Results

To analyze the uptake of the Youth Clause in the 2035 NDCs, the campaign’s youth policy experts analyzed each NDC to determine alignment. This analysis took place from November 2025–February 2026. At the time of final analysis in February 2026, 112 NDCs had been submitted representing a total of 138 countries. 

In total, 47 NDCs (42% of submissions) representing 73 countries (53% of submissions) met the requirements of the NDC Youth Clause, including all 27 members of the European Union. Inclusion of the Youth Clause was strongest among lower-income countries on the frontlines of the climate crisis, with particularly strong representation from small island and low-lying coastal states. This leadership from the Global Majority represents a powerful signal that the countries with the most at stake are not waiting for the largest emitters to act. The campaign is particularly grateful to the countries collaborating directly with us on their text, including the United Kingdom, Liberia, Norway, and the Dominican Republic.

The results far exceed the campaign's goal of ensuring the Clause was included in at least 30 NDCs, demonstrating a systemic shift toward youth-inclusive climate action. The UNFCCC NDC Synthesis Report noted that 88% of the 2035 plans made some mention of youth, up from just 61% in the previous round. Within this growing momentum toward inclusion, countries integrating the NDC Youth Clause represent a gold standard: not simply mentioning or consulting youth, but formally committing to partner with children and young people in implementation and through enhanced climate education.

  • Angola

  • Armenia

  • Australia

  • Azerbaijan

  • Bahamas

  • Bangladesh

  • Belize

  • Bolivia

  • Burkina Faso

  • Burundi

  • Cabo Verde

  • Cambodia

  • Costa Rica

  • Côte d'Ivoire

  • Eswatini

  • European Union (27)

  • Guinea

  • Kazakhstan

  • Kenya

  • Kyrgyzstan

  • Lebanon

  • Liberia

  • Maldives

  • Marshall Islands

  • Mauritania

  • Mexico

  • Mongolia

  • Nepal

  • Nigeria

  • Norway

  • Pakistan

  • Paraguay

  • Rwanda

  • Saint Lucia

  • Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

  • Sierra Leone

  • Solomon Islands

  • Somalia

  • Sri Lanka

  • Suriname

  • Tonga

  • Türkiye

  • United Arab Emirates

  • United Kingdom

  • Uzbekistan

  • Vanuatu

  • Venezuela

“The youth climate movement has been instrumental in delivering climate policies around the world. Now, we need governments to make sure youth are at the table to implement just and inclusive climate action, and adopting the Universal NDC Youth Clause is a crucial step.”

— Luisa Neubauer, Fridays for Future Organizer

“The Youth Clause fits something The Elders have been talking about, which is long-view leadership. The problems that face this world need long-view leadership based on science and evidence, but also with a diversity of viewpoints and co-creation across generations, which is exactly what the Youth Clause would accomplish.”

— Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland