2025 Free

Impact Report 2023-2025

The Global Youth Climate Training (GYCT) is a collaboration between Oxford Net Zero and the Global Youth Coalition, providing free multilingual climate policy training to young people worldwide. Over three series (2023-2025), 5,400 young people were trained from 27,000 applicants — 65% from most-affected areas and 21% Indigenous youth. 89% strengthened their climate policy knowledge; 77% felt more confident to engage in UNFCCC forums. £36,000 in bursaries supported COP attendance. Oxford Vice Chancellor's Award for Environmental Sustainability awarded 2024. Funded by ClimateWorks Foundation's $2m youth-led climate fund.

Report snapshot
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About

Open-access virtual climate policy training (6-12 sessions per series, 6 languages); COP attendance bursaries; GYCT community (Slack, WhatsApp, community calls); in-person convenings; expert speaker programme (Oxford academics, UNFCCC practitioners); Climate Guidebook publication; advocacy for MAPA and Indigenous youth inclusion in UNFCCC Custom geography from upload: Global (participants from 100+ countries)

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 27,000 applicants over three training series (2023, 2024, 2025); 5,400 young people trained; 65% from most affected people and areas (MAPA); 21% Indigenous youth
Key Metric 2 89% of participants strengthened international climate policy knowledge; 77% felt more confident to advocate in UNFCCC forums; 60% credited GYCT for their success in international climate policy
Key Metric 3 £36,000 in youth bursaries distributed to fund COP attendance; 100,000+ YouTube views; 6 languages of live interpretation; University of Oxford Vice Chancellor's Award for Environmental Sustainability 2024

Key Outcomes

  • Climate Guidebook shortlisted for Re-Earth Initiative; 81% of 2024 participants interested in applying to University of Oxford; GYC co-director Agustín Ocaña and participants represented Rwanda, Colombia, Uganda at international climate forums
  • Programme born from chance encounter at COP27 between Oxford researcher and youth activist; selected as implementing partner for ClimateWorks Foundation's $2m investment in youth-led climate solutions; co-directors joined ClimateWorks Youth Council 2025
  • 56% women; 50% aged 16-25; top countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, India, Egypt, UK, Brazil, Ecuador, Uganda, Ghana; funded by Quadrature Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, INCITE and University of Oxford van Houten Fund

Geography

Other

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
61,819 native oysters deployed across UK restoration projects in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
15,064 people participated in the Beachwatch beach clean programme, submitting 1,256 litter surveys — the highest in the programme's 31-year history
Key Metric 3
17,613 young people engaged through in-person or online youth programme sessions
£11.5 billion Ofwat investment package secured for storm overflow cuts in England and Wales following sustained MCS advocacy
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
191,000 cats and kittens helped — 525 a day (2023: 184,000); 29,000 cats rehomed; 168,000 cats neutered including 13,000 feral cats; 93,000 cats microchipped
Key Metric 2
£96.9 million total income (2023: £89.3 million); £108.5 million net assets; £50.1 million legacy income; 9,800 volunteers (2023: 9,200)
Key Metric 3
430 cat owners helped to flee domestic abuse with 750 cats given temporary foster homes (Lifeline) — up from 229 in 2023; 5.9 million...
Mandatory microchipping for cats in England came into force June 2024 — direct result of years of Cats Protection campaigning; Pet Abduction Act came into force August 2024 making cat theft a specific criminal offence; Cat Manifesto sent to every election candidate with 111 newly elected MPs having responded
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
32,000 people participated in learning activities; 65,000 volunteer hours contributed; 250,000 biodiversity-boosting plants and bulbs planted; 24,000 snowdrops planted by Royal Parks Half Marathon...
Key Metric 2
94% of public rated their visit as good or excellent; 5 consecutive years all 8 parks awarded Green Flag; 160,000+ members making 300,000+ visits;...
Key Metric 3
1,000 free plants donated to local charities, community groups and schools; 200 old noticeboards and maps replaced; 12,500 enquiries handled by visitor support team;...
Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at Regent's Park received planning permission and is progressing — opening Spring 2026; Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground renewal received planning permission — opening Spring 2026; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed — new meadows, shrubs, community facilities
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
2,876 ha of land under direct influence for nature, with 7 species recovery projects at or near implementation
Key Metric 2
17,935 wilder community engagements in 2024–25 (67,935 cumulative since 2020); 55 wilder initiatives established in schools and public spaces
Key Metric 3
Over 25,000 individuals engaged through skills training, community rewilding events and nature-based programmes
7 species recovery projects delivered including beavers returning to Derbyshire for the first time in 800 years, Atlantic salmon restoration on the River Ecclesbourne, and white-clawed crayfish ark sites