Youth engagement at Environment and Climate Change Canada

Meaningful engagement with youth is a priority for the Government of Canada. It supports young people as equal partners in protecting our nature, keeping our air and water clean, fighting climate change, and more.

Commitment to youth engagement and guiding principles

Youth are generally those between the ages of 15 to 29 (State of Youth Report). This group represents roughly one-fifth of Canada’s diverse population. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is committed to engaging with youth, as guided by Canada’s Youth Policy.

It is important to provide young people with opportunities to get involved to support:

• informed decisions
• better design of policies
• more inclusive programs and regulations
• greater accountability in decision-making

ECCC has various initiatives and programs to meaningfully engage with youth and support environmental and climate action.

Key youth engagement initiatives

Engaging youth in environmental and climate issues is critical, as they are leaders and future decision-makers.

We are engaging youth by:

• seeking their input to inform policy decisions
• launching initiatives to boost environmental literacy
• providing training and jobs
• funding youth-led or youth-focused projects
• providing other opportunities

Engaging youth to inform policy

The Environment and Climate Change Canada Youth Council (ECCYC) provides non-partisan advice on environment and climate issues. The Youth Council consists of young and diverse leaders across the country. Members are passionate about protecting the environment and taking climate action.

Youth delegates and input to United Nations conferences: Canada consistently includes youth delegates in the annual United Nations climate change conferences (COP). Youth have also participated in Canada’s formal delegation to COPs for the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Action for Climate Empowerment: In the UNFCCC process, ECCC is committed to including youth in discussions and activities related to Action for Climate Change Empowerment (ACE). This UN initiative works to empower all members of society, including youth, to engage in climate action. ACE aims to enhance the implementation of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

The Government of Canada is working to advance ACE at home with:

• provincial and territorial governments
• national Indigenous representatives
• civil society
• youth

Engaging youth to boost environmental literacy

Science Made Simple and Scientists-at-Large: Science Made Simple helps scientists, researchers, and science experts become better science communicators. The program uses storytelling and presentations to reach and motivate Canadians to take environmental and climate action. ECCC scientists then share their work through the Scientists-at-Large program.

The program connects them to a network of:

• schools
• museums
• science centres
• non-governmental organizations

National Pollutant Release Inventory: The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) program at Environment and Climate Change Canada organizes activities with:

• museums
• government
• industry
• international organizations
• academia
• non-governmental organizations

These are tailored to youth to promote a broader understanding of the NPRI and pollution tracking in Canada. Each year, the NPRI team also launches an Academic Challenge aimed at university, college and CÉGEP students. Students are challenged to find innovative ways to use and analyze NPRI data with mentoring from ECCC experts.

Providing training and jobs

The Inuit Field Training Program teaches Inuit youth the skills and techniques required to work in a northern research camp. Participants gain hands-on research experience in environmental fields. They also get training from a team of Inuit mentors and scientists. This serves as a stepping-stone to employment or further education.

The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program provides wage subsidies up to $25,000 to eligible Canadian employers to hire recent post-secondary graduates. Internships are available in the environmental science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors.

An extra $5,000 is also available for wrap-around services to cover the costs of:

• certification and training
• job accessibility
• other supports to help with the labour market transition

The program supports youth participation in Canada’s green economy. It also provides them with valuable skills and experience to develop their careers.

Providing funding and opportunities

The Climate Action and Awareness Fund (CAAF) is a program that provides up to $206 million in funding over five years. It supports projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. This includes $12.5 million for an environmental literacy initiative.

Since 2020, the CAAF has funded projects aimed at supporting:

• youth climate awareness and community-based climate action
• climate research at Canadian think tanks and in academia
• advancing climate change science and technology

The CAAF has invested $37.8 million in 10 climate change projects for youth across Canada.

The EcoAction Community Funding Program helps private non-profit organizations take local climate action. Proposed projects must have a positive effect and measurable impact on the environment. They must also help communities build capacity to sustain similar activities in the future. Preference is given to proposals that engage Indigenous Peoples, youth, or small businesses.

Since 2015, ECCC has provided funding to Nature Canada to help deploy the NatureHood program on Canada's protected areas. These areas include National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. The NatureHood program engages youth and communities in the importance of nature conservation close to where they live.

The Atmospheric and Meteorological undergraduate supplements program provides up to $1,000 to undergraduate students working toward degrees in the atmospheric or meteorological sciences or related fields. Students must be recipients of an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA).

The Atmospheric and Meteorological graduate supplement program provides up to $5000 to students working towards a master's or doctoral degree in atmospheric or meteorological sciences, or related fields. To apply for this supplement, candidates must be the recipient of a Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) or an NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral. 

How to get involved

Would you like to share your voice, stay informed, or get involved? There are lots of opportunities!

Get jobs and experience

Opportunities for students

• Apply for the Federal Student Work Experience Program
  • you will gain valuable experience working on projects and initiatives that impact the lives of Canadians
  • join the top student employer in Canada
• Visit Student employment for Government of Canada job opportunities and hiring programs
  • find federal public service job opportunities in the Post-Secondary Co-op/Internship Program
• Work part-time as a research affiliate with the Government of Canada while you study through the Research Affiliate Program
• Check out Student Bridging
  • students who worked in the federal public service through a student program can be appointed to a permanent position
• Apply for Government of Canada jobs for Indigenous students and graduates

Opportunities for graduates and youth

• Discover opportunities with the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program. This program is part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS)
• Join Canada Service Corps for meaningful volunteer service opportunities for youth aged 15 to 30
• Develop your skills and gain experience in the workplace through the Young Canada Works program.
• Search jobs from employers hiring vulnerable youth in Canada through the Canada Youth Jobs Bank
• Sign up for alerts on job opportunities with the federal government through Government of Canada jobs (jobs.gc.ca)
• Apply for the Recruitment of Policy Leaders program to join a pool of candidates who are ready to be hired into mid- to senior-level policy-related positions in the federal public service
• If you have recently earned or are about to earn a Master’s, PhD or law degree, apply to the Advanced Policy Analyst Program
  • this is a leadership development program for economic and public policy analysts
• Apply to the graduate or Indigenous stream of the Policy Analyst Recruitment and Development Program
  • program participants learn how to manage their careers and develop their skills to become policy leaders
• Apply for Government of Canada jobs for Indigenous students and graduates
• Find federal digital and technology opportunities through the GC Digital Talent portal
• Explore the Youth Digital Gateway for volunteer and job opportunities
  • you can also find resources to help with your resume and prepare for interviews to find the right job for you

Share your voice and stay in touch

• Contribute to federal public consultations by visiting Consulting with Canadians
• Follow the work of the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council
  
  • Council members provide non-partisan advice to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and departmental officials on important environmental and climate issues
• Subscribe to our mailing list for environment and climate-related engagement opportunities by contacting ECCC’s Youth Engagement Unit at youth-jeunesse@ec.gc.ca
• For the latest in government opportunities, federal updates, insights, and exciting programs for youth, subscribe to the Leaders Today Newsletter
  
  • you can also follow Leaders Today on Facebook and Instagram
• Follow, like and subscribe to ECCC’s social media channels to stay in the loop with the latest on environment and climate issues