Youth Climate Leadership Summit as a Launchpad for Climate Action

Since 2000, Sustainable Living Association has worked with tens of thousands of people in Colorado pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle. Together the association has created networks, collaborations, organizations and local businesses committed to living and working in better balance with nature. Today, Sustainable Living Association also works to develop policies and practices that will uplift the well being of our planet. Earth Rising is proud to support the work of Sustainable Living Association, particularly their Youth Climate Leadership Summit.

The Youth Climate Leadership Summit is a youth-developed and youth-led program focused on breaking down the barriers local youth face in taking meaningful climate action. The program focuses on providing tools, resources, and education to help youths advocate for policies and practices that will reduce the impacts of climate change in their community. The Summit also provides opportunities for youths to collaborate with other youths, experts in climate action and organizations that share their visions and values. 

This year’s summit brought together 432 students between 8th and 12th grade from 20 different local schools to explore climate science, sustainable solutions, and advocacy strategies. The summit not only educated youth on the science behind climate change, but also the intersection of environmental issues and social justice and most importantly, how they can make a difference in their communities today and build their future careers within the climate space. In this way the Summit is more than just an education event, it is also a launchpad for youth-led climate action. With support from Earth Rising, Sustainable Living Association was able to invest in a Youth Coordinator which helped organize the Youth Planning Committee and ensured the Summit was truly “by youths, for youths.” 

It is inspiring to see young people take action for a better future. Instead of being disheartened by the world the younger generations are inheriting, they are often full of energy, hope and creative, necessary ideas. The work of Sustainable Living Association, especially seen in their Youth Climate Leadership Summit, gives us hope for a brighter future, guided by the younger generations who have a full understanding of the systemic crisis climate change poses.

We are very happy to report that Sustainable Living Association is actively working to expand to a new county in Colorado so that more students, especially those from underserved communities, have access to climate education and leadership opportunities.  

Read more about the work of Sustainable Living Association here.