Climate Movement & Youth Climate Movement

CLIMATE MOVEMENT OVERVIEW: The Climate Movement is for people of all ages, and is happening at a number of scales - local, regional, global. Use resources below to explore and learn more:

• Youth Climate Movement History and Timeline: This resource provides a timeline of how the youth climate movement has grown over time. 

•  Climate Movement and Youth Climate Movement Organizations (Google Doc Version and Google Spreadsheet Version): There are a lot of different organizations that are connected to this movement for both youth and adults (i.e. 350.org, Youth vs. Apocalypse, Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future, etc.).

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) has developed an overview to different pathways for engagement for all stakeholders to consider for participation in the youth climate movement as a leader, ally, or observer: Youth Climate Movement Engagement Strategies

Climate Emergency Fund: The Climate Emergency Fund provides support to individuals and organizations who demonstrate the intention and capability of disrupting the inadequate and immoral gradual approach governments around the world are taking to addressing the climate emergency. 

Climate Psychiatry Alliance: This grassroots organization of psychiatrists have united with the mission of assuring optimal mental health by preventing and mitigating climate change's impact on mental health and maximizing the mental and physical health co-benefits of a sustainable, regenerative, global response. They have a number of resources on their page for supporting action. 

How to Launch and Sustain an Intergenerational Environmental Committee: The Sustainability Committee Overview document supports leaders in understanding the characteristics, considerations, and successful models for running effective district-wide sustainability or environmental committees. 

Resources to Support Green (Environmental and Climate Themed) Student Club Leaders with Initiative Planning:

• Student Club and Green Team Overview and Resources: This toolkit is designed to support student leaders, and their adult mentors, run successful environmental and climate themed clubs or green teams. 

• Student-Led Environmental and Climate Action Initiative Overview:  In a Student-Led Environmental and Climate Action Solutionary Initiative (a.k.a. Solutionary Community Impact Project), students analyze real-world environmental and social justice problems and develop solutions in their local community that seek to mitigate these problems through policy change, behavior change, and cultural mindset change. This document provides access to example projects and planning template resources. 

• Annual Calendars for Green Club Initiatives: 

  • • Zero Waste Green Club Initiative Annual Calendar of Activities

    • Garden Green Club Initiative Annual Calendar of Activities

    • Earth Awareness Days: Visit this page to learn more about important earth awareness days and to get toolkits for student-led earth day/week events. 

Key Constituents and Groups To Engage or Influence Environmental and Climate Action in K-12 Schools: This document highlights different key constituents and groups in K-12 Education that students (or changemakers) can engage or influence for environmental and climate action. 

Sep 21, 2025 - Sun Day: Sun Day is a day of action to celebrate the power of clean energy. On September 21st, people everywhere will be showcasing solar installations, electric homes and vehicles running on clean power. By organizing thousands of events on the fall Equinox, Sun Day will help accelerate the ongoing clean energy revolution: we have the technology and the solutions, all we need is to build the political will to scale-up and accelerate clean energy and make it accessible to all.

Sep 21 - 28, 2025 is Climate Week (NYC): Climate Week NYC, returns in 2025 with the theme, POWER ON. Hosted annually by The Climate Group, an international non-profit. There are a number of live event across New York City to showcase climate action, and many events that are streamed so people across the county and world can take part in the movement for climate action. This year is in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly, and ahead of the upcoming U.N. Conference of Parties (COP) for Climate Change. 

Sep 22 - 29, 2024 is Climate Week (NYC): Climate Week NYC, returns in 2024 with the theme, IT'S TIME. Hosted annually by The Climate Group, an international non-profit. There are a number of live event across New York City to showcase climate action, and many events that are streamed so people across the county and world can take part in the movement for climate action. This year is in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly, and ahead of the upcoming U.N. Conference of Parties (COP) for Climate Change. In the past five years these efforts have been led by California (Global Climate Action Summit 2018) and New York City.

