Youth and Environment Europe (YEE)

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the study session “Uniting for a Safer Europe: Empowering Environmental Defenders and Climate Activists” at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, co-organized by Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) and the Council of Europe. Thanks to a fully funded scholarship, I was able to dedicate a week to exploring the intersection of environmental protection, human rights, and anti-corruption mechanisms! ☘️ Some key takeaways from the week: -Co-authored and presented a policy paper for the Council of Europe on protecting young environmental defenders in high-risk contexts. This work strengthened my skills in research, policy writing, and public speaking, while providing hands-on experience in crafting actionable recommendations for international policymaking. -Gaining a deeper understanding of protection mechanisms such as the Århus Convention, human rights articles relevant to environmental defenders, and the challenges posed by SLAPPs and corruption. -Seeing firsthand how the Council of Europe and its institutions operate to enforce the European Convention on Human Rights. -Engaging with experts from the European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l'homme, the United Nations in Geneva, and the Council of Europe, gaining insights into the practical workings of international legal frameworks. Diving into case law and turning research into policy recommendations gave me practical experience I’m excited to put into action in both my studies and future projects. A heartfelt thank you to YEE and the Council of Europe for this opportunity, and to my fellow participants for the stimulating discussions throughout the week! 📸 Photo Credits: @yeenetwork #YouthParticipation #EnvironmentalDefenders #ClimateJustice #CouncilOfEurope #HumanRights #Policy #YEEnetwork

🌊 Designing Blue Cities – Innovation Lab On October 14th, I had the opportunity to take part in the Designing Blue Cities Innovation Lab an experience that reminded me how powerful it is when science, creativity, and community come together. During #EURegionsWeek and #OceanWeek, young professionals, researchers, and architects gathered to imagine what our cities could look like if they were designed with the ocean, not against it. It’s a simple yet transformative idea: recognizing that every river, port, and coastline is part of the same living system and that the way we shape our cities can either protect or endanger the ocean’s future. As a naturalist and aspiring environmental biologist, I was inspired to see so many different perspectives intersect from ecology to urban planning, from art to policy. It’s in these shared spaces that the most creative and human solutions are born. Huge thanks to the EU4Ocean Coalition, Fondation Jacques Rougerie - Académie des beaux-arts, Youth and Environment Europe (YEE), and all the partners who made this event possible. Every time science meets imagination, something changes. Maybe that’s how we truly build blue cities starting from the connections that unite us with the ocean, and with each other. 💙 #MakeEUBlue #BlueCities #Youth4Ocean #EU4Ocean #OceanLiteracy #Sustainability #UrbanEcology #NatureConnected

This week, I had the honor of being invited to participate in the Designing Blue Cities Innovation Lab in Brussels, part of #EURegionsWeek and #OceanWeek, and the #MakeEUBlue: Cities in Action campaign of the EU4Ocean Coalition. We explored future scenarios for Venice lagoon in 2100, imagining how the city could adapt to rising waters while preserving its heritage and human-scale urban experience. It was inspiring to collaborate with other architects, urban planners, and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) on innovative solutions for integrating and conserving blue spaces and ecosystems. I am truly grateful to the Fondation Jacques Rougerie - Académie des beaux-arts for the invitation and to Pierre Strosser, Anna Maria Marino and Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) for organising such an enriching experience! #DesignBlueCities #UrbanDesign #FutureCities #ClimateAdaptation #Venice2100 #OceanDesign #EU4Ocean #Youth4Ocean #MakeEUBlue #Collaboration

