UK Government Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026: Applications Open for Young People to Help Shape Climate and Nature Policy

Applications are now open for the UK Government Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026, a new national initiative designed to give young people a meaningful voice in shaping government thinking on climate change, nature recovery, clean energy and wider environmental policy.

The UK Government is recruiting 15 young people aged 16 to 25 from across the United Kingdom to become members of its first Youth Climate and Nature Panel. The initiative will create a direct channel through which young people from different backgrounds, communities and experiences can share their perspectives with government and contribute to conversations about some of the most important environmental challenges facing current and future generations.

Importantly, applicants do not need to be climate scientists, environmental campaigners or policy experts. The government is seeking young people with different experiences and relationships with climate, nature and the environment, including those who may never previously have participated in environmental organisations, protests or government consultations.

Applications for the Youth Climate and Nature Panel close on Friday, 11 September 2026.

About the UK Government Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026

The Youth Climate and Nature Panel is a new national initiative that will bring together 15 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 from across the UK.

The panel is intended to ensure that young people’s experiences, concerns and ideas are better represented in government thinking about climate and nature policy.

Decisions being made today about climate change, biodiversity, clean energy, nature restoration, food systems, employment and environmental protection will have consequences lasting for decades. Today’s younger generations will therefore live with many of the long-term outcomes of these decisions.

The Youth Climate and Nature Panel seeks to provide young people with an opportunity to participate in those discussions rather than simply hearing about policies after decisions have already been made.

Panel members will be expected to:

• Share their views and experiences with government.
• Provide insights and advice on climate and nature issues.
• Help government understand how environmental policies affect young people and their communities.
• Strengthen engagement between government and younger generations.
• Encourage collaboration between different generations.
• Contribute ideas about climate, nature, energy and environmental priorities.
• Help identify issues that young people believe deserve greater attention.
• Support broader conversations about building a fair and sustainable future.

A particularly important feature of the panel is that members will have an opportunity to help determine their own priorities.

Rather than having every subject decided for them, panel members will have space to identify and explore the climate and nature issues they believe matter most.

Why Has the Youth Climate and Nature Panel Been Created?

Climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and the transition toward cleaner energy systems are long-term challenges.

Young people will inherit the consequences of decisions being made today, making their participation particularly important.

At the same time, young people are already contributing solutions in their schools, workplaces, families and local communities. They bring experiences and perspectives that may differ significantly depending on where they live, their education, employment, community and relationship with the natural environment.

The UK Government therefore wants to create more meaningful opportunities for younger people to contribute to policymaking.

The Youth Climate and Nature Panel is intended to move beyond simply communicating government policies to young people. Instead, it creates an avenue through which young people can contribute perspectives that may help inform government thinking.

Background to the Youth Climate and Nature Panel

The Youth Climate and Nature Panel was initially announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in December 2025 as part of Energising Britain: Your Voice in Our Clean Energy Superpower Mission.

Its development forms part of a wider government commitment to involve communities in climate and nature policymaking.

This approach is also reflected in the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan.

The underlying principle is that effective environmental policy can benefit from involving people and communities during the policymaking process rather than expecting them only to respond after major decisions have already been made.

The new Youth Climate and Nature Panel will extend this participatory approach specifically to younger generations.

What Will Youth Climate and Nature Panel Members Do?

The 15 successful applicants will have the opportunity to bring young people’s experiences and perspectives into conversations with government.

Their role is expected to include sharing views, providing advice and insight, strengthening youth engagement and helping promote collaboration between generations.

One of the most significant elements of the initiative is that members will help decide what issues the panel prioritises.

This means the panel’s agenda could reflect environmental concerns that its young members believe are particularly important to their generation and communities.

Potential subjects could include:

1. Nature restoration

   Members may consider how nature can be restored and protected throughout the UK, including questions surrounding biodiversity, habitats and long-term nature recovery.

2. Climate change adaptation

   As communities experience the effects of a changing climate, the panel could consider how the country prepares for and adapts to those changes.

3. Access to nature

   Discussions could examine opportunities to improve people’s ability to access and benefit from natural environments.

4. Environmental quality

   Panel members may explore broader questions about creating and maintaining a healthier natural environment.

5. Clean energy transition

   The transition away from higher-carbon energy sources toward cleaner alternatives is expected to transform communities, industries and employment. Young people could provide perspectives on what this transition means for their generation.

6. Sustainable food systems

   The relationship between food production, agriculture, environmental protection and sustainability could also feature in the panel’s work.

7. Circular economy

   Panel discussions could examine ways of reducing waste, reusing resources and developing economic systems that use materials more efficiently.

