Too Young to Wait: How EYEN Built a Seat at the Energy Table, Federico Barbieri and Carlotta Ferri

This episode is about the people who got tired of waiting their turn — and built their own table instead.

Marine Cornelis sits down with Federico Barbieri and Carlotta Ferri, President and Vice-President of EYEN – the European Youth Energy Network, a buzzing coalition of young minds who decided that youth in Europe didn’t need another panel slot or empty round of applause — they needed power, presence, and purpose.

🚀 From sidelined to central: It all began in 2019 at a flashy international conference in Canada where youth delegates were invited... but kept out of the room where it happened. So what did they do? They took their post-its and ideas to a bar outside the European Commission and sketched out a new vision: an organisation built by and for youth to have a say in shaping Europe’s energy future.

💡 Not another talking shop: EYEN doesn’t just publish position papers or run events — it’s become a think-and-do tank, launching initiatives like:

• The European Youth Energy Forum

• The Young Energy Consumers Task Force

• The Energy Transition Career Compass

• And (soon) the first-eversurvey on youth energy poverty in Europe

  
  

🧠 Real talk, no tokenism: Federico and Carlotta are refreshingly honest about what it takes to build something meaningful — from struggling with Belgian bureaucracy to navigating what "youth" really means when you’re trying to serve students, young parents, electricians and policy nerds all in one go.

🔧 Behind the scenes: EYEN’s secret? A network of over 2000 active volunteers across Europe, fuelled by mutual support, shared purpose — and zero membership fees. Because no one should be priced out of shaping the future.

💬 “Every time a local youth organisation dies out, a connection between society and the energy transition disappears.”
💬 “We don’t just want to be included. We want to bring value.”

Why listen?
Because if we keep talking about democratisation without asking who’s in the room, we’re missing the point. This episode is a celebration of doing things differently — and a roadmap for those brave enough to start from scratch.

🎧 Listen now — and if you’re under 35, join EYEN. If you’re over 35, send this to someone who isn’t. Or better yet, help fund the next youth-led breakthrough.

Thanks, Energy Traders Europe, for sponsoring this episode!

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Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory 

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