Join the CEC in Celebrating Youth Leadership Across North America on International Youth Day
Happy International Youth Day! Today, we celebrate the energy, innovation and dedication of young leaders who are driving positive change across North America. Youth play a pivotal role in advancing sustainability by embracing a holistic approach. Their engagement accelerates knowledge-sharing and awareness, supports intergenerational dialogue, spurs action to tackle environmental challenges and fosters skill development for a sustainable future.
Introducing the CEC’s Youth Engagement Strategy
In 2024, the CEC launched its first three-year Youth Engagement Strategy (YES). Building on past efforts, the 2024–2026 strategy identifies challenges and opportunities for meaningful youth engagement across the CEC’s activities, work programs and networking spaces to foster meaningful youth participation, strengthen community capacity and ensure long-term sustainability of engagement approaches. Read the strategy here.
Celebrating the 2024 GELP Cohort
On this International Youth Day, we highlight the accomplishments of the 2024 Generation of Environmental Leaders Program (GELP) cohort. These inspiring young leaders carried out impactful environmental solutions across Canada, Mexico and the United States and recently completed their full cycle in the program, which included a year of mentorship sessions.
Join us in celebrating their achievements, as well as their commitment and active involvement throughout the mentorship journey. Over the past year, they received meaningful opportunities, including being named to the "25 Under 25 Young Climate Prize," serving as keynote speakers and taking part in international conferences, global design academies and fellowships. They also connected with the 2024 GELP semi-finalists and several CEC collaborators to grow their professional networks. Re-discover their environmental solutions and inspiring stories here.
The CEC is now welcoming the 2025 GELP cohort. Stay tuned for future opportunities!
Coming Soon: 2025 Youth Engagement Week (YEW)
The CEC Youth Engagement Week (YEW) returns this fall with the theme “Youth Breaking Silos!”. This annual event is designed to embrace youth perspectives in North America by fostering their active participation in the CEC’s work and efforts.
This fall, we’ll be seeking youth facilitators and speakers from the three countries to share their experiences and lead discussions in three key areas:
- Youth-driven businesses and intra/entrepreneurship
- Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge
- Subnational and community engagement
Are you a youth leader or part of an organization supporting youth? Keep an eye out for updates on how you can get involved!
Youth Leading the Way
Youth engagement isn’t just about the future, it’s also about today. By working with and supporting young leaders from diverse backgrounds, we ensure that environmental solutions are impactful, accessible to all and rooted in the priorities of those who will inherit our planet. From skill-building to decision making, youth are catalysts for change, driving sustainability forward across borders.
As we celebrate this year’s achievements, we look ahead to another year of forging collaborations. Together, we’re building a resilient, equitable and sustainable North America.
Stay Connected
Visit www.cec.org/youth to learn more about the CEC’s youth engagement efforts and activities. Follow us on social media or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on opportunities, events and stories.
About the CEC
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) was established in 1994 by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States through the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, a parallel environmental agreement to NAFTA. As of 2020, the CEC is recognized and maintained by the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, in parallel with the new Free Trade Agreement of North America. The CEC brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including the general public, Indigenous people, youth, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the business sector, to seek solutions to protect North America’s shared environment while supporting sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations
The CEC is governed and funded equally by the Government of Canada through Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Government of the United States of Mexico through the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, and the Government of the United States of America through the Environmental Protection Agency.