The launch event of the SG4Y-CLIMATE (Smart Governance for Youth Involvement in Climate Action), held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 5–7 March 2026, brought together project partners – Istanbul Nisantasi University (Türkiye), Tekirdag Metropolitan Municipality (Türkiye), Galati Municipality (Romania), and ALDA – along with representatives from local and central authorities, academia, civil society, and youth. Implemented under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme and co-funded by the European Union, the project empowers young people to take an active role in climate action while strengthening local authorities’ capacities to implement inclusive, democratic, and digitally-driven governance.The launch conference “Local Climate Governance and Youth Participation” focused on democratic and inclusive approaches to climate governance and addressed the potential of smart technologies and AI-supported data analysis to facilitate and boost evidence-based decision-making processes aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Discussions emphasised that climate action must be participatory, human-centred, and socially just
Participants explored how national climate policies can be implemented locally through transparent and inclusive processes, highlighting the essential role of youth, civil society, and universities in shaping local climate strategies.
During the following two days, project partners held strategic discussions on the implementation of SG4Y-CLIMATE and the development of its key components, including the Smart Governance Methodology, the digital participation platform, and the establishment of the Transnational Youth Council for Climate Action (TYCCA). The meeting strengthened cooperation between partners and set the foundations for the next stages of the project.
In the centre of the action a TYCCA will be established aiming to strengthen the capacities of its members to effectively participate in climate governance processes at local and regional levels using digital tools.
Within the project, ALDA contributes to the development of a Smart Governance Methodology and to the promotion of a digital platform for civic participation and dialogue, which will connect young people with local public authorities and support their active involvement in the development of climate policies. At the same time, the organisation coordinates youth participation activities and the transnational awareness campaign, ensuring that the voices of young people from the three partner countries are integrated into governance dialogues and regional cooperation processes.
In addition, ALDA will support capacity-building for young people and local public authorities through webinars and events focused on the Smart Governance Methodology, the use of AI-based digital tools, and the strengthening of civic participation mechanisms and the co-creation of public policies.