What is LCOY?
LCOY stands for Local Conference of Youth. It is a national-level climate conference officially endorsed by YOUNGO, the children and youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
If you're new to climate change and these terms feel unfamiliar, that's completely okay. Everyone starts somewhere and LCOY could be your very first step into the climate movement. Let's take a step back to understand the basics.
The UNFCCC is an international treaty adopted in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It provides the foundational framework for global action on climate change. The treaty came into force in 1994 and now has 198 member countries, making it almost universally adopted. To manage its processes, the UNFCCC Secretariat was established, which organizes the annual COPs (Conferences of the Parties) and supports countries in implementing the treaty.
YOUNGO is the official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCC. Its mission is to empower young people, build their capacity, and ensure their voices are heard in climate decision-making at all levels. The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) is one of YOUNGO's most important mechanisms for achieving this.
Why is LCOY Important?
LCOY is a structured platform for young people to engage in climate dialogue, policy, and action.
- Youth across the country gather to learn, discuss, and collaborate.
- The outcome is a National Youth Declaration, a document with recommendations, policy demands, and action priorities from young people.
- This declaration is presented to the government to highlight what Nepalese youth expect in terms of climate action and policies.
But it doesn't stop there. The inputs from LCOY Nepal are carried forward to the Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY), where they are combined with youth perspectives from neighboring countries. From there, the outcomes move on to the Global Conference of Youth (COY), which takes place right before the annual COP (UN Climate Change Conference).
This means the ideas and solutions you share in Nepal can travel all the way from local to global, influencing the discussions world leaders have at COP.
This year marks the sixth edition of LCOY Nepal.
LCOY Nepal 2025
LCOY Nepal 2025 is happening soon, and applications are now open!
This year's lead host is Powershift Nepal, supported by a wide range of partners: Bignaharta Nepal, Harin Nepal, Nepal Climate Hub (NCH), Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA), UNICEF, and Youth Action for Sustainable and Eco Nepal (YASEN).
In addition, several provincial partners are engaging youth at the local level, including: Fully Charged Nepal, NYCA Hetauda, NYCA Karnali, NYCA Pokhara, SAFE-Nepal, Unify Nepal, We for Biodiversity Conservation, Youth Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture (YCSA), and YUWAAHA.
Application deadline: August 26
Nepal's Journey with LCOY
- 2020 (Virtual): The first-ever LCOY Nepal (Nov 21–22), organized by Climates Nepal and Youth Thinkers' Society Chitwan, held online due to COVID-19.
- 2021 (Virtual): Organized by CliMates Nepal, NYCA, and Youth Thinkers' Society Chitwan (Oct 8–9).
- 2022 (Virtual): Hosted by Sustainability Week Kathmandu and NYCA (Oct 28–29).
- 2023 (In-person): The first physical LCOY (Sept 15–16), led by PowerShift Nepal with co-organizers including Sustainability Week Kathmandu, Thought for Food, Harin Nepal, International Forestry Students' Association, Female Foresters Nepal, Youth Action for Sustainable and Eco Nepal, Climates Nepal, Pravaha Collective, and Eco Network.
- 2024 (In-person): Organized by Youth Action for Sustainable and Eco Nepal and Sustainability Week Kathmandu (Aug 3–4).
Why Should You Participate?
One of the best things about LCOY is that it is open to everyone from experienced climate activists to those just beginning their journey. You don't need to be an expert in climate science or policy to join.
- Learn as You Go: LCOY is designed to grow your knowledge. You'll learn about climate basics, local solutions, and even how global negotiations work.
- Your Voice Matters: Climate change affects everyone. Your ideas and experiences are valuable, and LCOY is where they are recognized.
- Connect and Network: Meet like-minded peers, local leaders, and organizations. Many collaborations, friendships, and projects start at LCOY.
- Be Part of a Global Movement: Your input doesn't stop at LCOY. It contributes to national, regional, and global youth statements that are presented to world leaders at UN climate negotiations.
- Empowerment and Action: You'll leave not just informed, but also inspired and equipped to act, whether in your community or on a larger scale.
Don't hold back because you feel you "don't know enough." LCOY is the place to learn, grow, and shape the climate conversation alongside other youth.
Our Story Began at LCOY Nepal 2023
Two years ago, our founder Bibek almost skipped LCOY. Coming from a tech background, he thought climate conferences weren't for him. At the last moment, he applied and it changed everything.
He was one of only a few computer science participants, and he left LCOY shocked, inspired, and empowered to do something meaningful. The lack of accessible digital climate resources later pushed him to start building Nepal Climate Hub.
"LCOY changed everything. My career choice, my goals, and my outlook. LCOY is where you meet enthusiastic minds across disciplines. Don't wait until you 'know enough.' Sometimes, taking the first step is all it takes." – Bibek
Today, Nepal Climate Hub stands as a nonprofit with a multidisciplinary team of 16 from all seven provinces and beyond (USA, Canada, Germany, and Scotland). Our Executive Director, Monica, was part of the organizing team for the first LCOY Nepal in 2020. Our Digital Community Manager, Gayatri, volunteered at LCOY 2024.
We are committed to bringing youth from diverse fields: engineering, technology, health, law, economics, and beyond into the climate space. We believe in more inclusive conversations, more collaboration, and more innovation.
Our simple goal: to make the climate journey easier for newcomers by curating and sharing beginner friendly resources. We are building an inclusive digital space for youth of Nepal to engage in conversation, share their expertise and collaborate to amplify the larger change in Nepalese climate movement.
We look forward to seeing you at LCOY Nepal 2025. Join us, share your voice, and be part of the movement shaping our collective future.