Global Environmental Action · SDG 13 · SDG 4 · SDG 17

We Are the Shapersof a Climate-Safe World.

Environmental Shapers Network unites scientists, activists, policymakers, youth leaders, and communities across 80+ countries — driving bold, evidence-based environmental action and cutting-edge research from the grassroots to the global stage.

Explore Programs Our Research
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80+
Countries
Active
500+
Programs
Delivered
3.5M
Lives
Impacted
100K+
Youth Leaders
Trained
200+
Research
Publications
150+
Partner
Organisations
Environmental work Community engagement
7+Years of
Global Action
Who We Are

Shaping Change Through Science, Community & Courage

Environmental Shapers Network (ESN) is a globally active NGO bringing together environmental scientists, frontline communities, youth advocates, researchers, and policymakers across 80+ countries. We operate at the intersection of ecology, social justice, and systemic innovation.

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Global-Local IntegrationWe operate through regional hubs and grassroots networks, ensuring solutions are globally informed and locally owned by the communities they serve.
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Evidence-Based ResearchEvery program is grounded in rigorous science, co-designed with leading research universities and field experts from the Global South and North.
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Youth-Centred LeadershipWe invest in the next generation of environmental leaders — equipping young people with tools, platforms, and pathways to drive lasting systemic change.

Our Core Programs
How We Work

What We Do

ESN works at the intersection of science, community, and policy — building the knowledge, partnerships, and human capacity needed to drive lasting environmental transformation at every scale.

Evidence-based at every stage
Community-owned outcomes
Aligned with 2030 SDG Agenda
Active in 80+ countries
01
Research

Generate & Apply Evidence

We produce rigorous, peer-reviewed environmental research across ecosystems, climate systems, and sustainability transitions. Our findings are not filed away — they are translated directly into policy briefs, program design, and public knowledge that moves governments and institutions to act.

Field Research Policy Science Open Access 200+ Publications
02
Teach

Build the Next Generation of Leaders

We invest in people — equipping youth, community practitioners, and policymakers with the scientific literacy, advocacy skills, and leadership tools they need to become effective environmental champions. From village schools to UN chambers, ESN-trained leaders are driving change at every level.

Youth Leadership Academy Climate Fellowships 100K+ Leaders Trained 55 Languages
03
Convene

Connect Science, Policy & Community

We bring together scientists, governments, indigenous communities, private sector actors, and international institutions around shared environmental challenges. ESN-convened partnerships have mobilised billions in climate finance and directly shaped national biodiversity strategies and climate NDCs.

Multi-Stakeholder Forums COP Delegations 150+ Partner Organisations UN Engagement
04
Deliver

Implement at Transformative Scale

Research and partnerships become real through on-the-ground delivery — from planting 100 million trees and restoring coral reefs, to bringing solar power to off-grid households and building flood-resilient infrastructure in the world's most climate-vulnerable communities.

Forest Restoration Ocean Conservation Clean Energy Access 80+ Countries
05
Advocate

Shape Policy From Grassroots to Global

Every program generates evidence that feeds into advocacy — amplifying the voices of frontline communities at CBD, UNFCCC, and other multilateral forums. ESN ensures that the people most affected by environmental change have the loudest voice in the decisions that affect their future.

UNFCCC Engagement National Policy Reform Indigenous Rights SDG Mainstreaming
Our Impact

Impact at a Glance

Seven years of global environmental action — measurable, transparent, and growing. These numbers represent real communities, ecosystems, and futures transformed.

🌍 3.5M
People empowered through ESN environmental programs globally
🌳 100M+
Trees planted & stewarded across degraded landscapes worldwide
🎓 100K+
Youth environmental leaders trained across 60 countries
🌊 35+
Coastal nations with community-governed Marine Protected Areas
🔬 200+
Peer-reviewed research publications on environmental sustainability
Core Programs

Pillars of Global Environmental Action

Our flagship programs address the planet's most urgent challenges — from climate adaptation to biodiversity, clean energy to research and youth leadership — at transformative scale across all continents.

