Young Elected Local and Regional Leaders Summit 2026 - Climate Change in a Time of Competing Crises

Application Form

Presentation of the Event

Climate change has shaped political agendas for years — and it remains a pressing reality for local communities today. Yet young elected politicians are governing in a context where crises and competing priorities multiply: war and insecurity, inflation and rising costs, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and growing pressure on public services and budgets. In this crowded landscape, how do local leaders keep climate action in focus — and how do they decide what to prioritise when everything feels urgent?

Organised by Renew Europe CoR, alongside LYMEC and YDE, this Summit brings together young elected politicians (under 35) for an honest, solutions-oriented conversation about what climate leadership looks like today. The programme is designed as a participant-led conversation: we want to hear directly from you whether climate change remains a political priority in your mandate, what helps (or prevents) you from advancing climate policies locally, and how you navigate trade-offs, communication challenges and public expectations.

The Summit will be chaired by Renew Europe CoR member Clare Colleran Molloy, Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Clare County Council in Ireland and CoR Rapporteur in the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE). This year’s edition of the Summit will also feature the participation of MEP Lukas Sieper as the closing keynote speaker.

Participants will be invited to share the practical reality behind decisions: how they frame climate in local politics, how they defend long-term investments in short-term crisis cycles, and how they keep climate on the agenda while responding to voters’ immediate concerns. The Summit aims to highlight liberal and democratic solutions, alongside concrete approaches, political tactics, and honest trade-offs.

When? 22-23 September 2026

Where? European Committee of the Regions - Brussels, Belgium

Who can apply? Young elected politicians within Renew Europe caucus youth movements, under 35 years old, holding an electoral mandate, with an interest in climate change. 

How to Apply? Fill out the Form 

Deadline to Apply: 3 July 2026

Organised by Renew Europe CoR together with LYMEC and YDE,  the Summit of Young Elected Local and Regional Leaders convenes young elected politicians (under 35) for a frank exchange on a simple question: is climate change still a political priority — and how do we keep it in focus when today’s agenda is dominated by war, inflation, and multiple overlapping crises? The programme is designed to hear directly from participants, focusing on real trade-offs, political realities and practical ways local authorities can protect climate action from being continuously postponed.