Who Gets to Shape the Climate Future? A Dialogue on Power, Governance, and Intergenerational Leadership
As climate decisions increasingly shape the next century, questions of who holds power - and how it is shared across generations - are becoming central to climate leadership, governance, and systems change.
Across the UK and globally, institutions are experimenting with intergenerational approaches, including youth advisory councils, shadow boards, future generations frameworks, youth negotiator programmes, participatory grantmaking, and co-led initiatives. While these efforts signal progress, they vary significantly in depth, authority, and impact. Many remain consultative, while others are beginning to shift meaningful decision-making power over policy, funding, strategy, culture, and governance.
Who Gets to Shape the Climate Future? A Dialogue on Power, Governance, and Intergenerational Leadership will bring together leaders across government, philanthropy, business, civil society, academia, and multilateral institutions to explore what meaningful intergenerational action looks like in practice, what types of power can and should be shared across generations, and how institutions can move from awareness and engagement toward deeper collaboration, co-management, and shared governance over time.
Hosted by Youth Climate Collaborative (YCC) and SEC Newgate UK during London Climate Action Week 2026, the event will feature research insights, keynote conversations, and participatory breakout dialogues. Confirmed speakers include Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, with additional speakers invited from government, philanthropy, business, civil society, and international climate institutions.
The convening will also launch YCC’s new Community of Practice on Intergenerational Leadership and introduce the Power-Sharing Wheel, an emerging framework designed to help organizations reflect on how influence, responsibility, and decision-making are shared across generations.
Designed as a collaborative working session rather than a traditional conference, the dialogue aims to strengthen cross-sector relationships, surface practical examples and lessons learned, and support participants in identifying actionable next steps for advancing intergenerational leadership within their own institutions and communities.
* Attendees under the age of 18 are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over for the duration of the event.
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