Uganda’s Youth Lead the Way on Climate Adaptation 

On April 3–4, 2025, more than 100 inspiring young leaders from all five regions of Uganda came together at the Youth Adaptation Forum Uganda — uniting their voices, ideas, and energy to advance climate adaptation action. 

Hosted by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in partnership with the Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment, Climate Change Adaptation Innovation (CHAI), and Makerere University, the Forum served as a critical platform for young people to strengthen their skills, build capacity, and share innovative approaches for a more resilient future. 

At a time when the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly severe across Uganda, the Forum underscored the vital role that young people must play in shaping adaptation efforts. Experts in climate resilience and young innovators emphasized the urgent need to accelerate youth-driven action by expanding adaptation finance, deepening community engagement, investing in capacity building, and supporting bold, innovative solutions that can drive sustainable development. 

Throughout the Forum, a clear message emerged: climate change is already significantly impacting young people across Uganda and swift, effective adaptation is essential. Youth participation from every region of the country is not only vital but necessary to drive environmental protection and resilience at both local and national levels. However, young leaders need far greater support and encouragement to develop and scale innovative adaptation initiatives that address Uganda’s unique challenges and opportunities. 

Several standout youth-led innovations were showcased during the Forum. Participants introduced Climate Resilient Hubs, which merge indigenous knowledge with technical expertise to promote climate-smart agriculture tailored to local realities. Others presented initiatives in “waste-preneurship,” demonstrating how creative waste management can generate sustainable business opportunities while addressing environmental concerns. Agricultural mentorship and capacity-building programs were also highlighted, with youth-led efforts to train peers in tree planting, bee farming, and climate-smart agricultural practices gaining special attention. 

In a powerful closing statement, Uganda’s youth issued a clear call to action. They urged governments, development partners, and the private sector to invest more robustly in adaptation finance and youth-led solutions. They called for stronger support for intergenerational dialogue and partnerships to ensure that young people’s voices are heard and respected in climate policymaking. Expanding green job opportunities across all sectors was identified as a critical priority, alongside the need to elevate education, innovation, and entrepreneurship specifically focused on climate adaptation. 

The energy and determination on display at the Youth Adaptation Forum Uganda will continue to drive momentum. On October 12, 2025, young people around the world will come together again for Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day — a global opportunity to showcase their initiatives and push adaptation efforts even further forward. 

You can read the full Youth Leadership to Build Climate-Resilient Economies Communiqué and find out how to get involved in Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day 2025. 

The ideas presented in this article aim to inspire adaptation action – they are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Global Center on Adaptation.

Related blog posts: