Government of Canada Establishes Climate Change Youth Council

Applications are now open to join the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council

By Dami Igbinyemi

Young Canadians aren’t just the leaders of today, they are also the leaders of the future. This is why we must do everything we can to build a better future for them, with them. Climate strikes, March for Our Lives; a march against gun violence after the school shooting in 2018, and Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020 were all led by young people wanting change. To be able to see young people demanding change and working towards that goal encourages other youths to enact social change. This world will soon be theirs, which is why they are fighting to make it better.

Yesterday, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, established Canada’s first Environment and Climate Change Youth Council and launched applications for young people to apply.

The Youth Council is looking for 10 members between the age of 18 and 25 who will each serve a two-year term on a voluntary basis and meet every four months. The Council members will have the chance to provide their input/advice on things discussed in the meetings. Members will be able to influence changes made to our country on a federal level.

The Youth Council will focus on

• Ensuring Canada undergoes a green recovery after the pandemic
• Net-zero emission by 2050
• International summits and
• Natural-based solution to fight climate change and biodiversity loss.

“When it comes to the key challenges of our time—climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution—young people are calling on their governments to rise to the challenge. The new Environment and Climate Change Youth Council will provide a great opportunity for young Canadians to have a voice in developing key environmental policies and plans that will shape their futures. I encourage all interested youth to apply and I look forward to engaging with the Youth Council.”

– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

This council will help members build connections with like-minded people, give them skills and experiences that can help start their careers as well as have meaningful opportunities to engage with our government while improving our environment.

To apply, applicants must identify an organization willing to support them by nomination by submitting a nomination form before September 8, 2021, at 11:59 PT and complete the online application before August 18, 2021, at 11:59 PT. Once accepted members will meet every four months virtually, with one annual in-person meeting once health guidelines permit.

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