Garda Vetting process. This is required for hosting workshops/consultations with young people.

Applications are now Closed.
For questions, contact eimear@nyci.ie.