During #EURegionsWeek and #OceanWeek, I had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Designing Blue Cities Innovation Lab’ event in Brussels, which is part of the #MakeEUBlue: Cities in Action campaign of the #EU4Ocean Coalition. It was interesting to learn about the constant interaction between coastal cities and our oceans, and how these cities can adapt in response to the effects of climate changes. The series of conferences, discussions and working groups during the workshop allowed us to explore and analyse the future challenges facing coastal cities. In particular, we examined the fragility they are currently experiencing, as exemplified by the Venice lagoon. The objective was to imagine a new model for the lagoon in 2100 on various scales, taking into account scientific predictions about rising sea levels and the subsidence of Venice. According to these predictions, the MOSE project will no longer be able to protect the lagoon. I would like to thank the amazing people involved in this workshop; Youth and Environment Europe (YEE), JPI Oceans, Université libre de Bruxelles, Delft University of Technology, Università Iuav di Venezia, Fondation Jacques Rougerie - Académie des beaux-arts, for providing this valuable opportunity for dialogue and discussion. I hope that more and more regions and cities will continue to engage in dialogue with the ocean.

This is not your typical LinkedIn post. You ask why? Well, because this one is a message of goodbye. After an incredible few years, I’m finishing my chapter as Secretary General of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE). The first organisation where I truly felt "employed" as a young environmental lawyer after being the COVID-19 and Post-Brexit young generation. Leading YEE has been one of the most transformative experiences of my career so far. It’s been a journey of learning how to guide an international network, navigate complex challenges, and work alongside some of the most passionate and driven young people in the environmental movement. Together, we’ve built projects, partnerships, and spaces that empower youth to take meaningful climate action across Europe. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. From strengthening YEE’s role in European advocacy, to expanding our collaborations and deepening our commitment to intersectional, inclusive environmentalism. In space of 2 years, we moved from 5 staff to almost 20! I imagined myself leading an organisation someday, but doing this before the age of 30 was a true leap of faith, not only towards myself but towards the European community that is becoming tougher towards civil societies. From fighting racists to protesting at conference of parties of UNFCCC, I feel ready to change professional hats in a space of 5 minutes. Through YEE, I found my "professional" side, took incredibly difficult decisions at times, found some of my closest friends and even found the love of my life during an event. It is incredible how a job becomes personal! None of this would have been possible without the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work with, including the Board, our team, member organisations, and all our partners and supporters. While I’m stepping away from this role, I’ll carry the lessons, friendships, and values of YEE into whatever comes next. I remain deeply committed to youth empowerment, environmental justice, and building communities that make change possible. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey and here’s to continuing the work, in new ways and new places. 💚 I want to thank my amazing team Anna Maria Marino Stephanny Ulivieri Maria Medvedeva Emma Pagliarusco Natálie Volfová Alexandra Blonk Alexandros Kassapis Ena Utevska Eva Kloudová Samira Ben Ali and Sara Santana Ribés for being the best colleagues in the world for me! I also want to take the moment to thank and welcome the new YEE board Enrico Leonardo Bosters Alexandra Ștefania Popescu Connah Snape Francesc Almendros Viladerrams, (Shoghik and Mariam) for their next 2 year mandate. Until my next career endeavours, I will be taking a small time to relax and find my new career journey, wherever that may be. With endless gratitude, #Leadership #EnvironmentalJustice #YouthEmpowerment #Sustainability #CareerJourney #Gratitude

Our Campaign made a strong case for the legal recognition of the right to a healthy environment at the latest session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)! The Campaign held a side event with the support of Aurora Floridia, Chair of the PACE Network for a Healthy Environment. There, experts, advocates and policymakers provided evidence for why an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights is so crucial to protect all human rights from environmental degradation. With Sumeyra Arslan as moderator, MP Aurora Floridia, UN Rapporteur Astrid Puentes Riaño, MP Saskia Kluit, Ambassador Berta Mrak, Niamh Purcell, Licinia Pascucci, Sébastien Duyck, and Laura van Tamelen explained it as it is: the ongoing effects of the climate crisis on children, young people and generations to come, together with recent developments at the international level, make this an urgent priority to address in Europe. Two years after the Council of Europe committed to more action on human rights and the environment, its Member States must move past political statements. We need legal protection of the right to a healthy environment now! #HealthyEnvironment #CouncilOfEurope #HumanRights #EnvironmentalJustice