Growing Green Futures
Rural Youth, Skills and the Green Transformation of Work
Rural youth have been on our agenda since 2010. On 14 November we bring the voices of young people from our field sites to the agenda of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The green transition does not reach rural areas on its own.
In rural areas the climate crisis hits fields, water and harvests first, and then young people’s decision whether to stay where they live. Green jobs, meanwhile, are concentrated in big cities.
“Young people are not turning away from work, but from working conditions that offer no development, security or voice.”
A rural future is possible, if conditions change.
We asked 294 young people aged 15–24 about rural life, work, climate and their future. We share the first findings at the panel on 14 November and will publish the full report on this page on 16 November.
Speakers
Government, the UN, academia, the private sector and civil society at one table: what skills and what working conditions do young people in rural areas need in the green transition?
Prof. Dr. Bülent Gülçubuk
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University
Suat Dede
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Chizuru Iwata
Adolescent Development and Participation Specialist, UNICEF Türkiye
Cem Ertal
Executive, TOPRAQ AI
Uğur Gülderer
General Director, Genç Hayat Foundation
Simultaneous interpretation in Turkish and English. Blue Zone access requires UNFCCC accreditation. All times are Antalya local time (UTC+3).
Survey report and Manifesto of Rural Youth
On 16 November we will publish on this page the full report of our survey and our outcome statement shaped by young people’s voices, the “Manifesto of Rural Youth”.
Our COP31 timeline
From our background note to the manifesto: the days we bring rural youth to the COP31 agenda. #GrowingGreenFutures #RuralYouthVoices
Panel day
At the Türkiye Pavilion, Hall 1, we discuss the place of rural youth in the green transition with government, the UN, academia and the private sector.
Report and manifesto
We publish the survey report and the manifesto of rural youth on this page.
For press
- Press contact: Çağdaş Özbakan · [email protected] · +90 553 143 83 59
- Livestream: Türkiye COP31 YouTube channel · 14 November, 16:00
- Full recording: Watch on Genç Hayat Vakfı’s YouTube channel
- Press release (PDF)
- Speaker bios (PDF)
- Media kit (ZIP, 1.9 MB): logos, speaker photos, panel and data visuals
- Interview requests are welcome until 13 November.
