Breaking Barriers to Sustain Youth Participation in and Beyond Brazil
Publisher: Routledge
Author(s): Jennifer Lauren and Helena Branco
Date: 2026
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Gender, Governance
Countries: Brazil
The global media coverage of the youth climate movement has ignited debate on how to meaningfully engage youth in political decision-making. While not all youth prioritise climate policy, the transnational rise in protest, youth activism and social unease is incentivising institutions to revisit how youth participatory practices are conceptualised, designed and implemented. This chapter confronts the barriers, assumptions and power dynamics that can affect youth inclusion in political processes, especially in multinational contexts. Brazil is a focal point for youth climate activism, as its Amazon rainforest is “at a tipping point” and “sharp differences in race, history, culture, and industry manifest many ‘Brazils,’” each affected differently by changes in climate (World Bank, 2024). This research centres the perspectives of Brazilian youth activists on their participation in global climate governance and programming. To this end, a specific demographic was targeted for participation: (1) Brazilian citizens, (2) aged 18 to 29, extended to 35 for traditional and Indigenous groups, and (3) who are active in climate change initiatives and have engaged in international climate-related events. The authors surface gaps in current multinational platforms engaging youth activists in hopes of informing the co-creation of more equitable models of collaboration that effectively address crises.