Hot Take: the climate crisis isn’t some abstract data point or a dry policy debate, it’s a deeply human story of survival. Right now, a whole generation is growing up inside the emergency, doing the heavy lifting to fix a mess they didn't create.

In this episode, we’re ditching the script to bring you the raw, human heartbeat of the movement and amplifying the voices that stole the show at the World Mayor’s Summit in Rio. Through a powerful spoken word piece, youth climate leaders from London to Freetown share their stories, ambitions, and dreams. The C40 Youth Hub members dive into what real intergenerational collaboration looks like when those with the biggest stake in the future are finally the ones leading the change.

Youth Moment featured leaders:

Juliet Oluoch, Research fellow at Ufanisi Research Network

Anjali Raman-Middleton, Co-founder and Director at Choked Up

Esther Kamara, Founder of the Youth Initiative For Climate Action Sierra Leone

Foday Kamara, National Coordinator at the Youth Climate Council Global Alliance

Letícia Mathias, Instituto SustentAção

Micheala Chan

Featured interview guest:

Earl Aldrin Burgos. C40 Youth Engagement and Campaigns Manager

Links:

World Mayors Summit special - Cities 1.5

US cities as climate first responders - Cities 1.5

C40 Youth Moment - YouTube

Youth Hub - C40

Youth Engagement Playbook for Cities - C40

Loss and Damage: Challenges and Opportunities for City Leadership

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/