As part of the Youth Leadership for Climate Action (YLCA) initiative from the British Council Sri Lanka, in collaboration with Earthlanka Youth Network, a four-day in person training for Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) recently concluded at the Center for Sustainability (CFS), Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
The YLCA program aimed to fill a critical gap identified through national youth consultations. Many young people in Sri Lanka lacked awareness, opportunities, and platforms to actively participate in climate action. Through YLCA, the British Council Network aims to empower a new generation of Sri Lankan youth with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to lead climate action and help build a greener, climate-resilient future.
The recent training at CFS gathered 28 enthusiastic future Youth Climate Ambassadors from various academic and community backgrounds. Over four days of interactive learning, participants were led to deepen their understanding of climate change, sustainability, and community-based adaptation. They also developed leadership and project management skills to turn their ideas into action.
At the end of the training, participants presented four innovative climate action projects. Each project aimed to create real environmental and social impacts within their communities. These projects show YLCA’s goal of promoting youth-driven solutions that blend scientific understanding with community engagement.
Dr. Pasan Dunuwila, Senior Lecturer, Director of Center for Sustainability (CFS), Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura emphasized the importance of this activity by stating that “An inspiring gathering of 28 of our students, creative minds collaborating to develop bold climate action solutions. In the coming months, these student-driven initiatives will turn ideas into reality. This shows the power of youth leadership and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, by combining academic insight with community-driven engagement, the Youth Climate Ambassadors initiative inspires a new generation ready to lead meaningful change and help create a climate-resilient and environmentally aware world”.
Additionally, the Youth Climate Ambassadors initiative connects academic insight with grassroots engagement. It encourages youth to tackle climate challenges through informed, inclusive, and action-oriented approaches.
The Center for Sustainability proudly provided their assistance for this milestone in empowering youth climate leaders under the YLCA framework. It reaffirms CFS’s commitment to nurturing education, innovation, and community partnerships for environmental sustainability.
