GreenBook Policies

Terms of Use

1. Who we are

GreenBook (“we”, “us”) is the social networking and knowledge-sharing platform of the Global Youth Climate Action Network (GYCAN), coordinated by the GYCAN Network Secretariat (UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development, Green Skills and Climate Actions and the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust). These Terms apply to green-book.org and all GreenBook services (the “Platform”).

2. Accepting these Terms

By creating an account or using the Platform you agree to these Terms and to the policies on this page. If you use GreenBook on behalf of a university or organisation, you confirm you are authorised to accept these Terms for it.

3. Eligibility

• You must be at least 16 years old, or the minimum age of digital consent in your country if higher, to create an account.
• Users under 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian and are covered by additional protections (see Safeguarding).
• You must not have been previously removed from GreenBook for breaking these Terms.

4. Your account

• Provide accurate information, including your real name and affiliation. Impersonating any person, institution or GYCAN partner is prohibited.
• Keep your password confidential. You are responsible for activity on your account; tell us promptly about any unauthorised use.
• Institution Pages may only be created or managed by authorised representatives of that institution.

5. Your content

You keep ownership of the posts, photos, videos, comments, projects and other content you share. You grant GreenBook a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, display, reproduce, adapt (for formatting) and distribute that content on and in connection with the Platform, for as long as it remains on GreenBook. You confirm you have the rights to share it, including consent from identifiable people shown in photos or videos.

6. Acceptable use

You agree not to: break any law; post content that violates the Community Guidelines; send spam or unsolicited advertising; collect other users’ data without consent; upload malware; attempt to access accounts or systems without authorisation; scrape the Platform; or use GreenBook to run scams, fraudulent fundraising or fake opportunities.

7. GYCAN membership

Creating a GreenBook profile does not make an institution a GYCAN member. Institutional membership follows the separate application process (Express → Review → Select → Onboard) administered by the Network Secretariat. Badges such as “Founding partner”, “Verified” or “Green Commitment Certified” are granted only by GreenBook/GYCAN.

8. Impact points, badges and recognition

Green Impact points, levels, badges and leaderboards recognise participation. They have no monetary value, cannot be transferred or sold, and may be adjusted if we detect inaccurate or manipulated activity. Award nominations (including the Global Green Youth Leadership Award) are reviewed by GYCAN and do not guarantee selection.

9. Third-party links and opportunities

Opportunities, events and links may be posted by third parties. GreenBook does not employ applicants on behalf of posters and is not responsible for third-party sites, decisions or conduct, but we act on reports under our Opportunities policy.

10. Suspension and termination

You may close your account at any time from Settings. We may restrict, suspend or remove content or accounts that breach these Terms, create risk for others, or where required by law, following the process in Moderation & Appeals.

11. Service “as is” and liability

GreenBook is provided free of charge “as is” and “as available”. To the extent permitted by law, we disclaim implied warranties and are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, or for content posted by users. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

12. Governing principles

These Terms are interpreted in good faith and in line with applicable law in the user’s country of residence where mandatory consumer protections apply. Disputes should first be raised with us so we can try to resolve them informally.

Privacy Policy

1. Data we collect

We do not intentionally collect sensitive data (such as health, religion or political opinions). Please don’t include it in your profile unless you choose to.

2. How we use data

• Operating, securing and improving GreenBook (legal basis: performance of our agreement with you; legitimate interests).
• Showing your profile and content according to your settings; recommending people, groups, events and opportunities.
• Sending service messages and, if you opt in, digests and newsletters (consent — withdraw any time).
• Producing aggregated, anonymised statistics for GYCAN reporting (e.g. number of countries, climate actions logged). These never identify individuals.
• Moderation, safeguarding and meeting legal obligations.

3. Sharing

• We never sell or rent personal data, and we don’t allow third-party advertising trackers.
• When you apply for an opportunity, your application and profile are shared with that poster.
• Service providers (hosting, email delivery, storage) process data on our instructions under confidentiality and security obligations.
• GYCAN Secretariat staff may access data where needed for membership, certification, awards, safeguarding or support.
• We may disclose data where required by law or to protect someone’s safety.

