Youth unleashed: museums as platforms for heritage and climate dialogue

As the climate emergency intensifies, youth-led movements worldwide are pressuring governments and societies to take urgent climate action. However, young people from communities disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency, such as the Caribbean, the Asia-Pacific Islands, and Indigenous communities, remain underrepresented.

This article presents two museum-based projects: the University of St Andrews-led Shared Island Stories research project and the International Committee of Museology (ICOFOM)'s global youth workshops. The first uses transnational exchanges between Scotland and Barbados to empower young people as Youth Ambassadors, fostering cultural heritage preservation and climate justice. The second engages youth from 18 countries and territories in museum-based dialogues on climate action aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Current museum policies frequently overlook barriers faced by young people, limiting meaningful engagement and missing critical opportunities to harness their energy and creativity (Kids in Museums 2024; Yates et al. 2022; Madgin et al. 2016). Both initiatives employ participatory action research and critical pedagogy, enhancing young people's skills and positioning them as active participants in climate solutions. These projects illustrate that inclusive museum practices aimed at amplifying youth voices are essential for achieving climate justice and fostering sustainable, equitable futures.