The National Youth Climate Activism Award honours students across Canada under the age of 20.

On October 25, 2019, we joined thousands of people marching for the planet’s health and to see Greta Thunberg speak on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Greta’s 10-minute speech was deeply inspiring, but more significantly, the passion and enthusiasm of the young people in the crowd were very moving.

“We’re starting to see through their lies and we will hold them accountable for their actions. We will be a constant reminder that they are failing and that constant reminder is what we are today, and every Friday, every single day that goes by without sufficient action being taken and when the science is being ignored. Because we are not just some kids skipping school or some adults who are not going to work. We are a wave of change and together we are unstoppable.”

This experience and the power of Greta’s words, plus the actions and statements from some amazing Sustainabiliteens, planted the seed for the Youth Climate Activism Award (YCAA).

There is not much public, formal recognition at present that acknowledges the power teenagers can rally to impact real change and speak truth to our leaders. The Youth Climate Activism Award, launched in 2022, is the first award to recognize the young change agents driving this unstoppable wave.