24 June, 2026
After two months of learning, collaboration, and idea development, Ready to Engage: Pathways to Climate Justice has come to a close.
Hosted by The Hague Humanity Hub and co-funded by the European Union, the programme brought together young people from diverse backgrounds who shared a common ambition: to move beyond concern about climate change and take meaningful action.
Over the course of eight weeks, participants followed a journey through three phases: Explore, Develop, and Act. Together, they examined climate change not only as an environmental challenge, but as a question of justice, inequality, and global responsibility. Through workshops, mentoring sessions, ecosystem meet-and-greets, peer exchanges, and facilitated co-working sessions, participants strengthened their understanding of climate justice while developing ideas for positive change.
Along the way, they connected with practitioners from The Hague’s peace and justice ecosystem, tested early concepts, received feedback from experts, and learned practical tools for turning ideas into initiatives.
The programme concluded with a final pitch event, where participants presented projects that reflected the many dimensions of climate justice.
One participant proposed a model that would help tourism businesses in climate-vulnerable regions invest in community-owned rainwater harvesting systems, turning competition over scarce water resources into shared climate resilience.
Another participant explored how environmental destruction can contribute to mass violence and displacement. Their project seeks to document and amplify the experiences of affected communities, placing human stories at the centre of discussions on environmental accountability.
A team focused on deep seabed mining highlighted the disproportionate impacts that resource extraction can have on Pacific Island and Indigenous communities. Their initiative aims to amplify local voices in international discussions and ensure that communities most affected by these decisions are not left out of the conversation.
Other participants developed ideas ranging from making climate and environmental law more accessible to the public, improving household recycling practices through technology, and creating mechanisms for greater community participation in climate policymaking.
What connected these projects was a shared recognition that climate justice is not a single issue. It touches on access to resources, participation in decision-making, accountability, human rights, education, and community wellbeing.
By the end of the programme, participants had developed far more than project proposals. They built networks, gained practical skills, received expert guidance, and became part of a growing community of young people committed to shaping a more just and sustainable future.
Ready to Engage was designed to support the next generation of changemakers. The ideas presented at the closing event demonstrated that they are already well on their way.
A heartfelt thank you to all participants, facilitators, mentors, speakers, and partner organisations who contributed their time, expertise, and enthusiasm throughout the programme. We look forward to following the next chapters of these projects and welcoming participants into the broader Climate Justice Community.
Ready to Engage is a project co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of The Hague Humanity Hub and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
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