Quaker Youth UN Ambassadors Program

Learn global climate diplomacy.
Lead at home.

Quaker Youth UN Ambassadors Program is a new QEW pilot intended to equip a small cohort of four-to-eight young Friends (ages 14–35) to engage in the UN climate negotiations at COP30 in November 2025 as part of QEW’s online delegation. 

This year, QEW’s delegation will be joining the United Nations annual climate negotiations at COP30 Brasil Amazônia. This pilot blends literacy in international diplomacy, climate action, spiritual grounding, and storytelling so young Friends can bring clarity – and hope – into a complex global moment.

Questions? Contact us at info@quakerearthcare.org.

Apply Here

Program Highlights

Global access, faith‑rooted: Daily online worship and reflection anchor learning in Quaker practice while fellows follow live proceedings and youth briefings.

Hands‑on experience: Join YOUNGO working groups, track negotiations, and share timely takeaways with the Quaker community.

Real outputs, real audience: Fellows co‑author COP30 for Friends, a concise public explainer, and lead a live webinar soon after COP.

What Fellows Will Do

  • Pre‑COP Training Course (October-November)
    Four two hour online sessions each Wednesday at 8pm ET (Oct 8th-Nov 5th)

    1. COP & UNFCCC 101 — how negotiations work and where youth/observers contribute
    2. Focus Tracks — ACE (Action for Climate Empowerment), Nature & Biodiversity, etc…
    3. Outside Talk — Guest talk by one of our Interfaith Partners
    4. Event Planning — shared notes workflow, choosing tracks, signing up for events

  • Attending COP30 Negotiations (November)
    Nov 10th-21st

    • Worship each day with once a week short team check‑in 
    • Ambassadors aim to follow at least one COP event per day during the negotiations related to chosen focus track (six events minimum) 
    • Team posts brief notes on each event (what happened & why it matters)

  • Post‑COP Storytelling (November-December)
    November 26th – December 17th

    • Publish COP30 for Friends (2 pages, plain language) 
    • Host a public webinar (60 minutes) led by fellows 
    • Optional: one local talk or youth session per fellow (with a monthly meeting, school, or other group)

What You’ll Gain

  • Fluency in COP: Understand agendas, actors, and how decisions evolve
  • A global youth network: Practical engagement through YOUNGO
  • Communication chops: Turn complex negotiations into accessible stories
  • Faith in action: Practice Quaker discernment and care in a pluralistic arena
  • A portfolio piece: Published explainer & webinar experience to showcase

Who Should Apply

  • Young adults 14–35 connected to the Quaker community (any branch)
  • Demonstrated interest in earthcare, justice, and community engagement
  • Ready to collaborate online across time zones

QEW welcomes applications from Friends of diverse backgrounds, including those historically under‑represented in international spaces.

Meet our Team

Dr. Frank Granshaw

(Advisor) Frank Granshaw is a geoscientist and climate educator with over 30 years of experience teaching geology, climate science, and environmental studies at Portland State University and Portland Community College. A specialist in curriculum development and science communication, Frank has worked extensively with K-12 teachers, community groups, and faith organizations to build climate literacy. He is the author of the Climate Toolkit: A Resource Manual.

Since 2018, Frank has served as a Quaker delegate to the UN climate negotiations, participating as an observer at COP24, COP26, and COP27, and as a remote observer to COP28, COP29, and recent Subsidiary Body sessions. He also sits on the board of the Creation Justice Program of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

Shelley Tanenbaum

(Advisor) Shelley Tanenbaum is an environmental scientist and Quaker leader who served as General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness from 2013 to 2023. She has co-authored peer-reviewed research on air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and particulate matter, and worked as a staff scientist with ENVAIR in California.

As QEW’s General Secretary, Shelley guided Friends’ engagement in ecological witness, interfaith coalitions, and international climate policy. She represented Quakers at the United Nations climate negotiations, attending COP21 in Paris and subsequent COPs (remotely), and she spoke and wrote extensively on climate justice, Loss and Damage, and the moral role of faith communities. Under her leadership, QEW expanded its publications, webinars, and international partnerships.

Keith Runyan

(Convenor) Keith Runyan is General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness, where he combines visionary leadership with practical organizing to mobilize Quakers for ecological integrity and justice. A lifelong environmental educator, activist, and public speaker, Keith has dedicated his ministry to awakening Friends to the planetary crisis and catalyzing bold, Spirit-led responses. He has traveled widely in the ministry, including a 12-day hunger strike in 2019.

Keith also represents Quakers in international climate policy forums, bringing a witness of conscience to the United Nations climate negotiations. He has co-hosted side events at SB60 in Bonn, the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, and will participate in person as a delegate at SB62 in Bonn (2025). In these spaces he has convened interfaith partners, policy experts, and young activists to explore the intersection of climate action and peacemaking.