Green Youth Labs in Viet Nam

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and Live&Learn initiate Green Youth Labs – a training and mentoring programme for innovation and a socially equitable energy transition in Vietnam

Viet Nam is experiencing high economic growth rates, combined with a rapidly growing energy demand. Although the expansion of renewable energies (solar, wind) is gaining momentum, a large proportion of energy is still generated from coal. To advance the energy transition, increased awareness, and sensitization about the overall benefits of fossil-free energy and mobility concepts is necessary. Young people have developed an increasing awareness on climate change due to the country’s high vulnerability to its impacts. Yet, they are often excluded from the political decision-making processes and lack the necessary experience, expertise, or institutional support to implement their own ideas about how to advance the energy transition.

Funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Climate and Energy Project in Asia and Live and Learn, Green Youth Labs aims to harness the creative potential of young people to develop innovative low carbon model projects and introduce them as future leaders to a low-carbon transformation of society.

Training programs and field trips for climate ambassadors

The project includes training programs and field trips to support youth and young professionals in becoming "climate ambassadors" who advocate for low-carbon production and climate-friendly use of energy in their community. Titled “The story of energy - seems far yet so close” the basic training shows that energy transition - a seemingly “far” and unfamiliar concept for the youth – has direct impacts on the youth and hits “close” to home. The training brought 155 participants from 25 provinces “on board” on energy transition in Vietnam. Following the training, the Youth Innovation Challenge was launched, where outstanding ideas from 13 provinces and cities nationwide were presented to the Hanoi public in Energy Transition Fair and competed to receives technical and financial grants to convert their ideas into reality. The jury consisting of energy experts, youth networks, and media selected 10 innovative ideas which will be implemented from 2022 to 2023.