Policy Papers

Co-produced by YBI and Bangladesh Youth Enterprise Advice and Helpcentre (BYEAH), this paper explores how myths are slowing innovation and blocking advancement of youth-led climate adaptation enterprises. This is stymieing business growth and forcing climate-effected communities to depend on handouts instead of bolstering their resilience and economic growth.

• Myth 1: Adaptation is charity: climate adaptation is a profit driver, not a philanthropic endeavor.
• Myth 2: Innovation is being measured backwards: scalable grass-roots businesses are systemically overlooked for investment in favour of VC ready, fast-growth tech start-ups.
• Myth 3: Climate ventures are capital intensive and unsuitable for youth: Many climate ventures do not require heavy industry or infrastructure to succeed.

By integrating ecosystem support, building alternative credit assessment models and implementing policy reforms removing barriers to entry for young founders, youth-led climate enterprises can thrive. Empowering the communities at the sharp end of the problems, best placed to identify and harness the most effective opportunities, will lead to innovation, economic growth, and self-sufficiency.

This approach reduces dependency on handouts while building resilience where it is needed most.