8. Green jobs and careers

   The transition toward a cleaner economy is expected to create and transform employment opportunities. Panel members could consider what green careers, skills and emerging technologies mean for young people’s futures.

The final priorities will not necessarily be limited to these subjects. Panel members will have an opportunity to influence the issues they believe deserve attention.

Who Can Apply for the Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026?

Applications are open to young people aged 16 to 25 who are based anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The government is particularly interested in receiving applications from young people with a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, experiences and relationships with climate, nature and the environment.

Applicants might, for example, be interested in:

• How farmers and agricultural communities are helping restore nature.
• How renewable energy developments affect local communities.
• How towns and cities can become greener.
• How communities can become more resilient to climate change.
• How clean energy will affect the country’s future.
• How green careers will change employment opportunities.
• How emerging environmental technologies could influence the economy.
• How young people can participate in environmental decision-making.
• How nature and biodiversity can be protected and restored.
• How government decisions concerning climate and nature affect everyday life.

However, previous involvement in these areas is not a requirement.

Find out more and apply to join the Youth Climate and Nature Panel.

You Do Not Need to Be a Climate or Environmental Expert

One of the most important aspects of this opportunity is its accessibility to young people who may not have formal environmental experience.

Applicants do not need to be policy experts.

They also do not need to have previously joined an environmental organisation, participated in a climate protest or spoken with government representatives.

The government has specifically indicated that it also wants to hear from young people who may never have participated in those activities.

This means applicants should not assume they are unqualified simply because they lack formal experience in environmental advocacy or policymaking.

Personal experiences, curiosity and willingness to contribute can be valuable.

What matters is an applicant’s interest in:

• Sharing their perspective.
• Listening to the views and experiences of others.
• Contributing constructively to discussions.
• Helping government better understand how decisions affect young people.
• Bringing their personal or community experiences into conversations.
• Engaging with climate, nature and environmental issues.

This broad approach could allow the panel to hear perspectives that might otherwise be missing from national environmental discussions.

The Government Wants Young People From Different Backgrounds and Experiences

Diversity of experience is central to the purpose of the panel.

Climate change and environmental policies do not affect every person or community in exactly the same way.

A young person living in a major city, for example, may experience environmental challenges differently from someone living in a rural or agricultural community.

Similarly, young people studying at university may have different perspectives from those who are working, undertaking training or following other pathways.

The panel therefore aims to bring together young people with a range of experiences and perspectives.

The government has emphasised the importance of reaching young people whose voices might not normally be heard in national conversations concerning climate and nature.

Why Youth Perspectives Matter in UK Climate and Nature Policy

The establishment of the Youth Climate and Nature Panel comes as the UK continues to pursue major climate and environmental programmes.

These include efforts related to:

• Protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.
• Supporting large-scale nature recovery.
• Attracting private investment into environmental improvement.
• Transitioning toward clean energy.
• Developing a net zero economy.
• Strengthening environmental protection.
• Improving climate resilience.
• Creating opportunities connected to green employment and industries.

These programmes can have long-term consequences for today’s young people.

Hearing directly from younger generations may help policymakers better understand whether proposed policies are practical, fair and capable of producing lasting benefits.

Building Climate and Nature Policy With Communities

The Youth Climate and Nature Panel forms part of a broader approach to involving communities in policymaking.

The intention is to develop policy with greater public participation rather than limiting involvement to consultation after major decisions have already been developed.

Different approaches to public and youth participation are already being used across the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and related organisations.

For example, members of the public have contributed to the development of the government’s food strategy through a Citizen Advisory Council.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew also operates a Youth Council that works with senior leaders, helping ensure that young people’s views are reflected in organisational decision-making.

The new Youth Climate and Nature Panel will provide another mechanism through which younger voices can contribute.

How Many Young People Will Be Selected?

A total of 15 young people will form the Youth Climate and Nature Panel.

With places limited, prospective applicants should carefully review the official information and submit their applications before the deadline.

Applicants should focus on communicating their genuine perspectives and experiences rather than assuming they need extensive technical knowledge.

The initiative specifically values different experiences, curiosity and willingness to participate.

Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026 Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the UK Government Youth Climate and Nature Panel is:

Friday, 11 September 2026.

Interested young people should ensure their applications are completed and submitted in accordance with the official application instructions before the deadline.

Applicants are encouraged not to leave their submission until the last moment.

How to Apply for the Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026

Interested applicants should visit the official GOV.UK Youth Climate and Nature Panel page to review the full application information and instructions.

Because eligibility requirements, application procedures and other administrative details should always be confirmed directly from the official source, applicants should carefully read the published government guidance before submitting an application.

