The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) participated in the first day of the Local Conference of Youth on Climate Change in Palestine (LCOY Palestine 2026), organized by the Arab Youth Green Voices Network at the Arab American University – Ramallah, with the participation of a number of institutions and stakeholders working on climate and youth issues, as well as Palestinian local government units (LGUs).

Dr. Ahmad Jaber, APLA’s Sustainable Development Program Officer, participated alongside representatives of the Ministry of Local Government, Ramallah Municipality, and Al-Bireh Municipality in a panel discussion titled “Enhancing the Resilience of Local Government Units in Addressing Climate Change: Integrating National Efforts and Local Action”. The session discussed the current state of climate change adaptation at the local level, the roles of national institutions and LGUs, key challenges and needs, as well as local experiences and initiatives and the importance of engaging youth in local climate action.

Dr. Jaber highlighted the key needs of LGUs in climate adaptation, including data, planning, capacity building, and climate and green finance, as well as the importance of integrating climate adaptation and resilience into development and investment plans, infrastructure projects, and local services. He also highlighted APLA’s role in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and linking them to local planning and action, promoting knowledge and experience exchange, expanding nature-based solutions, and strengthening community and youth participation and partnerships among different stakeholders to support the resilience of Palestinian cities and towns.

As part of its participation in the conference, APLA also organized an SDGs Corner, providing a space to raise awareness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. and their importance in building more inclusive and sustainable communities. The corner featured a range of interactive and educational games and activities, along with discussions and engagement with participants, including partners and students.

This participation comes as part of APLA’s efforts to advance sustainable development among Palestinian LGUs and embed the SDGs in local projects and initiatives, linking them to the priorities and needs of LGUs. It was implemented under the project “Mobilizing the Capacities of Palestinian Local Government Units for Knowledge Exchange and Adaptation to the Sustainable Development Goals", funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with support from GIZ.