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Forest Restoration

Coordinating the planting and long-term stewardship of 100 million trees across degraded landscapes in Asia, Africa, and Latin America through science-led reforestation and digital ecosystem monitoring.

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Ocean & Coastal Action

Protecting marine ecosystems, combating deep-ocean plastic pollution, restoring coral reefs, and establishing community-governed Marine Protected Areas across 35+ coastal nations.

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Climate-Smart Energy Access

Accelerating access to affordable solar, wind, and micro-hydro energy for 10 million off-grid households in the Global South — replacing fossil fuel dependence with community-owned clean power.

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Climate Adaptation & Resilience

Building adaptive capacity in the world's most climate-vulnerable communities — from Pacific islands to African drylands — through nature-based infrastructure and early warning systems.

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Biodiversity & Wildlife

Protecting endangered species and critical ecosystems through community ranger programs, AI-powered habitat monitoring, and evidence-based conservation policy advocacy at UN biodiversity forums.

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Environmental Education

Delivering climate literacy, environmental science, and sustainability curricula to 5 million students annually through school networks, teacher training, and open digital learning tools in 55+ languages.

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Environmental Research

Conducting peer-reviewed, policy-relevant research across ecosystems, climate systems, and sustainability transitions — producing actionable insights that shape global environmental policy and practice.

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Youth Development

Nurturing the next generation of environmental champions through fellowships, leadership academies, mentorship networks, and meaningful seats at international climate negotiation tables.

Meet the Youth →
Thematic Focus Areas

Themes Driving Systemic Environmental Change

Nine thematic focus areas cut across all our core programs — ensuring environmental action is holistic, just, and aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

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Sustainable Development Goals

Mainstreaming all 17 SDGs across our programs — ensuring every intervention contributes measurably to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at local, national, and global levels.

All SDGs
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Climate Change

Addressing the root causes and impacts of climate change through mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage frameworks, and multilateral climate diplomacy aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.

SDG 13
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Displacement & Migration

Protecting climate-displaced populations through rights-based policy frameworks, humanitarian response, and long-term durable solutions that address the intersections of climate, conflict, and migration.

SDG 10 · 16
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Livelihoods

Building green, climate-resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers, coastal communities, and forest-dependent peoples through agroecology, sustainable fisheries, and diversified income strategies.

SDG 1 · 8
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Biodiversity

Halting and reversing biodiversity loss through ecosystem protection, species recovery, indigenous community co-management, and implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

SDG 15
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Green Energy

Accelerating the just energy transition by scaling renewable energy access, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and ensuring clean energy benefits reach the most marginalised communities first.

SDG 7
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Disaster Risk Reduction

Strengthening community and national resilience through early warning systems, disaster preparedness frameworks, and nature-based DRR solutions aligned with the Sendai Framework 2015–2030.

SDG 11 · 13
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Urban Resilience

Transforming cities into climate-resilient, liveable spaces with green infrastructure, urban forests, low-carbon mobility, and integrated water and waste management aligned with the New Urban Agenda.

SDG 11
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Blue Economy

Developing sustainable ocean economies that protect marine biodiversity, support coastal livelihoods, advance blue carbon solutions, and ensure equitable access to ocean resources for all.

SDG 14
Research & Knowledge

Evidence That Moves the World

Our research program generates peer-reviewed, policy-relevant science across ecosystems, climate systems, and sustainability transitions — turning field data into global change.

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Ecosystem Health & Monitoring

Long-term ecological monitoring across 40+ biomes — tracking deforestation, soil degradation, species loss, and ecosystem recovery using satellite imagery and AI-powered analytics.

EcologyRemote SensingAI
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Ocean & Blue Carbon Science

Quantifying marine ecosystem carbon sequestration potential, tracking ocean acidification, and developing blue carbon accounting frameworks for international climate finance mechanisms.

