Green Youth was founded on 16 January 1994, as an independent association with the name Grün-Alternatives Jugendbündnis (abbreviated: GAJB).

Parallel to these state-based organisations was the federal Bundesjugendkontaktstelle (Abbreviated: BUJUKS), a loose network of young members and sympathisers of Die Grünen.

In 2024 the spokespeople and the entire federal board of ten people stepped down and resigned their Alliance 90/The Greens memberships, citing a plan to create a new left-wing youth organization, citing a rightward shift of the party on foreign, economic and environmental policy as their reason.

There is a strict rule that the board, the two speakers and all other elected groups at any level must consist of at least 50% women, inter or trans persons, same as in the mother party.

There are also several thematic fora, which work on specific themes (e.g. Europe, Democracy, Drugs, Equal treatment).