Youth associations and organisations submit joint demands for public participation in the climate protection programme
The participating youth organisations bring in the perspective of the younger generation, which is particularly affected by the consequences of the climate crisis and wants to actively shape social change. The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court in 2021 underlines this perspective and makes it clear that climate protection serves to protect young people from future restrictions on their civil liberties and has constitutional status.
Specific demands were jointly formulated for selected sectors of the climate protection programme, including mobility, buildings/housing, the energy sector, agriculture/land use and the circular economy. The youth associations and organisations emphasise particular needs, blind spots and potential for shaping effective, socially just and reliable long-term climate protection measures based on the practical experience of youth associations.
In addition to the specific sectoral demands, there is a particular focus on key question 2 on the social design of the climate action programme. The youth associations and organisations emphasise that climate protection will only be accepted if costs and benefits are distributed fairly, vulnerable groups - especially young people - are taken into account and protective mechanisms against social overburdening are effective: climate protection and social justice must be considered together from the outset.
In conclusion, the youth organisations emphasise that consistent implementation of existing instruments and reliable framework conditions across legislative periods are crucial. Young people want to be part of the solution and contribute their experience from their commitment, training, studies and work. With their contribution, the youth associations and organisations see themselves as constructive partners and offer to actively help shape the further dialogue on the design of the Climate Action Programme.
On the demands for the climate action programme
The contribution to public participation in the Federal Government's Climate Action Programme is supported by the following youth associations and organisations:
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in Deutschland e. V. (aej)
- Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ)
- Federal Youth Organisation of the AWO
- BUNDjugend
- German Federal Youth Council (DBJR)
- German Hiking Youth (DWJ)
- German Scout Association of St George (DPSG)
- Free association of student organisations (fzs)
- Youth of the German Alpine Association (JDAV)
- Catholic Rural Youth Movement of Germany (KLJB)
- Kolping Youth Germany
- LCOY- Young Climate Conference Germany
- NAJU (Nature Conservation Youth in NABU)
- Naturefriends Youth Germany
- Ring of German Scout Associations (rdp)
- Association of Christian Scouts (VCP)
The Coordination Centre for Youth Participation in Climate Issues is a centralised youth participation format at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). It supports the networking and exchange of young organised civil society and specifically incorporates their positions and demands into the ministry's climate policy processes - through position papers, dialogue formats and expert discussions with the ministry's working and/or decision-making levels. The focus here is on advocating for climate justice within society and between generations.