Marine ScienceCarbonClimate Finance
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Clean Energy Transition Research

Modelling just energy transition pathways for developing economies — assessing socioeconomic impacts, policy gaps, and community-level energy access solutions in the Global South.

Energy PolicyJust TransitionSDG 7
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Climate Data & Innovation Lab

Harnessing open data platforms, citizen science, and machine learning to track environmental change in real time — making climate intelligence universally accessible and actionable.

Data ScienceOpen AccessInnovation
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Social & Environmental Justice Research

Studying the intersections of environmental degradation, gender inequality, indigenous rights, and climate vulnerability — generating evidence for rights-based environmental governance reforms.

Social ScienceGenderIndigenous Rights
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Urban Climate Resilience Studies

Analysing climate risks in rapidly urbanising cities, developing green infrastructure blueprints, and evaluating urban nature-based solutions for heat, flood, and air pollution resilience.

Urban PlanningNature-BasedResilience
Access Research Publications Partner With Our Research Team
Youth Development

Investing in Tomorrow's Environmental Leaders

Our Youth Development Program is a transformative pipeline — turning passionate young people into skilled, connected, and empowered environmental champions operating at every level from village to UN chamber.

01

ESN Youth Leadership Academy

A 12-month immersive leadership programme for 18–30 year olds — combining environmental science training, policy advocacy skills, field experience, and mentorship from senior ESN practitioners and UN officials.

2,500 graduates in 55 countries
02

Climate Action Fellowships

Competitive, fully-funded fellowships placing young environmental professionals within ESN programs, partner NGOs, government ministries, and international institutions for 6–12 month assignments.

800 fellows placed annually
03

Youth Shapers COP Delegation

Providing rigorous negotiation training and accredited seats at UNFCCC COP summits, CBD COPs, and other key multilateral environmental forums — ensuring youth voices shape global climate agreements.

Active in 60 nations · COP29 ✓
04

Green Schools Initiative

Transforming schools into climate action hubs through curriculum integration, student-led environment clubs, solar installations, tree planting, and connections to ESN's global youth network.

4,200 schools across 38 countries
05

Digital Climate Literacy Platform

Free, multilingual online learning platform delivering climate science, sustainability, and environmental advocacy courses to young people — accessible on mobile with or without internet connectivity.

1.2M learners · 55 languages
06

Youth Research & Innovation Grants

Seed funding and mentorship for youth-led environmental research projects and social enterprises — supporting the next generation of environmental innovators from idea to impact in communities worldwide.

$4M awarded · 320 projects funded
100K+
Youth Leaders
Trained Globally
60
Countries with Active
Youth Networks
4,200
Green Schools
Transformed
$4M+
Youth Research
Grants Awarded
Collaboration

Landmark Partnership Initiatives

Our collaboration programs bring together the world's leading institutions, governments, scientists, and communities — each tackling a distinct planetary challenge through shared commitment and multi-stakeholder action.

Forest
Active · 30 Nations
01
UNEPWWFFAOIUCN

Global Forest 100 Initiative

A landmark multi-agency commitment to restore 100 million hectares of forests across 30 nations by 2035, with community co-management and verified carbon credit frameworks.

Ocean
Active · 35 Nations
02
IUCNOcean Conservancy

Blue Horizons Marine Alliance

Protecting 30% of global ocean territory by 2030 through jointly governed MPAs, anti-plastic interventions, and sustainable fisheries reform benefiting 200 million coastal livelihoods.

Solar
Active · 42 Nations
03
World BankIRENAGEF

Renewable Futures Fund

Mobilising $2 billion in blended finance to deploy solar, wind, and micro-hydro energy for 10 million off-grid households — creating 500,000 green jobs across the Global South.