4. Your controls and rights

Depending on where you live (for example under the EU/UK GDPR, Bangladesh, Indonesian or other national data-protection laws), you may have rights to access, correct, download, delete, restrict or object to processing, and to withdraw consent. Use Settings → Download your data or Edit profile, or email us. You may also complain to your local data-protection authority.

5. Retention

We keep account data while your account is active. When you delete your account, your profile and content are removed within 30 days, except limited records we must keep for legal, safety or fraud-prevention reasons. Messages you sent may remain visible to recipients.

6. International transfers

GreenBook is a global network, so data may be processed in countries other than yours. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) for transfers.

7. Security

We use HTTPS encryption, hashed passwords and access controls. No system is perfectly secure — please use a strong, unique password.

8. Children and young people

GreenBook is not intended for children under 16. If we learn that a child under the minimum age has created an account, we will delete it. See Safeguarding.

Cookies & Local Storage

Because we only use essential and preference storage, no consent banner is required in most jurisdictions. If we ever add analytics, it will be privacy-friendly, and we will ask for your consent where the law requires it and update this policy first. You can clear storage at any time in your browser settings.

Community Guidelines

Do

• Treat everyone with respect across cultures, languages, regions and viewpoints — Global North and South alike.
• Share accurate, evidence-based climate information and cite sources for facts and figures.
• Give credit to others’ work, photos and ideas.
• Disagree constructively: challenge ideas, not people.
• Report content that breaks these guidelines rather than engaging with it.

Don’t post

• Hate or harassment — attacks based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or other protected characteristics; bullying, threats or doxxing.
• Violence — incitement, glorification of violence, or threats against people, communities or property.
• Climate misinformation — content that deliberately misrepresents established climate science, or fabricated data, impacts or credentials.
• Greenwashing and false claims — misleading environmental claims about products, organisations or carbon results.
• Scams and fraud — fake opportunities, fee-charging “scholarships”, phishing, fraudulent fundraising.
• Sexual content — any sexual content, and absolutely nothing that sexualises minors.
• Spam — repetitive posts, engagement bait, mass unsolicited messages, fake accounts or manipulated impact points.
• Private information — other people’s personal data, or photos of identifiable minors without guardian consent.
• Illegal content — anything unlawful in your country or that infringes others’ rights.

Political and partisan content

Climate policy discussion is welcome. Partisan campaigning, endorsements of political parties or candidates, and attacks on individuals are not. Content posted by members represents their own views, not those of GYCAN or its founding partners.

Safeguarding & Youth Protection

• Minimum age 16. Members aged 16–17 have extra protections: their profiles are not shown in public search, and only connections can message them.
• Zero tolerance for any form of child sexual abuse or exploitation, grooming, sextortion or attempts to move young people to private channels for inappropriate purposes. Such content is removed, accounts are banned, and we report to the relevant authorities and the appropriate child-protection hotlines.
• Adults working with youth (mentors, event organisers, recruiters) must keep communication professional, transparent and on-platform where possible, and must never request personal images, money or private meetings.
• Images of minors may only be posted with consent from a parent or guardian and the young person, and should not reveal schools, home locations or full names.
• Wellbeing. Climate anxiety is real. If you or someone you know is in distress, please contact local emergency services or a trusted support service. Report concerns to us — we respond to safeguarding reports as a priority.
• Safeguarding lead. Safeguarding reports are handled by a designated lead in the GYCAN Network Secretariat: email with subject “SAFEGUARDING”.

Content & Copyright

• Respect copyright, trademarks and image rights. Credit photographers and authors; use openly licensed material according to its licence (e.g. Creative Commons attribution).
• Research shared in the Learning & Research library should be open-access or shared with the publisher’s permission.
• Takedown requests: send the URL of the content, a description of the work, proof that you own it or are authorised to act for the owner, your contact details, and a good-faith statement to the contact below. We remove clearly infringing content promptly and notify the poster, who may submit a counter-notice.
• Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

Moderation, Reporting & Appeals

How to report

Use the ⋯ menu → Report post on any post, or email us for profiles, messages, groups, events or opportunities. Reports are confidential — the person reported is not told who reported them.

