Applications for the COP31 Youth Academy Team—which aims to combine the academic expertise of universities with the energy and contributions of young people during the COP31 Turkey process—will be accepted from August 24 to 26, 2026. Students interested in participating in academic projects and events related to climate, sustainability, and the environment are eligible to apply to the program.
What Is the COP31 Youth Academy Team?
The COP31 Youth Academy Team aims to enable students to play an active role in academic projects and events conducted by universities within the scope of COP31. The program aims to enable students to contribute to academic work in the fields of climate change, sustainability, and the environment, and to support the transfer of universities’ scientific expertise to the COP31 Turkey process.
Unlike the general COP31 volunteer program, this program does not require students to serve for the entire duration of the conference. Instead, students will be assigned project-based tasks linked to a specific academic project or event.
How Will the Application Process Work?
Applications for the COP31 Young Academy Team will be accepted online via the official COP31 website from August 24–26, 2026.
Before applying, students must verify the name of the COP31 academic project or event—as reported by their universities to the Council of Higher Education—and the contact information of the associated faculty member. It is important that students accurately specify the university, project or event name, and the relevant faculty member’s information during the application process.
Once applications are submitted, the information provided by students will be cross-referenced with the existing COP31 academic application records at the Council of Higher Education.
How Will Students Be Selected?
Academic projects and events associated with student applications will be evaluated. Students associated with projects and events deemed suitable as a result of the academic evaluation will be selected.
During the selection process, criteria such as compliance with application requirements, foreign language proficiency, and the contribution the student can make to the relevant project will be taken into account. Students will be evaluated in accordance with the established quotas.
Students selected by YÖK will participate in training sessions to be held as part of COP31. Students who successfully complete the training process will be included in the final assignment process.
How Will Assignments Be Made?
The assignment of students will depend on whether the academic project or event they are associated with is included in the COP31 program and whether they are deemed suitable during the final assignment process.
Students who complete the required training and qualify for assignment will carry out their duties alongside academic teams on the day or days the academic project or event they are associated with takes place.
Students’ assignment dates, areas of responsibility, and other details regarding the program will be announced separately once the COP31 academic program is finalized.
Application Dates: August 24–26, 2026
We invite all students interested in participating in academic work in the fields of climate, sustainability, and the environment—and in contributing to the COP31 process in Turkey—to apply to the COP31 Young Academy Team.
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