The "Climate coaches" initiative: empowering young people to shape a climate-neutral Belgium

What will Belgium look like in 2050? How can we achieve climate neutrality? What choices will we need to make as a society, and what trade-offs do these choices involve?

These are the questions at the heart of Climate Coaches & My2050, an educational initiative developed by the Belgian Federal Climate Change Service in partnership with GoodPlanet Belgium.

At the centre of the project is My2050, an interactive simulation tool based on real climate transition scenarios developed by our climate experts. The tool translates complex scientific analyses and policy discussions into an engaging learning experience, enabling secondary school students to explore different pathways towards a climate-neutral Belgium by 2050.

Using My2050, students build their own transition scenarios by making choices across key sectors such as energy, mobility, buildings, industry and agriculture. They quickly discover that there is no single route to climate neutrality. Different combinations of technological innovation, behavioural change, energy efficiency and sufficiency measures can all contribute to reaching climate goals, but each pathway comes with its own opportunities, challenges and trade-offs.

To bring these discussions into classrooms, a network of specially trained Climate Coaches travels to schools throughout Belgium. Through interactive workshops, coaches guide students through the simulation, facilitate debate, answer questions and encourage critical reflection on the societal choices involved in the transition. Students are not passive recipients of information; they actively explore options, compare scenarios and develop their own vision of a sustainable future.

An important aspect of the project is the dialogue it creates among students. As they build and compare their own transition scenarios, learners quickly realise that there is no single solution to achieving climate neutrality. They discuss different perspectives, priorities and pathways, discovering that while opinions may differ, a successful transition remains both possible and desirable. These exchanges help students understand that climate neutrality is a collective endeavour that requires cooperation across generations, sectors and communities. Feedback from participating classes has been overwhelmingly positive. Teachers and students consistently highlight the interactive nature of the workshops, the relevance of the discussions and the opportunity to engage with real-world climate challenges. We also observe that many students remain interested in climate and sustainability issues after the workshops, seeking further opportunities to deepen their understanding, participate in climate-related initiatives and continue reflecting on the environmental transition.

Since its launch in 2017, Climate Coaches and My2050 have reached more than 34,000 students through over 1,700 workshops across Belgium, creating spaces where young people can engage meaningfully with climate action, democratic participation and long-term thinking.

We believe that preparing the next generation for the climate transition means more than providing knowledge. It means empowering young people to imagine alternative futures, understand complex choices and become active participants in building a fairer and more sustainable society.

We are delighted to share our experience with the Education for Climate community and look forward to exchanging ideas with fellow educators, learners and climate practitioners across Europe.