CLOuD 2030: Connecting Climate Literacy with Youth Volunteering for Real Community Action

Young people across Ireland are increasingly aware of the climate crisis and the need for meaningful action. But awareness alone is not enough. To build a more sustainable and just future, young people need opportunities to learn, to engage with their communities, and to take real action.

That’s exactly what the new CLOuD 2030 – Climate | Literacy | Outreach | inclUsion | Diversity programme aims to do.

Led by Education for Sustainability and funded through the Research Ireland Discover Programme, CLOuD 2030 is an ambitious outreach and engagement initiative designed to bring climate literacy and STEM learning directly into DEIS schools and marginalised communities across Ireland.

At Localise Youth Volunteering, we are proud to collaborate on this important programme, helping transform climate learning into meaningful community volunteering.

From Climate Learning to Climate Action

CLOuD 2030 builds on the success of the earlier CLOuD 2025 programme, which showed just how powerful climate education can be when it is interactive, inclusive, and community-focused. Students who took part demonstrated significant increases in climate knowledge, confidence, and willingness to engage in climate action.

CLOuD 2030 now expands that work into a two-year regional initiative. Through engaging workshops and interactive experiences, students are introduced to key ideas such as climate literacy, climate justice, and sustainable development.

But knowledge is only the first step.

Where Volunteering Makes the Difference

This is where Localise’s expertise in youth volunteering comes in.

Localise specialises in helping young people move from awareness to action through structured, meaningful volunteering programmes. Our approach supports young people to identify real needs in their communities and respond through planned service projects.

Within CLOuD 2030, students won’t just learn about climate challenges, they will have the opportunity to design and take part in volunteering initiatives that address them locally.

This planned programme of volunteering helps young people to:

• Turn climate knowledge into practical community action
• Develop leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills
• Experience the power of collective action
• See themselves as active citizens shaping their communities

Whether that means supporting community sustainability initiatives, engaging in climate awareness activities, or contributing to local environmental projects, volunteering ensures that learning becomes lived experience.

Recognising Young People’s Contribution

An exciting element of the programme is that students who successfully complete CLOuD 2030 will be eligible to open a national youth volunteering portfolio through MyVP – National Youth Volunteering Portfolio.

MyVP allows young people to:

• Record and track their volunteering hours
• Reflect on the skills and learning gained through service
• Build a verified record of their civic engagement
• Demonstrate their contribution to their communities

This portfolio becomes a valuable asset for young people as they progress through education and into future opportunities, highlighting their commitment to leadership, sustainability, and active citizenship.

For many participants, it will be the first step in a lifelong journey of volunteering and community involvement.

Building a Just and Sustainable Future

CLOuD 2030 also brings together a powerful network of collaborators working at the intersection of climate literacy, inclusion, and community engagement. These include author and professor Katriona O’Sullivan, sustainability scholar Jennie C. Stephens, and Change Clothes, a community-based clothing reuse hub.

Together, the partnership reflects a shared vision: empowering young people in marginalised communities to play a central role in the green transition and the just transition.

By combining climate education, STEM engagement, and structured youth volunteering, the programme supports Ireland’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 2030 Strategy while helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed to shape a sustainable future.

A New Generation of Climate Leaders

The climate challenge can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly for young people. Programmes like CLOuD 2030 show that when young people are given knowledge, support, and real opportunities to act, they respond with creativity, energy, and leadership.

At Localise, we believe volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to nurture these qualities.

Through CLOuD 2030, young people will not only learn about climate justice, they will become part of the solution.

And through MyVP, their efforts will be recognised as part of a growing national movement of young volunteers building stronger, more sustainable communities across Ireland.