Bloomberg Philanthropies Expands Youth Climate Action Fund to 300 City Halls – Tripling Its Reach and Returns

Results in 98 cities-where trust in local government rose by 22 percentage points-fuel program's scale-up

Initiative provides capital and capacity for municipalities to engage young residents in designing and delivering solutions that meet citywide aims

New York, NY and Madrid, Spain - Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO Patricia E. Harris today announced the expansion of the Youth Climate Action Fund to 300 new city halls-tripling the program's reach since its launch in 2024. The Fund provides capital and capacity to support municipalities in mobilizing young residents ages 15-24 in designing and delivering solutions aligned with citywide priorities. The scale-up builds on results across 34 countries, where 98 municipalities delivered tangibly for residents and improved trust in city hall-helping a new generation believe in government again. The announcement was made at Bloomberg CityLab 2026.

"The Youth Climate Action Fund is helping city halls around the world work alongside hundreds of thousands of young people to take action on city climate challenges and improve their communities," said Patricia E. Harris, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies. "They are showing how local government can be a partner on issues youth and residents care deeply about - and they are building trust along the way. We look forward to expanding on these efforts and inspiring a new generation of civic leaders."

Through the Youth Climate Action Fund, city halls open innovation competitions, inviting young people's ideas, selecting the strongest proposals, and funding them with $50,000 and technical assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies. They then assign staff to support implementation from start to finish, helping young residents lead in carrying their plans through to completion-creating public space, strengthening infrastructure, mitigating disasters, and building resilience. Municipalities that move quickly to deploy their initial funding will receive an additional $50,000 to support more youth-driven projects and expand participation.

The 300 new Youth Climate Action Fund cities include 76 from Central and South America, 63 from North America, 60 from Africa, 58 from Europe, 35 from Asia, 6 from Oceania, and 2 from the Middle East. To see the full list of 300 cities, please visit bloomberg.org.

At a time when participation in public life has thinned, the results from the first wave of Youth Climate Action Fund cities point to a new approach. Survey research of the program's youth participants showed that their trust in local government leadership rose from 61% to 83%-a 22 percentage point increase-while confidence in their own ability to address environmental challenges increased from 65% to 90%. Nearly three in four youth said their city hall values their input on climate policy-one of the issues they care most about.

Participating local governments also changed how they work. More than half established new, formal structures-such as youth councils, advisory boards, and participatory budgeting processes-to sustain young people's engagement. 43% embedded youth input into long-term strategies and policies, while roughly 40% created dedicated staff roles. Nearly all report plans to expand the effort.

"The Youth Climate Action Fund has made a real difference in Cincinnati by opening the door for more young people to engage directly with their city hall," said Mayor Aftab Pureval of Cincinnati, Ohio. "Too often, structural barriers make it difficult for youth to work with local government, even when they are deeply passionate about the future of their communities. This program helped break down those barriers and created space for youth to step forward, be heard, and lead - and the extraordinary expansion of this work by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and their ongoing efforts to drive municipal innovation, will help these efforts in our city and hundreds more push even further."

"By launching the Youth Climate Action Fund, Masaka City is empowering our future leaders to take center stage," said Mayor Florence Namayanja of Masaka City, Uganda. "Thanks to the essential funding and resources provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies, we are enabling our youth to convert their visions into real-world solutions that address our city's needs. When leadership actively supports its citizens, we don't just strengthen our climate resilience-we rebuild the bond of trust between the people and their government."

"In Athens, the Youth Climate Action Fund has helped redefine the relationship between young people and city hall," said Mayor Haris Doukas of Athens, Greece. "Instead of standing on the sidelines, young residents are now actively shaping our future, leading projects in their own neighborhoods and turning ideas into action. What stands out most is not just the results on the ground, but the sense of ownership and responsibility this program has created. The significant expansion by Bloomberg Philanthropies means this critical capacity-building initiative will grow - furthering a new model for how local governments can effectively engage citizens in every corner of the globe."

"Madison's young residents aren't waiting for others to take on climate challenges," said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway of Madison, Wisconsin. "Because of the Youth Climate Action Fund, they are working with city leaders to find solutions. I'm delighted that Bloomberg Philanthropies is expanding this initiative. It will mean even more young people in Madison, and around the world, will come together to solve problems at the local level."

To date, more than 300,000 young people across five continents have taken part in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund-working with their city halls to create over 1,600 green spaces, plant over 1.8 million plants and 235,000 trees, develop nearly 5,000 gardens, launch 268 composting stations, and collect more than 405,000 pounds of trash and recyclables-producing visible improvements in their communities and bettering quality of life for residents worldwide. As part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' longstanding work to strengthen local state capacity through its Government Innovation program, the Fund also provides municipalities and their mayors with a model that extends beyond climate-galvanizing partnership with stakeholders citywide to advance progress on pressing problems-and opportunities-for the people they serve.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

Media Contact: Sam Fuld, [email protected]