Youth Climate Action Fund

You can apply if: 

• You’re aged between 15 and 24.
• Your project is led by at least two young people aged 15 to 24.
• You’re working with a supporting organisation, like a school, a university, or a community group.

Eligible organisations are legally registered and not-for-profit or charitable trusts, such as: 

• Schools or universities.
• Community trusts or charities.
• Incorporated societies or social enterprises. 

You can’t apply as an individual or through private companies or political groups. 

If you're under 18, you'll need to include your parent or guardian's approval as part of your application.

A community host organisation can support a maximum of two funded Youth Climate Action projects at any one time.

We’re looking for creative, practical projects that help tackle climate change in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Actions we’re keen to support include:

• Plant trees, restore waterways, or clean up local spaces.
• Promote biking, public transport, or carpooling.
• Reduce waste, run repair workshops, or create circular solutions.
• Help communities prepare for climate risks like flooding or heatwaves.
• Start food gardens, composting, or food-sharing initiatives.
• Support renewable energy or energy-saving ideas.
• Collect data or run research to drive action.
• Host hackathons, workshops, or innovation challenges.
• Promote green jobs or future-focused careers.
• Amplify youth voices in climate decision-making.
   

Supporting our climate goals

Your project needs to support at least one of the goals from our Kia tūroa te Ao Ōtautahi Christchurch Climate Resilience Strategy [PDF, 1.8 MB].

The goals can be summed up as:

• Achieve net zero emissions.
• Help communities prepare for climate change.
• Support a fair transition to a low-emissions future.
• Protect and restore nature and ecosystems.

Your application will be evaluated using the following criteria:

The best projects:

• Are youth-led from start to finish.
• Have a clear plan and a realistic budget.
• Create real benefits for your community.
• Improve access or equity for others.
• Can be completed by 15 April 2027.
• Show how your supporting organisation will help.

You’ll also need to include:

• A measurable output, such as the number of workshops run.
• A measurable outcome, such as the number of people who changed their behaviour.
• A target for both.
• A detailed project budget, with the costs for equipment or infrastructure not more than half of the project’s total budget.

Example:

• Project: Run cycling workshops at school.
• Output: Five workshops delivered.
• Outcome: 100 students started biking or walking.

• Youth-led initiatives within the Christchurch District.
• Costs for organising community events, workshops or educational sessions, including venue, printing and basic catering.
• Promotional materials to raise awareness of the project and increase community engagement, as well as share project results through photography, videography, and editorial support.
• Reasonable fees for training and mentorship offered in workshops for young people.
• Supplies for projects such as equipment, tools, art supplies, and technology.
• Funds to enable young people to participate, such as travel, food or gift cards.
• Permit costs needed for the project.
• Cost recovery for host organisations totalling no more than 15% of the total grant.

We can’t fund:

• Activities not related to youth-led climate initiatives.
• Activities that take place outside the Christchurch District.
• Wages for climate action youth project leads.
• Commercial activities and/or organisations.
• Speaker fees or one-off talks.
• Scholarships or payments to individuals.
•  Religious or political organisations or activities.
• Funding passed on to other groups.
• Projects already covered by Christchurch City Council.
• Projects where more than half of the cost is for materials.
• Late or incomplete applications.

• Expressions of Interest open – 20 July 2026.
• Expressions of Interest close – 31 August 2026.
• Applications open – 14 August 2026.
• Applications close – 28 September 2026.
• Funding decisions announced – October 2026.
• Projects commence – October/November 2026.
• Projects completed – 9 April 2027.
• 22 April 2027 (Earth Day) – Results announced.

Successful applicants will need to report on the results achieved at the end of their projects, including:

• How the funding was used.
• What was delivered.
• Number of people involved.
• Outputs and outcomes achieved.

Getting started with an expression of interest

Before you apply, tell us about your project idea by completing the online Expression of Interest (EOI) form. This is the first step, it lets us capture your contact details and project topic so we can connect you with the right support before you start your full application.

Youth navigators

Youth navigators are Council staff working in areas aligned with our climate goals, such as transport, waste, water, parks and community resilience. They're here to help you develop your proposal and deliver your project, offering guidance through the funding process, sharing topic-specific expertise, and making connections within Council and across the community.

Once you submit an expression of interest, we'll connect you with a youth navigator and a community partner if needed.

Community host organisations

Every project needs a not-for-profit host organisation, such as a school, university, community or environmental group, to support you. Host organisations:

• Sign a funding agreement with the Council to receive and distribute project funds.
• Help you develop and deliver your project.
• Keep track of budgets and spending.
• Prepare an accountability report at the end of the project.

Funding is paid to your host organisation, not directly to youth project leads, and each host organisation can support a maximum of two funded Youth Climate Action projects at a time.

Parental or guardian approval

If you're under 18, you'll need parental or guardian approval as part of your application. We also encourage all applicants to talk with parents, teachers or lecturers about applying, so project work is balanced with study and other commitments.

If things don't go to plan

We know things can change, especially for youth leading a project for the first time. If difficulties arise, let your youth navigator and host organisation know as soon as possible so we can work through it with you on a case-by-case basis.

What to expect from this funding round

Depending on the funding requested by each project, we expect to fund around 10 to 15 youth-led projects from approximately 30 applications. We hope to run a second funding round in mid-2027 to support another 10 to 15 projects.

Get in touch

For any questions about the Youth Climate Action Fund, email us at youthclimateactionfund@ccc.govt.nz. Once you've been introduced to your youth navigator and, if applicable, a community partner, you're welcome to contact them directly.