Nov 11 - 22, 2024 - United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties 29 (COP 29): The 29th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan. The conference will focus on several key areas, including: 

• Finance: Countries will need trillions of dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from climate change. 

• National climate action plans: Countries will present updated plans under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming and invest in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

• And addressing topics and issues such as: debt solutions, innovative tools, retrofitting homes, action travel programs, flood prevention, green jobs, and sustainability. 

YOUTH CLIMATE STRIKES - Fridays for Future has global strikes scheduled for September 15th and 17th. Learn more about these strikes and how to engage in your local region here. 

Sep 17 - 24, 2023 is Climate Action Week (NYC): Climate Week NYC, returns in 2023 with the theme, WE CAN, WE WILL. Hosted annually by international non-profit, The Climate Group, and this year is in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly and ahead of COP 28. In the past five years these efforts have been led by California (Global Climate Action Summit 2018) and New York City.

Nov 30 - Dec 12, 2023 - United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties 28 (COP 28): COP 28 will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Key resources to help educators and youth to better understand what this event is all about and how to engage in related action are coming soon! 

Sep 19 - 25, 2022 is Climate Action Week (NYC): Climate Week NYC, returns in 2022 with a focus on fulfilling and increasing commitments made by businesses, governments, and organizations. Hosted annually by international non-profit, The Climate Group, and this year is in conjunction with the United Nations ahead of COP 27. Many cities and states often host local events in conjunction with this event. 

• Check out the Santa Clara County Climate Action Week Guide for Teachers

Sep 23, 2022 - Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike: The purpose of this strike is to highlight the importance of climate reparations and justice. 

• Find resources and information about action at: Fridays for Future - Sep 23

• Guardian Article: "Thousands of Youth Protest Around the World"

Nov 7 - Nov 18, 2022 - United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties 27 (COP 27): COP 27 will take place in Egypt in November. Key resources to help educators and youth to better understand what this event is all about and how to engage in related action are coming soon! 

Sep 24, 2021 - Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike: The purpose of this strike is to uproot systems of inequality and demand intersectional climate justice. Find resources and information about how and where to take action: Fridays for Future - Sep 24.

Sep 20 - 26, 2021 is Climate Action Week (NYC): Climate Week NYC, returns in 2021 with a focus on fulfilling and increasing commitments made by businesses, governments, and organizations. Hosted annually by international non-profit the Climate Group in conjunction with the United Nations, and in partnership with the COP26 and the City of New York, Climate Week NYC is a global opportunity to come together to accelerate climate action and assess progress ahead of COP26.  

• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) for Educational Leaders: This report will be the most up to date scientific data that organizations will be responding to during climate week. 

Oct 31 - Nov 12, 2021 - United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties 26 (COP 26): COP 26. Key resources to help educators and youth to better understand what this event is all about and how to engage in related action:

• COP 26 Goals: Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach; Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats; Mobilize finance; and Work together to deliver by finalizing the Paris Rulebook

• Educator Toolkit for COP26 (drafted by the COP26 U.S. Education Delegation)

• What is COP 26? And Why Does it Matter?

• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) for Educational Leaders: This report will be the most up to date scientific data that governments will be responding to at COP 26.

March 25, 2022 - Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike: The goal of the strike is to put pressure on policymakers and governments around the world, to make them listen to the scientists, and then to take forceful action to limit global warming. Every year, the strike has a different theme — and this year, it's #PeopleNotProfit. Find resources and information about how and where to take action: Fridays for Future - March 25, 2022.

April 22, 2022: Youth vs. Apocalypse organized actions referred to as the People's Earth Day March - The purpose of this action is to call attention to and demand the cleanup of radioactive and toxic waste from the Bay Area. We called on those that recognize that at the root of the issues we face as low-income people, Black, Brown, Indigenous people, and as LGBTQ+ people, is a system profiting off of our struggles. Find resources and information at Youth vs Apocalypse People's Earth Day March in April 2022.