Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives welcomes 31 Leaders
Published on December 04, 2023
Cohort will deepen community engagement through the San Antonio Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
SAN ANTONIO (December 4, 2023) — The Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives welcomes its fourth cohort of 31 local youths, representing each City Council district and 18 different public, private, and charter schools. The mission of the Council is to activate San Antonio’s next generation of climate champions to engage in community issues around climate change, environmental policy, and environmental justice.
“By serving on this youth council, I hope to set a precedent for any young person who wants to make a change,” said Luis, a newly appointed council member from International School of the Americas. “I hope to lead by example and use this position to spread my ideas to those who influence policy. Serving on this youth council can open doors to a future in which I can make those differences myself, as the one in charge of making those policies. One way or another, I truly hope that I can make San Antonio a better city.”
“Young San Antonio residents are eager to participate in local and global climate conversations to advocate for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I am proud of the Youth Engagement Council and their influence on our City’s sustainability efforts.”
“Youth offer incredibly unique perspectives on our current climate and environmental justice challenges and should play a key role in designing the solutions that will impact them for decades to come,” said Brittany Jayroe, EcoRise Senior Director, Youth Programs. “The Mayor’s youth engagement council provides an important platform for youth to contribute their ideas, participate in intergenerational dialogue, and learn from and support the work frontline community organizations are already championing.”
The Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives was established in 2020 to foster and include youth voices in the implementation of the City of San Antonio’s first Climate Action and Adaption Plan (CAAP). The council was made possible by a grant from the Hollomon Price Foundation. For more information about EcoRise and last year’s council, visit Ecorise.org.