Youth Leaders Reach Out, Make Difference on Global Warming

When members of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) decided to launch a statewide outreach and education program on global warming, they never expected that it would take them to the halls of Congress. This high school leadership program of the National Wildlife Federation has brought its message to communities across Alaska and to members of Congress. In the process it has strengthened and expanded its organizational capacity.

AYEA launched the project in August 2005 when teens gathered in Homer to learn about global warming impacts in Alaska, the science behind the greenhouse effect, and how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

AYEA youth prepared a statewide youth petition, and developed a presentation on global warming. AYEA chapter leaders gave the presentation to over 300 science and social studies classrooms in schools throughout Alaska. In addition, teens from AYEA’s Mt. Edgecumbe chapter traveled to their home villages to meet with youth in over ninety communities. The Innovation Center helped with training on youth-adult partnerships.

Accomplishments:

• AYEA garnered 5,000 teen signatures from 105 communities in Alaska --- more than 10% of the enrolled high school population, and just under 10% of the entire teen population.
• A delegation of teens traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Alaska Delegation and other Congressional leaders on global warming.
• AYEA teen leaders promoted legislation to create an Alaska Climate Change Impact Commission. Teens lobbied for a youth seat on the commission and met with over twenty legislators to promote other bills supporting the funding of alternative energy projects.
• When AYEA teens introduced a Climate Change Resolution at the Alaska Association of Student Governments (AASG) conference, four hundred teens from over twenty communities unanimously adopted the resolution.
• The climate change initiative has spurred dramatic growth at AYEA. The program has engaged 500% more young people in one year with environmental issues, and five times as many youth as it has ever engaged in the history of the program.

For more information about implementing these strategies in your work, contact us at info@theinnovationcenter.org or 301-270-1700.