If you follow along with environmental news, you may have seen recent headlines ranging from a group in Montana advocating that the state’s policies violated their constitutional right to a healthy and clean future, to the vandalism of fine art to bring attention to the climate crisis, to Greta Thunberg challenging world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit to do more about climate change. What do these have in common? They feature young leaders around the world who are seeking meaningful, systemic change to ensure a safe and healthy future for themselves and the generations to come.
Why Young Leaders Matter
According to the United Nations, the world is home to 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 to 24- which is the largest generation of youth in history. Within this generation, there is increasing awareness, frustration, and mobilization of youth demanding world leaders follow through on the promises they are making from local legislation to federal initiatives, all the way to the global stage. A study from the Pew Research Center found that Millennial and Gen-Z Americans stand out “for their high levels of engagement with the issue of climate change,” explained by feelings of anxiety about the future and an urgency to reverse biodiversity loss and carbon emissions.
As an early career conservationist, myself, on the way out of the bucket determined as “youth”, I am consistently impressed by the creative and innovative ways younger generations are confronting the dual climate and biodiversity crises. Whether through social media, grassroots leadership, academia, driving policy, or becoming globally recognized environmental leaders, it is undeniable that the next generation of environmental leadership is serious about making systemic change.
Historically, younger generations have been prevented from participating in conversations about the looming environmental crises, even though their futures are more likely to be affected by climate change and biodiversity loss than older generations, despite contributing the least to the crisis. Never has a generation encountered such consistent news that the future they are entitled to is at risk from existential threats to our environment. However, in the face of these devastating headlines, youth have proven themselves to be resilient, thoughtful, and innovative.
So many groups led by youth have emerged in recent years, demonstrating this generation’s ability to organize. Some of my favorite (but who can choose?!) include the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, Next 100, YEAH-net, CoalitionWILD, Groundwork USA, Environmental Learning for Kids, Youth4Nature, and the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps. There are so many more groups out there either being led by youth or working to empower and build capacity in younger generations to be effective stewards of the environment.
Young people have demonstrated repeatedly in recent years that they are willing to do what it takes to ensure the world is habitable going forward through continued advocacy, education, and innovation. As the world reaches a pivotal point in the dual climate and biodiversity crises, it is essential that this new generation of leaders has the capacity to continue, as well as a seat at the table whenever critical conversations are taking place.
The Salazar Center’s Role
As part of the Salazar Center’s ongoing mission “to accelerate the pace and scale of equitable, innovative, and durable solutions for nature and all people by connecting diverse leaders, communities, and resources across the North American continent,” we are working hard to ensure that the next generation of leadership is represented at this year’s Symposium on Conservation Impact. This year’s event will bring together diverse thought leaders from across North America to share their insights on how to move beyond individual projects to lasting systemic change that will drive a nature-positive future. Youth and emerging leaders across North America have already demonstrated their desire to shake up the norm, making this the perfect space to engage them.
To ensure the younger attendees’ voices have a dedicated space to be heard, on the first day of the Symposium we will host a Rising Leader’s Learning and Networking lunch. This will be a space where select attendees identifying as young or emerging leaders will have the opportunity to participate in a session dedicated to understanding the challenges and opportunities for this group to engage in successfully implementing NbS across North America. The lunch will feature local speakers and provide ample opportunities for the group to discuss what a nature positive future led for and by youth looks like.
Additionally, through our first financial support program, made possible by our generous sponsors and partners, we were able to offer assistance to 15 young conservationists from across North America. They represent sectors from academia, grassroots work, policy, and advocacy, and will come to the Symposium with their valuable perspectives in tow.
Learn more about the International Symposium on Conservation Impact and register to join emerging leaders and experts as we discuss a nature-positive future for North America.
Do you identify as a young or emerging leader and plan on attending the Symposium? Reach out to Shoshanna Dean ([email protected]) to get the most out of your Symposium experience.
James is Director of the Indigenous Lands Program at Trees, Water & People (TWP). James engages and works with U.S. Tribal Nations in the American Southwest on efforts centered around community-based, Tribal-led stewardship projects that create economic and environmental development opportunities. In his role, James provides much needed insight and experience on working with Tribal governments that uphold traditional ethics of governance and leadership, while also respecting Tribal sovereignty. His deep-rooted experiences and cultural values strengthens TWP’s approach in building honest, working relationships with Tribes and promoting cross-cultural values of large landscape conservation. 
