Southeast Asian Youth Strengthen Collaboration for a Just Green Transition
Jakarta, 9 February 2026 - More than a hundred young leaders from across ASEAN gathered for the SEA Youth Summit 2026. United by a shared commitment to shape a fairer and greener future under the theme “Youth Action for Just and Inclusive Green Transition”, the Summit marked a powerful moment of collective action, bringing together youth activists, community organisers, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives from across Southeast Asia.
Organised by the ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) under the CO-EVOLVE 2 programme – initiated by the Penabulu Foundation and funded by the European Union (EU) – Summit served as a vibrant space for dialogue, solidarity and bold ideas. It responded to an urgent regional reality: while the green transition is accelerating, many policies still fail to centre human rights, grassroots perspectives, and the voices of communities most affected by environmental crises. With more than 218 million young people living in ASEAN, the region’s future cannot be imagined, let alone built, without youth at the forefront.
The opening ceremony set a tone that was hopeful, critical, and action-oriented. In his opening remarks, the EU Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Sujiro Seam, delivered a strong call for a people-centred approach to climate action. “Southeast Asia is no longer at the stage of predicting the climate crisis; we are already living in it," said H.E. Sujiro Seam. "The green transition is therefore not merely about technology or capital, but about social equity. It is about ensuring that no community is left behind and that no new inequalities are created. This is why the green transition must be just and inclusive.”
The message resonated deeply. Throughout the sessions, speakers from government, regional organisations, and the media emphasised that a green transition without social justice risks perpetuating inequalities. Participants highlighted that poorly designed green policies can lead to land dispossession and the shrinking of civic space, especially for indigenous peoples, women, and marginalised communities.
The Indonesian Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), H.E. Anita Ashvini Wahid, emphasised the crucial role of youth amid the climate crisis. “We recognise that the climate crisis cannot be solved in isolation," said H.E. Anita Ashvini Wahid. "By moving youth participation upstream and walking hand in hand, we can make a sustainable green transition possible for all.”
Representing the lead consortium of CO-EVOLVE 2, the Penabulu Foundation emphasised the power of youth in the movement. “Young people play a crucial role as catalysts for change, critical voices, and guardians of our collective conscience,” stated Ibu Rini Devianti Nasution, Programme Director of Penabulu.
The Summit unfolded through dynamic platforms, including the Grand ASEAN Youth Town Hall, thematic parallel sessions, and the Green Youth Hub Exhibition. These spaces showcased youth-led initiatives in energy justice, community-based green financing, and circular economy models rooted in local realities.
The event concluded with the adoption of the SEA Youth Summit Communiqué, a collective statement of youth demands addressed to governments and ASEAN institutions. The Communiqué calls for meaningful youth participation, stronger civic space, and the full recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The SEA Youth Summit 2026 is more than a gathering; it is a declaration of intent. It affirms that the green transition belongs to young people who are ready not only to inherit the consequences of today’s decisions, but to shape those decisions with courage, creativity, and justice.
CO-EVOLVE2
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About CO-EVOLVE 2
Strengthening Civic Space and Enhancing the Capacity of Networked Local CSOs to Promote a Just and Inclusive Green Transition in Indonesia (CO-EVOLVE 2) is an initiative by the Penabulu Foundation, funded by the European Union. The programme is dedicated to empowering civil society organisations and securing the civic space necessary to drive a sustainable and human-centred green transition in Indonesia and the region.
About ASEAN Youth Forum
The ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) is a regional youth movement platform that advocates for meaningful youth participation in regional policymaking, democracy, human rights, and climate justice across ASEAN.