CSO: An-Nusrat Nordrhein-Westfalen
Area: Climate Justice / Climate change
Location: Köln und Umgebung/Nordrhein-Westfalen

Type of project

The project Climate Lab – Young Perspectives on Climate (Change) links scientific insights on climate change with ethical questions related to climate justice and climate-induced displacement. The core activities are workshops in North Rhine-Westphalia. In these workshops, adolescents and young adults develop a deeper understanding of the global links between CO₂ emissions, climate change, and displacement dynamics.

As one of Germany’s first Islamic social welfare organisations, the association is closely connected to migrant self-organisations, mosque communities, youth groups, and educational institutions. It has worked for years in local contexts where public actors often find it difficult to gain access. Participants develop their own positions and competencies in order to critically reflect on scientific information and share it within their communities.

Target

The project targets adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 30 in North Rhine-Westphalia, especially pupils, apprentices, and students. A particular focus is on young people with a migration background who are often underrepresented in public climate debates. The organisation notes that, according to the Shell Youth Study 2019 and the SVR Integration Barometer 2022, young people with an immigration history are much less active in socio-political and environmental movements—not due to lack of interest, but because of missing representation, access barriers, and institutional distance.

Science – Based

The project follows a dual science-based approach. Expert inputs from climate research, migration, and sustainability aim to strengthen trust in scientific evidence. Participants learn to interpret data on CO₂ emissions, climate impacts, and displacement and to recognise misinformation; interactive methods such as simulation games, fact-checking, and discussion formats connect factual understanding, critical thinking, and motivation for engagement.

Gender

Workshop delivery explicitly seeks a balanced participation of women*, men, and non-binary people. Young women and FLINTA* persons with a migration history are actively encouraged to participate and are given space to contribute their perspectives. The content addresses gender-specific dimensions of climate change, for example unequal impacts in the context of climate displacement, care work, or educational opportunities.

Planned activities

• At least 3 workshops were delivered in North Rhine-Westphalia with a total of 45 participants.
• 10 participants continue after the project as multipliers and/or take part in further environmental initiatives.
• The project results are made publicly visible and contribute to strengthening trust in science as well as to broader outreach of development education work.

Action model

• The workshops enable participants to engage with scientifically grounded information on climate change and climate-induced displacement, to question myths and misinformation, and to develop their own positions.