About

Inclusion Criteria

An initiative qualifies if it meets all of the following

Youth-led

The initiative is founded, led, or primarily operated by individuals under 35.

Environmentally focused

The primary stated mission addresses one or more of the four environmental SDGs — SDG 12, 13, 14, or 15.

Active at time of research

The initiative showed verifiable activity (social media posts, events, or publications) within the last 6 months (as of May 2026). Dormant or discontinued initiatives were excluded.

Based in Asia

The initiative is headquartered or primarily operates within one of the 28 countries covered by BYEE, across Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and East Asia.

Verifiable identity

A primary source — website, social media account, or direct contact — could be identified and confirmed. Anonymous initiatives with no traceable identity are excluded.

Sustainable Development Goals

Four main environment-related SDGs were used as thematic frameworks

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

  • Waste reduction, recycling, and circular economy
  • Sustainable food systems and supply chains
  • Consumer education and behaviour change

SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Climate advocacy and policy engagement
  • Emissions reduction and energy transition
  • Climate resilience and adaptation

SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Marine conservation and reef restoration
  • Ocean pollution mitigation
  • Sustainable fisheries and blue carbon

SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Biodiversity protection and wildlife conservation
  • Reforestation and land management
  • Environmental justice and indigenous rights

SDG context adapted from Population Matters (populationmatters.org/un-sdgs), Project Drawdown, and the 2019 Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency.

Topic Taxonomy

Each initiative is tagged with one or more topics, assigned based on documented activities, not self-reporting.

Waste & Resource Management
SDG 12
Reducing, managing, and diverting waste after it has been created — composting, recycling, e-waste, litter reduction.
Circular Economy
SDG 12
Redesigning production and consumption to keep materials in use — upstream systemic change.
Coastal & Marine Pollution
SDG 14
Reducing pollution entering marine environments — beach cleanups, runoff, oil spills, sewage, microplastics.
Plastics
SDG 12/14
Plastic pollution in the environment, petrochemical industry impacts, synthetic fibre pollution, and microplastics.
Food Systems & Agriculture
SDG 12
Making food production and consumption more sustainable — food waste, urban farming, agroforestry, plant-based diets.
Sustainable Fisheries
SDG 14
Ensuring fish stocks are harvested sustainably — overfishing, illegal fishing, small-scale fisher advocacy, aquaculture.
Biodiversity
SDG 15
Protecting and restoring species diversity — habitat surveys, species monitoring, public biodiversity education.
Wildlife Conservation
SDG 15
Protecting specific animal species and their habitats — anti-poaching, rescue, human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Forests & Sustainable Land Management
SDG 15
Reforestation, anti-deforestation, sustainable forestry, and land-use planning.
Ocean Ecosystems & Coral
SDG 14
Protecting marine habitats — coral reef restoration, seagrass, kelp forest conservation.
Blue Carbon Sequestration
SDG 14
Protecting carbon-storing coastal ecosystems — mangrove, seagrass, and salt marsh conservation and restoration.
Environmental Justice
SDG 15/13
Addressing unequal environmental burdens and indigenous rights — climate refugees, frontline community advocacy.
Energy Transition & Renewable Energy
SDG 13
Advocating for or deploying clean energy — solar, wind, energy efficiency, fossil fuel opposition.
Resilience & Adaptation
SDG 13
Preparing communities for climate impacts — disaster risk reduction, flood adaptation, climate-smart agriculture.
Sustainable Living / Urban Sustainability
SDG 12
Promoting low-impact lifestyles and green urban design — minimalism, sustainable transport, green spaces.