The Futures Lab is a space where we moved beyond just discussing problems to actively designing solutions. Our goal is to prepare a new generation of leaders who can build a more resilient and fairer future. We focus on three key areas essential for creating real change: building practical Skills, influencing Policy, and unlocking Finance. Through hands-on workshops, policy simulations, and innovation sprints, participants learn how to navigate complex systems, advocate effectively, and turn their ideas into action.

The Lab is built on the belief that young people shouldn't just inherit the future, they should have the power to shape it. We provide the training, networks, and support for youth to confidently lead and drive transformative climate action in their communities.

• Bridging Financing Gaps for Youth Innovation: Focused on examining financial capabilities of young people in the climate space, while exploring how as professionals, we can further enable an ecosystem that supports youth innovation. This session was led by Jabri Ibrahim, a member of the Youth Advisory Panel to the Secretary General of the United Nations, and Daniel Oladoja, the Nigeria Program Officer for GSCC.

• Systems for Youth-Driven Finance Futures: Questions how the funder landscape is reshaping itself to address funding gaps for youth-led initiatives; Are we prioritizing or prioritizing this demography - and what key examples can we draw from? The session, led by Ikenna Donald of Heinrich Boell Foundation examined some key systemic barriers to funding, and how to navigate them. The session delved into how the philanthropic landscape has moved towards testing new models such as participatory grantmaking, and ways we see this either advancing or limiting funding access for youth-led initiatives.

Two interactive participatory workshops as part of the Patch I Session “Bridging Financing Gaps’’