The Fifth Annual Youth Climate Summit continues to build on its strong foundation of community partnerships and youth engagement, now enhanced by a strategic collaboration with UNDP Jamaica, part of the United Nations Development Programme.

UNDP works to eradicate poverty and inequalities through sustainable and inclusive development in more than 170 countries and territories. The collaboration between Bermuda and Jamaica represents a natural evolution in the summit’s commitment to connect young climate advocates across the Caribbean and beyond.

Partnership contributions

UNDP Jamaica brings valuable expertise and reach to this year’s summit through several key contributions. On day two, UNDP Jamaica has identified two dynamic youth activists from their Ready, Set, Great programme who will join the international cohort of young presenters, adding Caribbean perspectives to the global dialogue.

Day three features Kishan Khoday, UNDP resident representative, serving as one of three featured subject-matter experts presenting virtually, bringing institutional knowledge and policy expertise to the summit’s programming. Additionally, UNDP Jamaica will host an exclusive green jobs panel specifically designed for summit alumni on day four, leveraging their deep knowledge of sustainable career pathways.

On day five, UNDP Jamaica’s youth-developed Call to Action Declaration, particularly UNDP Goal 4 — youth contributing to and championing a healthy natural environment — will serve as a reference point for Bermuda’s summit alumni as they craft their own action document.

Strategic benefits

This collaboration significantly expands the summit’s outreach capacity, as UNDP Jamaica actively encourages participation from Ready, Set, Great participants and young people engaged in environmental programmes throughout their network spanning Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos Islands. This broader engagement creates opportunities for meaningful connections between like-minded students across the region and enhances the summit’s role as a hub for youth climate action.

The partnership also brings increased visibility and institutional credibility to the summit, reflecting the growing recognition of its impact in the youth climate space. UNDP Jamaica’s involvement validates the summit’s approach and methodology while opening doors to future collaborations within the UN system.

Continued excellence

While this partnership adds significant value, it builds upon the solid foundation established by the summit’s longtime corporate and non-governmental organisation partners who have supported the summit since its inception. Their continued commitment remains essential to the summit’s success and community impact. The UNDP Jamaica collaboration represents growth and expansion rather than a fundamental shift in our proven model.

This collaboration exemplifies the summit’s strategic approach to scaling impact while maintaining the authentic, youth-driven character that has made it successful. By connecting with established institutions such as UNDP Jamaica, the summit continues to evolve as a platform where young voices can engage with policymakers, subject-matter experts, and peers from across the region and around the world.

As the Youth Climate Summit moves forward, impactful partnerships such as this demonstrate its growing influence and ability to attract high-calibre collaborators who recognise the value of investing in youth-led solutions in this space.

• Traci Burgess is the chief executive of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. The Fifth Annual Youth Climate Summit will be held from November 17 to 22. The event prepares and empowers students to address climate change on a local level, and is the foundation for a year of youth-led sustainability, conservation and climate justice initiatives. For more information, visitwww.YCSBda.com