Across Europe, young people are growing up in a context where environmental crisis, social inequality and a feeling of powerlessness often go hand in hand. Human activity is driving species loss, ecosystem degradation and temperature rise, and many young people see the effects in their daily lives – heatwaves, floods, loss of green spaces – but rarely have the chance to act together in a structured way. Our youth work experience in Austria and partner countries shows that environmental topics are usually treated as school “content”, not as a field for youth participation, creativity and democratic engagement. Many young people care, but do not know how to turn concern into concrete eco-actions or how to make their voices heard by decision-makers. At the same time, the EU Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and local climate plans all call for active citizen involvement. If youth are not supported to understand these frameworks and connect them with their own realities, there is a risk that climate and biodiversity policies remain distant and technocratic. In our previous Erasmus+ projects on environment, waste and sustainable consumption, we have seen how non-formal learning, intercultural exchange and creative campaigns can transform attitudes and behaviours. In November 2025, our group coordinated a youth exchange in Vienna on food waste and circular economy. Participants and partners strongly asked for a follow-up focusing more on biodiversity, climate justice and advocacy, and for stronger links with local communities and decision-makers. “Roots & Rights: Youth for Biodiversity and Climate Justice” has been designed as that follow-up step. By bringing together young people from Austria, Hungary, Türkiye, Italy and Serbia in Vienna, the project uses nature-based activities, field visits, media labs and public actions to move participants from individual eco-awareness to collective eco-action. Throughout the programme, youth workers and group leaders will support participants – especially those with fewer opportunities – to co-create workshops, design eco-actions and communicate with local authorities. In this way, the project treats biodiversity and climate justice not only as environmental topics, but as a concrete field for youth work, empowerment and participation in democratic life. The overall aim of the project is to empower young people to move from basic eco-awareness to concrete eco-action by exploring the links between biodiversity loss, climate change and social justice, and by creating local youth initiatives inspired by Austrian good practices. In line with this aim, our specific objectives are: • To deepen understanding of the links between biodiversity loss, climate change and local ecosystems. • To raise awareness of climate justice and its impact on vulnerable groups, migrants and future generations. • To equip young people to design and implement small-scale eco-actions at local level. • To promote intercultural dialogue and exchange of good practices in youth environmental activism. • To strengthen disadvantaged young people’s advocacy, teamwork and communication competences through nature-based and creative activities. The project contributes to Erasmus+ priorities on environmental sustainability, inclusion and civic participation. It supports young people to act together, influence their local realities and become long-term ambassadors of a fairer and greener Europe.