What happens next

1. Triage — safeguarding and safety reports are prioritised (target: within 24 hours); other reports within 72 hours.
2. Review against these policies, considering context, intent and public interest (e.g. documenting environmental harm).
3. Action, proportionate to the harm: label, reduce visibility, remove content, warning, temporary restriction, or account removal for severe or repeated violations.
4. Notice — we tell affected users what action was taken and why, unless doing so would create a safety or legal risk.

Appeals

If you believe we made a mistake, reply to the notice or email us within 30 days with “APPEAL” in the subject. A different reviewer will look at your case and respond, usually within 7 days.

Opportunities & Recruitment

• No fees. Posters must never charge applicants for applying, training, visas, interviews or “processing”. Report any request for payment.
• Real and accurate — include the organisation’s name, location or remote status, deadline, eligibility and how applications are assessed.
• Fair and inclusive — no discrimination on protected characteristics; reasonable accommodations should be offered.
• Fair work — internships and apprenticeships should be paid or offer clear learning value, and respect local labour law and safeguarding rules for under-18s.
• Applicant data may only be used for that recruitment process and must not be resold or reused for marketing.
• GreenBook may verify, label, edit or remove listings, and ban posters of fraudulent opportunities.

Events Code of Conduct

• Organisers are responsible for accurate details, venue safety, permits, accessibility information and following local laws and health guidance.
• Field activities (tree planting, clean-ups, coastal and river work) should include a safety briefing, protective equipment, supervision of under-18s by vetted adults, and respect for local communities and protected areas.
• Harassment of any kind is not tolerated. Participants may be asked to leave, and reports can be sent to the organiser and to GreenBook.
• Photography: tell participants if an event will be photographed or filmed, and respect anyone who asks not to be pictured.
• Listing an event on GreenBook does not mean GYCAN endorses it, unless it is marked “GYCAN official”.

Accessibility Statement

• Keyboard navigation, visible focus states and semantic headings throughout.
• Text alternatives for logos and images; decorative videos are muted, can be paused, and are replaced by still images for people who prefer reduced motion or have data saver on.
• Light and dark modes with sufficient colour contrast; layouts that adapt to phones, tablets and desktops and to text zoom.
• Self-hosted fonts and compressed media so pages load on slower connections common in many regions.

If you find a barrier, please tell us — we aim to respond within 5 working days and to offer the information in an accessible alternative format.

Brand & Logo Use

• Members may say they are “on GreenBook” or link to their GreenBook profile. Only approved members may describe themselves as a “GYCAN member”, and only certified institutions as “Green Commitment Certified”.
• Do not alter the GreenBook or GYCAN logos, combine them with other marks, or use them to imply endorsement or partnership without written approval from the Secretariat.
• The logos of UNESCO, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, BCCT, Bappenas, Global Youth Philanthropy, the Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia, WHO, UNFCCC COP31 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals are the property of their respective owners. They are shown on this site only to identify founding partners and related initiatives, and may not be reused from this site.

Disclaimer & Climate Information

• Facts and figures published by GreenBook/GYCAN cite their sources (e.g. WMO, UNEP, IPCC, UNFCCC). Figures may be updated as new data is released.
• Content posted by members, institutions or third parties represents their own views and is not verified by GYCAN or its founding partners, unless clearly labelled.
• Nothing on GreenBook is legal, financial, medical or professional advice.
• The current preview contains clearly labelled sample members, posts and universities to demonstrate features. These are illustrative and do not describe real people or institutions.

Contact & Changes

Questions, privacy requests, reports, takedown notices or appeals — contact the GYCAN Network Secretariat:

Changes to these policies

We may update these policies as GreenBook grows. For material changes we will give notice on the Platform at least 14 days before they take effect, except where a change is required urgently for legal or safety reasons. The effective date at the top of this page shows the latest version.