CEPS Opens Climate Leadership Programme for Eight Young Climate Leaders

Brussels. The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), together with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, has opened applications for its Climate Leadership Programme, offering eight young climate leaders a fully supported path from online training to a week in Brussels and a seat at the think tank’s flagship Ideas Lab event.

The call opened on 29 October 2026 and is open to candidates worldwide. It seeks young people aged 20 to 30 who are already active in climate policy, advocacy or entrepreneurship, and who bring a specific initiative, such as a policy proposal, an advocacy campaign or a venture, that they want to develop.

The programme runs from December 2026 to March 2027. It is a joint initiative of CEPS and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, designed for young people who are already working on climate action in their own contexts and want to deepen their policy skills and their networks.

Climate leadership programme: online training, then Brussels

From December 2026 to February 2027, the eight selected participants will take part in online masterclasses and skills training covering European Union climate governance, diplomacy, policy writing and communication. Attendance during this phase is mandatory, and only participants who complete it will proceed to the Brussels programme.

From 28 February to 6 March 2027, the participants will spend a week in Brussels, gaining first-hand insight into the European Union policy landscape. They will take part in CEPS Ideas Lab on 4 and 5 March 2027, the think tank’s flagship event, which brings together policymakers, researchers, business leaders and civil society to discuss the major challenges facing Europe. The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung will also organise a complementary side programme in Brussels.

Travel, visa and accommodation costs for the Brussels week will be covered by the programme, according to the call. The programme aims to bring together a gender-balanced cohort with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

How to apply, and the two deadline dates

Applicants must submit a completed written application questionnaire, a CV and a reference letter, all in English. Only complete applications will be considered, and successful applicants will be notified by the end of November 2026.

Applicants should note a discrepancy in the call itself: the how-to-apply section gives a deadline of 10 November 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time, while the key-dates box in the same call gives 11 November 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time. An independent listing of the call reports 11 November. To be safe, applicants should aim for the earlier date, 10 November.

Why this matters for young climate ambassadors

Programmes like this are how local climate ambassadors are made. Participants return home with policy skills, a network of peers and policymakers, and a project they can lead in their own communities, rather than only a certificate. The timing also matters: the call closes just as the COP31 climate conference opens in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9 November 2026, when young voices from climate-vulnerable countries are seeking a greater say in how climate decisions are made.

For readers following Watan News International’s climate coverage, this story sits alongside other ambassador and youth leadership opportunities reported by the desk, including the Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge and the European Climate Pact ambassador community. More climate stories can be found in our Climate section.

FAKTA

• Eight places on the Climate Leadership Programme, for young climate leaders aged 20 to 30.
• Call opened on 29 October 2026; applicants should aim for the earlier listed deadline, 10 November 2026, as the call also lists 11 November.
• Online masterclasses and skills training from December 2026 to February 2027; attendance is mandatory.
• Brussels week from 28 February to 6 March 2027, including CEPS Ideas Lab on 4 and 5 March 2027.
• Travel, visa and accommodation costs for the Brussels week are covered by the programme.
• Successful applicants will be notified by the end of November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Climate Leadership Programme?

Young climate leaders aged 20 to 30 who are already engaged in climate policy, advocacy or entrepreneurship in their own context, who bring a specific initiative such as a policy proposal, an advocacy campaign or a venture, who have a good command of English, and who are available for the online programme from December 2026 to February 2027 and the Brussels programme from 28 February to 6 March 2027. Applications are open to candidates worldwide.

What must applicants submit?

A completed written application questionnaire, a CV and a reference letter, all in English. Only complete applications will be considered. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of November 2026.

What happens during the online phase?

From December 2026 to February 2027, participants take part in online masterclasses and skills training covering European Union climate governance, diplomacy, policy writing and communication. Attendance is mandatory, and only participants who complete this phase proceed to Brussels.

What happens during the Brussels week?

From 28 February to 6 March 2027, participants spend a week in Brussels, gaining first-hand insight into the European Union policy landscape and taking part in CEPS Ideas Lab on 4 and 5 March 2027, alongside a complementary side programme organised by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Travel, visa and accommodation costs for the Brussels week are covered by the programme.

When is the deadline?

Applicants should aim for 10 November 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time, the deadline given in the how-to-apply section of the call. The key-dates box in the same call gives 11 November 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time, and an independent listing reports 11 November, so applying by the earlier date is the safe course.

Sources: Centre for European Policy Studies, call for applications, opened 29 October 2026; independent opportunity listing confirming the programme dates and terms.