Youth Leadership in Minnesota Advances Climate Policy

Earth Rising is proud to support Youth Environmental Activists (YEA!) from the Climate Generation. YEA! supports youth leaders in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota to take action for the climate. The initiative recognizes the disproportionate impact climate change has on low-income and BIPOC communities and works to support Minnesota youth climate leaders 

During the past year, YEA! offered year round political education for students to develop their leadership and ran successful policy campaigns. In February 2025 youth leaders hosted the Youth Climate Justice Summit (YCJS), a day-long summit created by youth for youth. More than one hundred young people from across the state attended YCJS. Together these youth leaders selected policy and spoke directly to elected officials. 

However, YEA! Extends far beyond the summit. Throughout the school year ten youth leaders kept these efforts alive, demonstrating the importance of youth testimony in advancing climate policy. They worked together to maintain a network of youth leaders, took action together and planned workshops. These workshops followed youth chosen curriculum focuses such as Climate Justice 101, Human Migration related to Climate Change, Fast Fashion and much more. 

Through the year, YEA! also worked hard to build relationships with state lawmakers. YEA youth leaders mobilized around the Climate Justice Education bill, working closely with State Representatives Larry Kraft and Athena Hollins. They created educational materials about the bill as well as artwork about the impacts of the bill. Climate Generation also worked in coalition to track the just implementation of two laws passed in Minnesota during 2023. Youth and staff also worked together to oppose financial assistance for the construction of Data Centers, and advocated for clear accountability standards.

In pre and post surveys youth leaders have identified the positive impact the YEA! program is having on their leadership skills, organizing work and knowledge of the climate crisis. 2025 has been a busy and impactful year for Climate Generation and the YEA! Youth leaders. We are proud to support youth centered climate work and believe it is through the younger generations that imagining different systems and enacting them is possible.