Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, hosted an all-day international climate youth summit last week - attended by young people and teachers around the world.

More than a thousand young people and educators around the world joined Oxford Saïd on World Environment Day for the Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit, aimed at advancing climate solutions grounded in human rights.
The live virtual and in-person 24-hour Summit was hosted by Oxford Saïd, in partnership with UN Human Rights and the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance. It brought together young people and climate researchers from around the world. Altogether there were more than 2,000 registrations from 119 countries – nearly 600% more than the number who registered last year. Many registrations were for institutions and schools who held ‘watch parties’.
In total, there were 48 sessions addressing key issues around the theme of climate technologies and human rights; building a just transition. More than 80 speakers addressed the event, the youngest being 15-year-old Zoya K, founder of UnitEd Youth Council and a UNICEF Youth Ambassador. The broad range of topics discussed ranged from the impact of climate on reefs, health and communities to how solutions can be financed, legal implications and using AI to support effective solutions. Young change makers and entrants from Oxford Saïd’s Future Climate Innovators programme and Global Climate Tech Challenge competition showcased their innovative ideas and perspectives.
Oxford Saïd Interim Dean Mette Morsing welcomed participants warmly, saying: "Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to be here today for the Global Youth Climate Summit. Education is the number one leverage to change the world to the better. When talking about how to address the global challenges, how to decarbonise the world, how to fight inequalities, and how to make business serve society and the planet, the very first premise is education. Because we know that with educated populations, societies thrive and develop more prosperous communities.”
Josephine Fawkes, Director of Global Inclusion and Youth Education, Oxford Saïd, added: “The 2026 Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit demonstrated something both urgent and hopeful: young people are not waiting to lead on climate action — they are already doing it. Bringing together voices from across the world, ourselves and our academic partners from across the globe witnessed the scale of ambition, creativity and determination that exists within this generation. Our collective responsibility now is to ensure their ideas are heard, supported and translated into meaningful change.”
“The annual Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit gives young people around the world more than a seat at the table — it gives them a hand in shaping the agenda. They understand instinctively that climate change is a human rights challenge that touches every community on Earth,” said David Clark, Founder, Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance. “This year’s Summit, hosted by our partners at UN Human Rights and Oxford Saïd, reminded us that the generation inheriting this crisis is not defined by fear, but by imagination, determination, and hope. They have the tools and the courage to lead.”
The event was also backed by institutions throughout Oxford University, including the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment; the Environmental Change Institute; the Blavatnik School of Government; the School of Geography and the Oxford University Climate Leadership Research Centre.
Support also came from leading Universities and international organisations too, including the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate; BS4CL; International Universities Climate Alliance; Tsinghua University (Beijing); Reichman University (Israel); The George Washington University Alliance for a Sustainable Future; Monash University (Australia); University of Colorado Boulder; Oxford Brookes University; the UN Environment Programme and World's Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ).
Participants and viewers were asked to take meaningful action following the Summit by volunteering 60 minutes to undertake an activity that would positively impact our planet. This could be collecting litter, planting trees, giving a talk on the importance of our environment, etc.
Supporters can share their activity with the community on Instagram @OxfordSBS.youth using the hashtag #globalyouthclimatepledge.
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