The unifying foundation of these organizations is their climate change concern and their focus on youth specifically but the sites are very diverse — ranging from a focus on the oceans to politics and more. This list includes each organization’s mission, achievements, and website.
Go to our RESOURCES section for a much larger list.
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Organizations covering multiple categories will have no icon.
Billion Oysters ProjectBOP, an initiative of the New York Harbor Foundation, is an ecosystem restoration and education project aimed at restoring one billion live oysters to New York Harbor and engaging hundreds of thousands of school children through restoration based STEM education programs. Students at New York Harbor School have been growing and restoring oysters in New York Harbor for the last six years.
Earth GuardiansEarth Guardians trains diverse youth to be effective leaders in the environmental, climate and social justice movements across the globe – using art, music, storytelling, on the ground projects, civic engagement and legal action to advance solutions to the critical issues we face as a global community.
Earth UprisingEarth Uprising isn’t an organization. It’s a battle cry. We are young people across the world who won’t stay silent while our future is destroyed.
EarthEcho InternationalEarthEcho International is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that youth have the power to change our planet. Established by siblings Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau in honor of their father Philippe Cousteau Sr., and grandfather legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, our mission is to inspire young people worldwide to act now for a sustainable future.
Fridays for Future#FridaysForFuture is a movement that began in August 2018, after 15 years old Greta Thunberg sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis. She posted what she was doing on Instagram and Twitter and it soon went viral.
On the 8th of September, Greta decided to continue striking every Friday until the Swedish policies provided a safe pathway well under 2-degree C, i.e. in line with the Paris agreement.
The hashtags #FridaysForFuture and #Climatestrike spread and many students and adults began to protest outside of their parliaments and local city halls all over the world. This has also inspired the Belgium Thursday school strikes.
Built by youth activists, for youth activists, Future Coalition is a national network that fosters community and collaboration among youth leaders and youth-led organizations. Young people have the ideas and passion to make incredible change in their local communities, in the country, and in the world. Future Coalition provides these young people with the tools, resources, and support to power their ideas and amplify their impact. The programming is split into three pillars all which work together to build up the capacity in the youth space and grow the impact of youth organizers across the country.
Heirs to our OceansHeirs to Our Oceans is a rising tide of young leaders around the globe who are taking the ocean crisis into their own hands, educating themselves and others, bringing hope and solutions to the surface, and creating waves of change that will ensure the health of our blue planet for their generation and for future generations.
Ocean First InstituteOur goal is to educate and empower future generations to preserve our ocean ecosystems and become future leaders in conservation. We do this by connecting youth with the wonders of the ocean and the importance of hands-on conservation through programming that highlights scientific exploration. Our in-person and virtual education programs have already inspired over 100,000 students across the world to take action in their local communities while our field-based research expeditions have exposed students to the rigors of the scientific process and how it contributes to the real-world value of conservation.
Plant for the PlanetInspired by Wangari Maathai, who planted 30 million trees in Africa in 30 years, Felix formulated his vision: Children could plant one million trees in every country on earth and thereby offset CO2 emissions all on their own, while adults are still talking about doing it. Each tree binds a CO2 intake of 10 kg per year.
Sunrise MovementSunrise is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. We’re building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people. We are ordinary young people who are scared about what the climate crisis means for the people and places we love. We are gathering in classrooms, living rooms, and worship halls across the country. Everyone has a role to play. Public opinion is already with us – if we unite by the millions we can turn this into political power and reclaim our democracy. We are not looking to the right or left. We look forward. Together, we will change this country and this world, sure as the sun rises each morning.
Sustainable Oceans AllianceThe Sustainable Oceans Alliance is a youth-led organization that empowers Millennials to become leaders in preserving the health and sustainability of our oceans. With education, resources and collaborative opportunities, we aim to inspire Millennials to create measurable impact by incentivizing social and environmental investments and fostering cross-sector partnerships. Our vision is to provide a platform for innovative cross-sector collaboration through which business practices, effective legislation, and cutting edge technology can catalyze solutions.
This is Zero HourWe, the youth, believe that #thisisZeroHour to act on climate change. We cannot afford to wait any longer for adults to protect our right to the clean and safe environment, the natural resources we need to not just survive, but flourish. We know that we are the leaders we have been waiting for! While climate change is a phenomenon that will impact all of us —if it has not already—we believe that the impact of the climate crisis is profoundly unequal. Frontline communities across the globe and within the United States have been directly impacted by climate change to a degree greater than others. We believe, however, that those closest to the problem are also often closest to the solution. These communities have been actively working to create just solutions and transitions. Our goal is to center the unique wisdom, experience, and leadership of these communities in our efforts to make impactful change.
Young Voices for the PlanetThe mission of the Young Voices for the Planet film series is to to limit the magnitude of climate change and its impacts by empowering children and youth, through uplifting and inspiring success stories, to take an essential role in informing their communities — and society at large, challenging decision-makers, and catalyzing change.
We document youth speaking out, creating solutions and leading the change. These youth solutions to the climate crisis include stories of California kids banning plastic bags, Florida students saving their school $53,000 in energy costs, an 11-year-old German boy planting millions of trees and other young people changing laws, changing minds and changing society as they reduce the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities.
Youth Climate StrikeWe, the youth of America, are striking because decades of inaction has left us with just 11 years to change the trajectory of the worst effects of climate change, according to the Oct 2018 UN IPCC Report. We are striking because our world leaders have yet to acknowledge, prioritize, or properly address our climate crisis. We are striking because marginalized communities across our nation —especially communities of color, disabled communities, and low- income communities— are already disproportionately impacted by climate change. We are striking because if the social order is disrupted by our refusal to attend school, then the system is forced to face the climate crisis and enact change. With our futures at stake, we call for radical legislative action to combat climate change and its countless detrimental effects on the American people. We are striking for the Green New Deal, for a fair and just transition to a 100% renewable economy, and for ending the creation of additional fossil fuel infrastructure. Additionally, we believe the climate crisis should be declared a national emergency because we are running out of time.
Youth Vs. ApocalypseYouth Vs. Apocalypse is a diverse group of young climate justice activists working together to lift the voices of youth, in particular youth of color, and fight for a livable climate and an equitable, sustainable, and just world. Youth leaders are supported with networks, training, logistical assistance, and intersectional analysis in order to allow them to fight powerfully for themselves, their communities, and the planet. In San Fransisco, Sonoma, and Oakland, Youth vs Apocalypse members organized meet ups, marches, and protests, gathering thousands of young people from all across the Bay Area and beyond.