Hey there! I want to share the story about the big project I have worked on this term. This post is all about Youth Action on Climate Change Program.
What is YACC?
Youth Action on Climate Change is a program led for youth, by youth. It teaches them the skills needed to take climate action in the local community. We educate youth on the issues facing their community. We teach them how to take tangible action and inspire them to take their future into their own hands. We run workshops, presentations and brainstorming sessions to instigate these actions. The major event that happened this past July was the Youth Climate Leadership Workshop, which is where I’ve been focusing most of my energy since March.
How did I get involved?
During my winter co-op I attended the Youth Action on Climate Change Leadership Workshop hosted at the University of Guelph. It was a three hour skill-building seminar inviting youth from local high schools to attend. We taught youth about climate change and helped them develop a youth-oriented climate action plan. The group focused on active transportation and are now working on a research report to present to city councillors.
Attending the event inspired me to reach out to the organizer, Emily. I wanted to say thank you for hosting the event. I also wanted to learn how she started YACC so I could start something similar in Waterloo. We met for coffee, had a great chat, one thing led to another and we became partners. YACC came to Waterloo.
Bringing YACC to Waterloo: the process
Our first meeting was in March. From there we connected with Tyler, Emily’s brother at Laurier, to make YACC happen in the Waterloo Region. We wanted to make the program more than just a one-time workshop. We wanted interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and a brainstorming session to develop a local climate action plan. We also wanted to engage the broader community, inviting youth from everywhere across the Region.
Months of planning and organizing went by. We partnered with the Faculty of Environment at UW and Laurier’s Sustainability Office. We were sponsored by local organizations like Reep Green Solutions and Sustainable Waterloo Region. We received thousands of dollars in funding from the schools and the Waterloo Environment Student Endowment Fund. I met amazing people throughout this process, people who are now good friends and mentors to me.
The July conference
The Waterloo event was a full-day conference at the University of Waterloo. We ran interactive workshops to get youth familiar with the small ways they can take climate action in their own lives. These include beeswax wrap making, a voting simulation and a systems thinking workshop.
While youth attended these workshops, parents, and other adult attendants were asked to take part in a discussion about climate literacy. We wanted to hear their perspectives on the issues and teach them how to meaningfully engage with youth about climate change. We had guest presentations from Master’s of Climate Change student Heather McDiarmid, and Mike Morrice, co-founder of Sustainable Waterloo Region. We held a networking session over a low-waste, mainly plant-based lunch with locally-made baked goods and Fair Trade coffee.
The bulk of the day was focused on two things. First, we identified the main problem sectors in Waterloo Region. Second, we developed a comprehensive action plan that youth could carry out after the conference. We asked attendants to identify a problem and the key barriers preventing action. We then chose measurable and realistic actions to address those barriers.
We split the large group into two sections, one focusing on food systems and the other on green infrastructure. I led the green infrastructure section, so I will describe what we did.
To begin, we defined energy transformations. This term refers to making energy-using buildings or places more efficient. This could be through retrofitting existing buildings with solar panels, rainwater catchment systems and more. It could also mean creating design standards that require renewable energy systems in new buildings.
Energy transitions
Our group is focusing on transitioning public infrastructure such as malls and schools. We will research current energy consumption habits and the barriers for transitioning to renewable energy. Later, we hope to present this information to decision-makers to shatter the stigma around energy transitions being “cost-inefficient,” “time consuming” and “unreliable.”
Inter-generational collaboration
My favourite thing about the conference was seeing how engaged everyone was. We had individuals as young as 11 and as old as 25 attend and work together to solve the wicked problems associated with climate change. Furthermore, I love hearing their stories, why they are involved and why climate action is important to them. It inspires me and validates the work that we are doing, proving it is contributing to something grander.
Overall, the event was a huge success. It was covered by CBC and CTV News, sharing our story across Canada. The momentum is growing. I am excited to see where Youth Action on Climate Change goes in the future!
Curious to learn more about YACC?
If you want to learn more about us, check out our website! You can read the CBC story and view the CTV News coverage too. Feel free to send me any questions or comments about the program in the comments below or via social media. I regularly post about YACC on my Instagram as well; be sure to follow me there for more information on our activities!
As always, thank you for reading. Until next time!
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