The first result of the CEYOU project is out! This first document aims to shed some light on how to take the first steps to establish permanent forums of dialogue between local authorities and youth organisations on circular economy.
Youth Express Network is one of the partners working on the CEYOU project : Circular Economy for Youth. The main aim of the CEYOU project is to promote, connect and empower young people to engage in circular economy as a means to deal with the danger to the environment and climate change.
Coordinated by Pontydysgu (United Kingdom), the partnership gathers 6 organisations coming from Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom.
Local authorities and youth organisations for Circular Economy
In this document, we explore some ways in which young people can be empowered to understand and act upon environmental matters that concern them. This document was developed based on a literature review as well as CEYOU partners practical experience in testing the implementation of these kinds of forums. After a brief overview of circular economy and youth participation, the document starts by presenting the local contexts in CEYOU partner countries, continues with some case studies of engagement methods and ends with outlining some key steps to follow for the establishment of a dialogue space.
Key Recommendations
Based on the CEYOU project partners’ experience and research in setting up and facilitating Youth Forums, we are able to list some key recommendations. (Further details in the full report):
1. Local authorities, in collaboration with youth organisations and other stakeholders, should aim for engagement methods that foresee an active participation of young people.
2. Traditional youth councils and forums should be revived to foster bottom-up approaches and target environmental topics more specifically.
3. Engagement of young people is most effective and impactful if
implemented with a territorial approach, though planning processes at the local level.4. Young people should be enabled to understand decision-making
processes and its timing.5. Active engagement of young people should be effective and sustainable in the long run.
In the frame of this project, Youth Express Network will be in charge of developing the second output of the partnership: a toolkit on developing youth trainings and events on Circular Economy.
