The transition to clean energy across the Commonwealth will be one of the key routes to addressing the impacts of climate change. As we know local and city governments are at the forefront of this transition. With a democratic mandate to ensure sustainable development, and the ability to encourage innovation and make enabling policy at the local level, local government is well placed to help drive transformation and to ensure that no one and no place is left behind.

Raising awareness of sustainable energy

In 2023, the Commonwealth Year of Youth, the Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a new clean energy challenge, targeted at children and young people aged 7-17, as well as educators and those involved in raising awareness and understanding of clean energy. Young people are encouraged to share a story or a poster about the creative use of, or spreading awareness of, sustainable energy in their community; or a prototype solution that uses sustainable energy to solve a problem in their community.

Educators of all kinds are invited to share case studies and materials that can be used to educate communities on sustainable energy. Full details about the process and how to enter are available through this link.

Pitching regional winning ideas

Regional winners will have the chance to pitch or share their ideas with the judges and policy makers from their regions and we hope that CLGF members will want to be part of that process, building practical and meaningful partnerships with young people in their communities and regions. Please look out for more information on how to get involved with the Challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Spread the word to keep young people informed

As with all challenges like this one, we need to spread the word and make sure that young people and educators are aware of the opportunity to apply. Please share the link widely with schools, youth organisations and across your communities to ensure that the Challenge brings forward exciting new ideas and prototypes which will help the Commonwealth move towards a just energy transition.

Action group model

To champion Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET), the Commonwealth Secretariat has created the action group model, a member-driven platform under the CSET Agenda that enables sharing of knowledge and experience, innovation and collaborative action focused on the priorities of members of the Action Group. To date, three action groups have been established for Energy Literacy, Geothermal Energy, and a cross cutting Youth Action Group . The latter is the CSET action-oriented task force, which falls under the Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation Network (CYSU). This Action Group focuses on driving youth action under the three pillars of the CSET Agenda.

Image courtesy of the Commonwealth Secretariat