Global Action Month: Young People Leading Change

What is a Global Action Month?

Every November, the Terre des Hommes International Youth Network (IYN) organizes the Global Action Month (GAM). Around the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children and young people worldwide take public action to demand the realization of their rights and to shape the societies they live in.

Why a Global Action Month?

GAM is a global spotlight on youth-led initiatives that drive positive change in communities. Young people want to demonstrate that they are not waiting for change, but are already making it happen. Terre des Hommes stands with youth voices to save the environment, amplifying their call for climate justice.

Child Rights and the Environment

For years, children and youth have urged governments to act against the climate and environmental crisis. A milestone was reached with the UN’s General Comment No. 26 (September 2023), which recognizes every child’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This landmark now strengthens advocacy and action worldwide.

“Youth Rising: Building Climate Resilience Together”

This year, GAM will align with COP30 – the most important global climate conference – to show that young people are not waiting for change, they are making it happen now! In 2024, young people organized 351 activities in 12 countries, engaging more than 21,000 active participants and reaching over 1.2 million people worldwide.

Taking Action Through ACE

All actions during Global Action Month are guided by ACE – Action for Climate Empowerment, a UN framework that empowers everyone, especially young people, to understand the climate crisis and act on it. ACE focuses on six key areas: education, public awareness, training, public participation, access to information, and international cooperation. Whether in classrooms, on the streets, online, or in their communities, young people’s actions across these areas are helping to build climate resilience – and during GAM, all activities are recorded according to these six ACE areas.

What Can You Do?

Choose one or more ACE areas for your action or combine them creatively. GAM is all about empowering young people and showcasing their initiatives, so there’s no single “right” way to act. Let your creativity guide you as you take action for the climate!