Climate Leadership for a Sustainable Future
From June 12 to 14, 2025, the Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research (IPPDR) proudly participated in the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training held in Nairobi, Kenya, which The Climate Reality Project organized.
This global initiative brought together scientists, community leaders, civil society members, and youth advocates who share a united vision of addressing the climate crisis through education, empowerment, and collective action. It serves as a vital platform for building sustainable and just solutions that reflect local voices and global urgency.
Representing the Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research, Kenya, at this three-day training were two remarkable leaders, Ms. Joybella Tata and Ms. Priscilla Mumbe. Joybella, the Regional Director of IPPDR Kenya and the founder of the Joybella Initiative, has been a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, environmental justice, and peacebuilding.
Priscilla, Gender Director at IPPDR Kenya, is known for her work amplifying women’s voices in the climate space and promoting gender-responsive environmental solutions, and is also the founder of Anakeh International. Their participation was not only a reflection of their personal leadership but also an extension of IPPDR’s long-standing commitment to advancing climate diplomacy across Africa and the Global South.
A Youth-Led Approach to Climate Leadership
A diverse cohort of more than 800 participants from across the world actively participated in the training, which began with an opening address by former U.S. Vice President and Climate Reality Project founder Al Gore, emphasizing the urgency of ending fossil fuel dependency and highlighting Africa’s critical role in the global renewable energy transition.
Kenya was celebrated as a model of innovation in geothermal and solar energy. The message was clear:
“Now is the time to act with moral clarity, policy strength, and local leadership.”- Al Gore
Particularly, immersive workshops and panel sessions offered practical tools and real-world strategies for climate advocacy through participation in key sessions on coalition-building, digital advocacy, and gender-inclusive climate action.
Moreover, peer-to-peer learning groups that focused on stakeholder engagement, climate finance strategies, and resource mobilization for grassroots projects highlighted the pressing need for effective and accountable resource mobilization and utilization, with emphasis on the critical importance of forging strategic partnerships, both through bilateral engagements and within multilateral frameworks such as regional bodies.
Sharing climate-related experiences for inclusion
The learning was not limited to theory. Joybella and Priscilla shared their experiences working directly with marginalized communities in Kenya, where the impacts of climate change are already visible in shifting weather patterns, droughts, and food insecurity. Their insights enriched the collective dialogue and affirmed that sustainable solutions must be informed by those closest to the crisis.
Centering Ethics, Equity, and Indigenous Knowledge
A highlight of the training was a panel featuring climate scientists, youth organizers, and interfaith leaders who explored the ethical dimension of climate justice. The conversation reminded participants that science and data must be accompanied by compassion, integrity, and a deep respect for diverse cultural worldviews.
The final day focused on indigenous knowledge and community-based resilience. Indigenous leaders shared their lived experiences, traditions, and solutions that have sustained ecosystems for generations. For Joybella and Priscilla, this was a powerful reminder that local wisdom holds the keys to adaptation and that true climate leadership begins by listening.
As representatives of an organization rooted in community diplomacy, they reaffirmed IPPDR Kenya’s intention to honor and uplift the voices of those often left out of mainstream environmental conversations.
Certified and Empowered for Action
The training concluded with a graduation ceremony, where Joybella and Priscilla were officially welcomed into the Climate Reality Leaders network. This network now includes more than 45,000 trained leaders in 190 countries, forming a vibrant community of changemakers dedicated to transforming policy, mindsets, and institutions.
For Joybella and Priscilla, becoming Climate Reality Leaders is not simply a personal milestone it is a call to action. They return home with renewed purpose and a clear plan to strengthen community resilience, promote inclusive climate education, and create youth-led environmental initiatives across Kenya.
Their focus will be on empowering rural youth, advocating for gender equity in climate policy, and integrating peace education into environmental training.
Aligning Local Impact with Global Vision: IPPDR’s Climate Commitment
The participation of Joybella and Priscilla reflects the broader commitment of the Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research to support youth-led climate action as a foundation for peace and sustainable development. IPPDR believes that climate diplomacy must be people-centered, locally informed, and future-focused.
Since its founding, IPPDR has worked to train new generations of peacebuilders and policymakers who understand that climate change is not only an environmental issue but a matter of justice, security, and global cooperation.
In the past year alone, IPPDR has provided over 260 scholarships to youth from climate-vulnerable regions, conducted high-level climate diplomacy training, and organized community dialogues on sustainability and adaptation.
Local hubs take on Climate Leadership
IPPDR Kenya, in particular, continues to be a hub for local engagement and innovation. Through workshops, partnerships, and grassroots programming, the team is actively building capacity in climate education, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-leadership.
This is part of a larger vision to ensure that youth in Africa are not just participants in global climate talks but central decision-makers in designing the future of their nations.
A Path Forward: Youth, Peace, and the Climate Horizon
The Climate Reality Leadership Corps training has left a lasting impact on Joybella and Priscilla. They return home not only equipped with new knowledge but also deeply inspired by the global solidarity they experienced in Nairobi. Their next steps will include launching school-based climate literacy programs, partnering with local governments to develop green projects, and using digital tools to tell the stories of climate resilience from the ground up.
The work ahead is urgent, but the momentum is strong. With youth leaders like Joybella and Priscilla at the forefront and institutions like IPPDR providing unwavering support, there is hope for a future defined not by crisis but by courage and cooperation.
We extend heartfelt thanks to The Climate Reality Project for offering this life-changing opportunity and for continuing to support youth leadership in climate action. The journey toward a peaceful, just, and sustainable world begins with bold steps, and Joybella and Priscilla have just taken theirs.
