Youth don't just need more inspiration –we need infrastructure.

Dear friend, 

My name is Kate, U.S. Climate Action Network’s Policy and Communications Coordinator. Recently, I was invited to speak at an event on “Empowering the Next Generation” for the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum in New York. The USCAN team asked me to share those reflections with you. 

Thank you in advance for reading. If you feel so inclined, I hope you’ll take a second at the end to share your thoughts with me! (kyeo@usclimatenetwork.org) 

With love and hope,

Kate

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I never thought I would become an environmentalist. In fact, for much of my life, I felt disconnected from nature altogether. I grew up in Singapore, where the closest thing we have to a mountain is a 536-foot hill you can summit in 20 minutes on a paved road.

But at 16, I launched a simple initiative encouraging people in Singapore to reduce plastic waste by bringing their own tumblers. What prompted my foray into sustainability was not a single “eureka” moment, but rather small, cumulative influences: conversations with peers, geography lessons in the classroom, and watching other young people mobilize on the streets.

Conducting outreach with drink stores across Singapore.

Running the “BYO Bottle Singapore” campaign taught me two things. One, that minds can be changed – mine certainly was! Two, that everyone has a pathway into climate action. These beliefs have guided my work ever since.

The climate movement is struggling to connect. We throw out jargon like “1.5,” “COP,” and “Net Zero,” forgetting about those beyond the choir. Too often, we lead with fear and catastrophe, which, while very real, leaves people feeling powerless. 

Survey after survey shows that young people are already worried about the climate crisis. If we want more people engaged, then we need to tell better stories of hope. Stories that highlight not just the scale of the problem, but the progress already underway – and the role each of us can play, whether that’s amplifying a post on social media, or calling your representatives. 

When we elevate not only major milestones but also the small, collective wins, we send a clear message: you don’t have to be extraordinary to make a difference. You can start today.

But there’s also a resource gap we cannot ignore. Young people don’t just need inspiration – we need infrastructure. Access to funding, mentorship, and networks is essential to turning ideas into scalable, lasting solutions.

This is where your role is critical.

With more than half of the global population under 35, supporting young people is essential to sustaining locally-rooted and exceedingly creative climate solutions. Investing in youth is not charity – it’s strategy. That support can take many forms: from simplifying grant processes, to compensating young people fairly for their time and contributions, or even making an introduction that opens doors.

At the U.S. Climate Action Network, our youth-led members are doing extraordinary work. Care about Climate – led by Hailey Campbell – trains youth to become climate policy experts. Mission Green Global – founded by Arushi Surve while she was still in high school – organizes workshops and clean-ups on a global scale. USCAN itself comprises an intergenerational team of dedicated advocates. 

Youth volunteers at a Mission Green Global trash clean-up event.

Here’s how you can support young leaders like Hailey and Arushi, and USCAN’s work more broadly:

• Follow and amplify young climate justice leaders like our members Care About Climate, Climate Cardinals, and Mission Green Global (and USCAN, of course!)

• Subscribe to USCAN’s blog to learn more about how other network leaders are stepping up to inspire change.

• Share this post with a friend or youth leader in your network! Encourage them to follow USCAN's channels so they too can be connected to climate justice in action. 

If we can match powerful storytelling with real investment, I am confident we’ll unlock the full potential of the next generation of climate leaders.

Thank you for being a part of this work, and for helping turn possibility into progress.