Youth
Active · 60 Nations
04
UNFCCCUNESCOYouthCOP

Youth Climate Shapers Programme

Training 100,000 youth climate leaders globally with policy expertise, advocacy skills, and direct pathways into COP delegations and national environmental governance.

Research
Active · 25 Nations
05
IPCCCGIARIPBES

Global Environmental Research Consortium

A cross-institutional research alliance generating peer-reviewed environmental science to directly inform national biodiversity strategies, climate NDCs, and international environmental law frameworks.

Disaster
Active · 28 Nations
06
UNDRRRed CrossWFP

Disaster Risk Reduction Alliance

Implementing the Sendai Framework through community-led early warning systems, nature-based DRR infrastructure, and capacity building in the world's most disaster-prone regions.

2030

Our Commitment
Horizon

Our Mission

A Planet Where People & Nature Thrive Together

We envision a just, resilient world in which communities everywhere have the knowledge, power, and resources to live sustainably — and where ecological health is recognised as the foundation of all human wellbeing.

Achieve net-zero emissions across all ESN program countries by 2035
Protect 30% of land and ocean through community governance (30x30)
Train 500,000 youth environmental leaders by 2030
Publish 500 open-access research papers on environmental sustainability
Deliver green livelihoods to 5 million vulnerable households globally
Achieve universal climate literacy in 100+ countries by 2030
Global Partners

Our Institutional Alliance

ESN works with governments, UN agencies, universities, foundations, and civil society organisations worldwide to deliver transformative environmental programmes at scale.

Become an ESN Partner

We welcome partnerships with governments, foundations, corporations, research institutions, and civil society organisations committed to environmental transformation.

Explore Partnership
Voices

From Our Global Community

Hear from the scientists, youth leaders, community members, and policymakers whose lives and work have been shaped by ESN's programs.

★★★★★
"

The ESN Youth Leadership Academy gave me not just skills, but a global family. I now lead climate negotiations for my country — something I never imagined possible three years ago.

AM
Amara MensahCOP Delegate · Ghana
★★★★★
"

The research partnership with ESN transformed how our ministry approaches biodiversity policy. Their data quality and community engagement model is genuinely world-class.

RK
Dr. Riya KapoorEnvironment Ministry · India
★★★★★
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ESN's Blue Economy program restored our fishing grounds and taught our youth to see the ocean not just as food, but as a future. Our community has never been more hopeful.

JB
Jean-Baptiste KokouFishing Community Leader · Togo
Latest Insights

From Our Research & Field Teams

All Articles →
Research
Research · May 2026

New Study: Blue Carbon Sequestration in West African Mangroves Exceeds Projections

ESN's Marine Science Team reveals new findings on mangrove carbon storage rates that could reshape global blue economy climate finance frameworks.

Read More →
Youth
Youth Development · April 2026

100,000 Youth Leaders: How ESN Reached a Historic Milestone in Environmental Leadership

From a pilot cohort of 12 in 2017 to 100,000 trained leaders in 60 countries — the story behind ESN's Youth Development journey and what comes next.

Read More →
Energy
Green Energy · March 2026

Off-Grid Solar in the Sahel: How Community Energy Ownership is Transforming Rural Livelihoods

Inside ESN's Renewable Futures Fund — how blended finance models are making solar energy a community asset, not just a utility, in West Africa's driest regions.

Read More →
Contact ESN

Connect With Our Global Team

Whether you are a researcher, partner organisation, donor, journalist, or aspiring youth leader — we'd love to hear from you.

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Message Received!

Our team will respond within 2 business days.

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Global HeadquartersEnvironmental Shapers Network
International Environment House, Geneva, Switzerland
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Regional OfficesNairobi · Dhaka · Manila · Bogotá
Lagos · Cairo · Jakarta · London
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Emailinfo@environmentalshapersnetwork.org
research@environmentalshapersnetwork.org
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Follow ESNFacebook · Twitter · Instagram · LinkedIn
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Youth Applicationsyouth.applications@environmentalshapersnetwork.org