Your Voice, Your Future: Empowering Change for a Sustainable Future

by Phoebe Schlather

Are you looking for a way to do something, make a difference? So did I.  And to help others like myself, I spent my summer researching ways to do so, finding resources to help students like me do something to help our environment, mitigate climate change and help our earth.

The Long Island Clean Energy Hub, Renewable Energy Long Island, and Students for Climate Action are committed to fighting the climate crisis and the youth voice is the strongest, after all, it is your future.  

Where to begin..

1.) Know your rights

As a young activist, it’s crucial to understand your rights to protest, organize, and advocate for change. Knowing these rights empowers you to take action and support your community effectively.

Resources for Understanding Your Rights

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Offers comprehensive guides on students' rights, including free speech and assembly.
• NYCLU: Provides resources and support for young activists to understand their rights in various contexts.

2.) Find an outlet for your passion through community building

Did you know that grassroots movements and organizations have been started by passionate individuals just like you? These initiatives thrive when coalitions of diverse people come together to advocate for a common cause. Building strong community connections is essential for creating effective movements and driving meaningful change. 

What changes do you envision for your neighborhood? Are there issues that need more attention, or voices that should be amplified? Think about the relationships you have with your peers, local organizations, and leaders. How can you collaborate to create positive change? Whether it’s a local initiative or a broader societal concern, your ideas matter!

• Reach out to local community organizations and youth-led organizations focused on the issue you care about. 
  •  Youth Led Organizations based in NY:
    • Students for Climate Action 
    • Student Climate Coalition
    • New York Youth Climate Leaders
    • Sunrise Movement NYC
    • WNY Youth Climate Council
    • Zero Hero NYC on Instagram
  • Other Organizations:
    • Green Alliance Schools - host youth climate leaderships events, has a peer to peer network

• Find friends to form a group and gain support
  • Guide for High School Activists: Advocates for Youth has a great step by step instruction on creating a student group. This comprehensive guide takes you through approaches to gaining support, the organizational skills needed to create the group and many more important information. 

• Utilize Social media:
  • Platforms like Instagram can be a great way to connect with organizations and keep up with the work they are doing.

3.) Know what your advocating for: 

Here are some essential questions to better understand and research what you are advocating for:

• What is the core issue I want to address?
• What specific problem am I focusing on, and why is it important to me and my community?
• Who is affected by this issue?
• How does this issue impact different groups, and who stands to benefit from the changes I want to see?
• What are the root causes of this issue?
• What underlying factors (social, economic, political) contribute to this problem, and how can I address them?

These questions help clarify your goals, strengthen your strategy, and ensure your advocacy is thoughtful, focused, and effective. 

4.) Educate yourself on the topic

The more you learn about the issue you care about, the more effective you become as an advocate. Knowledge is a powerful tool that helps you understand the complexities of the problem you want to change. Remember, learning about a new topic can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve provided some resources to support you on your journey.

• Articles and Books: 
  • The Wild Center has a list of resources whether you’re a student, educator or parent looking to educate yourself on climate issues.
  • A Young person’s guide to sustainable energy 
  • Clean Energy for All Ages
  • The Zinn Education website has a variety of different resources for educators and students who want to learn more about climate justice.
  • Non-fiction book guide centered around climate justice
  • Fiction book guide centered around climate justice

• Films and Podcasts: 

  • NECESSITY: A Two-Part Documentary Series on Climate Resistance

  • Young Voices for the Planet: “Words Have Power”

  • This Changes Everything 
  • A list of documentaries on S4CA website
  • A List of podcasts on S4CA website

• Online Courses and Workshops: 
  • Learn more about climate issues through teach ins held by young climate activists at New Yorkers for Clean Energy
  • You can request a Green the Grid Presentation for your school or community. A member of the NYCP team will present background information on climate change, NY’s climate laws, and provide resources for your group to get more involved with the climate movement.
  • Toolkit by New York Youth Climate Leaders on how to lobby for climate action
  • https://theclimateinitiative.org/policy-toolkits/

5.) Remember you are not alone on your journey

Inspiring climate youth activist:

• Mishka Banuri- 19-year-old climate activist and the co-founder of Utah Youth Environmental Solutions (UYES), an organization that empowers young people to hold government officials accountable in the fight against the climate crisis.
  • Hear the rest of her story here: https://earthjustice.org/article/mishka-banuri-climate-justice

• Isabel Valentín- 17-year-old climate activist from Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico, serves as the logistics director for the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, organizing efforts to address the climate crisis.
  • Hear the rest of her story here: https://earthjustice.org/article/we-have-to-believe-that-we-can-change-the-world-drastically

• Felix Finkbeiner who is the founder of Plant for the Planet:

  • https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/