The Solar Cohort is RSA's flagship 8-week online incubator for youth-led
climate action.
Designed for youth ages 18-35, the cohort moves from climate justice and circular systems
to food, energy, policy advocacy, and a final community project showcase.
The Solar Cohort is not a conventional online course. It is a guided learning journey where
participants connect climate justice, systems thinking, renewable energy, food systems,
governance, and policy advocacy to the realities of their own communities.
Each week combines expert input, facilitated workshops, reflection, and applied work. By the end
of the cohort, participants present a practical action plan, policy brief, community project
proposal, or other agreed final project.
Why "Solar"?
Solar energy represents one of the most accessible, equitable, and scalable pathways
toward a just transition. Solar power is both practical and symbolic: it delivers clean,
decentralised energy while embodying illumination, renewal, and collective progress.
Cognitive JusticeScientific, Indigenous, lived, and community knowledge all matter.
Frontline RealityLearning is grounded in communities already facing climate disruption.
Sovereign AgencyYouth are treated as present agents, not future leaders in waiting.
Structural SincerityThe cohort engages honestly with power, politics, and barriers to change.
Key Facts
Duration8 weekly modules
FormatFully online with live keynote sessions,
workshops, and reflection spaces
Cohort Size40-60 participants globally
ParticipantsYouth ages 18-35 from Africa, Asia,
Europe, and the Americas
Eight connected weeks moving from foundations to applied community action.
Participants learn through weekly expert sessions, interactive workshops, guided reflection,
peer exchange, and practical deliverables. The emphasis is not only on knowing more, but on
becoming more capable of acting with clarity, evidence, and community accountability.
Week 1
Youth, Climate Justice and the SDGs
Climate justice, accountability, frontline realities, and youth agency.
Week 2
Circular Economy and Global Responsibility
Rethinking production, consumption, waste, and supply chains.
Week 3
Gender, Equity and Education in Sustainability
Exploring how power, access, education, and gender shape climate outcomes.
Week 4
Food Systems and Agriculture
Understanding land, food security, climate resilience, and ecological health.
Week 5
Community Projects for Climate Mitigation
Designing practical, community-rooted responses to local climate challenges.
Week 6
Energy, Decolonisation and the Power Struggle
Examining energy access, justice, governance, finance, and transition politics.
Week 7
Policy, Advocacy and UN Systems
Turning evidence into policy asks, campaigns, coalitions, and institutional engagement.
Week 8
Showcase, Peer Review and Alumni Induction
Presenting final projects, receiving feedback, and joining the RSA alumni network.
Who This Cohort Serves
Ages: 18-35
Background: Any! We welcome participants with no prior climate knowledge and advanced
practitioners.
Commitment: You can dedicate 5-7 hours/week for 8 weeks
Language: English-fluent (some modules available in German, Swahili, French on request)
Motivation: Participants are passionate about climate action and want to learn systems
thinking. The cohort especially supports youth in Africa, Asia, and Global South
communities most affected by climate change, first-generation students and those from
underrepresented backgrounds, young people leading community climate projects, and
career-changers looking to enter the climate/energy sector.
What Happens After the Cohort?
Graduation and showcase: Receive a verified certificate and digital badge after
completing the cohort requirements
Certified projects go public on the RSA website (with your consent); top projects
announced for possible seed funding
Join RSA's global alumni network (250+ members, 12 countries)
Monthly alumni meetups and advanced workshops; access to mentor database and job board
Priority registration for future cohorts and specialised programmes
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for applicants considering the Solar Cohort and wider RSA learning pathways.
No. Our cohorts welcome beginners and advanced practitioners equally. The curriculum is designed to meet people where they are. Whether you have never studied climate science or you have a master's degree in environmental engineering, there is a pathway for you.
Absolutely. All our programmes are globally accessible. Our cohorts include participants from 12+ countries. Lectures are online, research teams are often distributed across continents, and your time zone is considered.
Attend our monthly lectures instead. They are 2-hour monthly sessions, completely free, and self-contained. You can build knowledge at your own pace while connecting with our global community.
Yes. Participants receive certificates, digital badges, and recognition in our alumni network. Research fellows and published contributors receive co-authorship where appropriate, and successful cohort projects can be featured publicly.
Yes. The Solar Cohort builds climate knowledge and community action capacity, while the Autumn Action Cohort develops policy, advocacy, and governance skills. Together, they support well-rounded climate leadership.
No. RSA programmes are fully free and scholarship-backed, including expert lectures, materials, certificates, and optional mentorship. Where resources allow, additional support may be considered for access needs.
You join our global alumni network, with virtual meetups, opportunities, advanced workshops, mentorship connections, and pathways to support future cohorts. Many alumni continue as volunteer facilitators, contributors, ambassadors, or instructors.
Funding Opportunities
Applications for this cohort are closed. Admitted students can access onboarding, schedules, quizzes, messages, and assignments through the portal.