Official application and further information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-climate-and-nature-panel

Young Voices for Climate and Nature 2026

Alongside recruitment for the Youth Climate and Nature Panel, the government has launched another initiative called Young Voices for Climate and Nature.

This provides children and young people aged 16 and under with an opportunity to share the climate and nature ideas that matter to them.

Young people can participate through organisations and groups such as:

• Schools.
• Community groups.
• Sports groups.
• Faith groups.
• Other youth organisations.

Importantly, contributions are not restricted to traditional written submissions.

Young people can communicate their ideas in different creative formats, including:

• Videos.
• Artwork.
• Letters.
• Poems.
• Essays.
• Audio recordings.
• Presentations.

The ideas submitted through Young Voices for Climate and Nature are expected to help inform the work of the Youth Climate and Nature Panel when it begins its work later in 2026.

Young Voices for Climate and Nature Deadline

The deadline for entries to Young Voices for Climate and Nature is:

Friday, 23 October 2026.

More information is available through the official government page:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-voices-for-climate-and-nature

Applicants and organisations should note that this deadline is different from the Youth Climate and Nature Panel application deadline of Friday, 11 September 2026.

Schools and Youth Organisations Are Encouraged to Share the Opportunity

Schools, colleges, charities, environmental networks, youth organisations and community groups can play an important role in ensuring information about the opportunity reaches eligible young people.

Organisations working with young people are encouraged to share information through:

• Membership networks.
• Youth programmes.
• Schools and colleges.
• Community networks.
• Organisational communications channels.
• Environmental groups and networks.
• Local youth initiatives.

Particular attention is encouraged toward reaching young people whose voices might not normally be represented in national climate and environmental conversations.

Someone does not need an established profile as an environmental activist or expert to have a valuable perspective.

Everyday experiences of communities, employment, education, farming, cities, rural life, energy, nature and environmental change can provide useful insights into how policies affect people.

Why Young People Should Consider Applying

Joining the Youth Climate and Nature Panel provides selected young people with an opportunity to contribute directly to conversations about issues that could shape the UK’s environmental future.

For a young person interested in climate change, nature, sustainability, public policy, clean energy, agriculture, green careers or the future economy, the panel could provide a significant opportunity to share ideas and experiences.

It may also appeal to young people who have never previously thought of themselves as environmental advocates.

The government is explicitly seeking personal perspectives alongside established environmental knowledge.

For potential applicants, this means that being curious, willing to listen and prepared to share personal experiences can be relevant qualities.

Key Details at a Glance

Opportunity: UK Government Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026

Organisations: UK Government, with the initiative involving government work on climate and nature policy, including the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Number of panel members: 15

Age requirement: 16 to 25 years old

Location requirement: Applicants must be based in the United Kingdom

Experience required: Applicants do not need to be climate, environmental or policy experts

Main purpose: To give young people opportunities to share perspectives, provide insight and advice, strengthen youth engagement and help inform government thinking on climate and nature policy

Youth Climate and Nature Panel application deadline: Friday, 11 September 2026

Young Voices for Climate and Nature deadline: Friday, 23 October 2026

Official Youth Climate and Nature Panel information and application:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-climate-and-nature-panel

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Conclusion

The UK Government Youth Climate and Nature Panel 2026 represents a new opportunity for young people to contribute their experiences, concerns and ideas to national conversations about climate change, nature restoration and the transition toward a more sustainable economy.

Fifteen young people aged 16 to 25 will be brought together from across the UK, with members having opportunities to share their views with government, provide insight and advice, strengthen engagement with other young people and help determine the panel’s priorities.

Perhaps most importantly, applicants do not need to arrive with years of environmental campaigning experience or detailed knowledge of government policy. The initiative is also looking for young people whose perspectives come from their everyday lives, communities and personal experiences.

Whether an applicant is interested in farming and nature recovery, renewable energy, greener cities, climate resilience, sustainable food, biodiversity, green jobs, emerging technologies or simply how environmental decisions will affect their generation, their perspective could have value.

Eligible young people who want to be considered for one of the 15 positions should review the official application information and submit their application before Friday, 11 September 2026.

For younger people aged 16 and under, the separate Young Voices for Climate and Nature initiative provides another way to contribute through artwork, videos, letters, poems, essays, audio recordings, presentations and other submissions, with entries closing on Friday, 23 October 2026.

Together, these initiatives are intended to bring a wider range of younger voices into conversations about the UK’s climate and natural environment and give the next generation a more meaningful role in discussions about the future they will inherit.

Visit the OFY website for more Fellowship Opportunties.