Youth-Led Climate Groups – Canadian Youth in Action

As the effects of Climate Change become more evident, many Canadian youths are seeing the impact on both physical and mental health. According to a recent report by SunLife Insurance and Environics, around 47% of young Canadians are experiencing climate anxiety, a state of distress and fear due to climate change. Youth are looking for the proper support from like-minded people and a voice that they can relate to.

I read a recent story about David Toro, a Colombian who came to Canada as a student and was struggling to manage his emotions about climate change. In 2023, when he found a peer-support group for climate change anxiety at Concordia University, he was surprised to see people pulling chairs together to make room for concern. The story inspired me to look for more groups and youth-led initiatives that are creating space for tough climate conversations and working for a future they deserve.  In this post, I have listed six youth-led climate groups working for a greener, more sustainable future, as examples of Canadian youth in action.

1. Ontario Nature’s Youth Council: A network of high school-aged students working together to raise environmental awareness and act for nature.
   • The council conducts webinars, workshops, presentations, and hosts events to spread awareness and act on conservation issues – wetland protection, pollinator awareness, habitat restoration, and advocating biodiversity
   • Each September, Ontario Nature also hosts the Youth Summit for Mother Earth for youth aged 14 to 20 from across Ontario.
   • The 2025 Youth Summit brought together 42 youths from 32 communities across the province, who participated in workshops, including ‘Navigating eco-anxiety and activism’
2. Youth Climate Corps – British Columbia: A youth-led program that empowers young people to lead on climate solutions and supports a low-carbon, resilient future. The youth committee includes 14 young members who conduct and participate in workshops around Indigenous Sovereignty and climate science.
   • The program gained strong momentum in 2024 and is now working in multiple regions and engaging new partners
   • Their focus areas include food security, energy efficiency, wildfire risk reduction, youth leadership development, community engagement, ecosystem restoration, and education
3. Youth Climate Lab: A Canada-based organization that aims to create a climate-resilient future. Headquartered in Ottawa, their programs help youth (ages 18-30) become active participants in climate decision-making spaces. Core programs designed for youth:
   • ‘From Root to Sky’, a program that helped youth of racialized and marginalized communities by healing them through art, storytelling, spiritual, and land-based activities
   • ‘RAD Cohort’, which helps young people work together and use climate justice approaches to move the Sustainable Development Goals forward
   • The Spark, which uplifts and connects youth voices on domestic climate policy issue
4. City Hive, Vancouver: A youth-led organization with a mission to transform how young people participate in shaping their cities. They run a variety of programs that give youth practical civic tools, boost their climate literacy, and help them directly contribute to decision-making in their municipalities. Some of their key programs include:
   • ClimateWorks Lab, which is for youth 18–30 to launch climate projects in their workplaces or communities
   • CityShapers in Communities, which teaches young people how local government works through hands-on workshops
   • Urban ReVision, a mentorship studio for BIPOC youth to explore urban planning and civic governance via real projects
5. BCG Canada: One of Canada’s largest youth-serving organizations, operating more than 700 Clubs across the country.
   • Their mission is to offer safe, supportive “third places”—spaces beyond home and school—where kids and teens can develop confidence, build relationships, and gain life skills
   • They support youth climate engagement by promoting environmental advocacy and offering STEM programs that build climate literacy
6. The Starfish Canada, British Columbia: Started in 2010, The Starfish Canada has been working towards creating a just, climate-resilient future shaped by all youth.
   • Through programs like their “Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25,” youth leadership labs, education workshops, volunteer-driven journalism, and a speaker’s bureau, they support, promote, and celebrate the work of young environmental changemakers
   • Their fellowship program of 8 months, called ‘Climate75’, helps participants learn about climate issues, project design, communications, and community engagement

A climate action identified across the youth organizations mentioned above is the need for a safe space to discuss climate issues, with climate anxiety as the consistent theme. Laura Tooker, a young and passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, created her own safe space called ‘conversation club’ where she discusses topics of concern, including environmental issues, with her friends. The club is an example of how today’s youth is transforming their feelings into action.

At Impact Net Zero, we help young Canadians navigate climate anxiety and fuel it in the right direction. With our ‘Make an Impact’ segment, we share stories by young people about cycling, reducing food waste, and being close to nature. If you also wish to share your story, feel free to reach out – share with us and inspire others.