Our Vision for a Youth Climate Corps: a transformative climate and labour solution
Climate mobilization in Canada has yet to feel like a grand societal undertaking, despite the risks we face and the climate disruption we’ve already endured — like heat domes, wildfires, and atmospheric rivers.
The Youth Climate Corps is an invitation to the country’s youth to mobilize to confront our civilizational challenge and step into a future with meaning and purpose.
The Youth Climate Corps could be a flagship and transformative new public program, signalling to young people and society at large that we are genuinely in climate emergency mode. Our vision is for a government-funded program that can say to every person under 35 years of age: if you understand that we face a climate emergency, you desire to meet this generational challenge now, and are ready to serve, then we have a place for you.
Historic Precedent:
In the Second World War, Canada’s population sat at just over 11 million people.
To counter the rise of fascism and one of the greatest threats to democracy our world had ever faced, over one million Canadians enlisted for military service—a remarkable level of participation.
Those who signed up were prepared to sacrifice everything. From all corners of the country and all ethnic backgrounds, the majority of people who went to fight overseas had an important characteristic in common: their youth. About 64 per cent of those who enlisted during the Second World War were under the age of 21. That generation of young people left their farms, they delayed plans to join the workforce or launch their careers, and they deferred their post-secondary studies because they understood the emergency to be immediate.
Back then, when young people stepped up to serve, our government was eager to receive them (even when, in the early years, the readiness of the training programs was still being hurriedly patched together). No one was turned away.
Youth Mobilization to Meet Today’s Crisis
Today, thousands of young people are eager for a chance to meet this new generational moment. As the world begins to confront the climate crisis, the last few years have seen a burgeoning of youth leadership. Just like we saw in WWII, youth are once again mobilizing to secure our collective future. But so far, our governments have failed to create public programs to accept and deploy their energies and talents. The invitation has been absent.
The good news for today is that the crises we must confront call upon us to help and to heal — both society and the planet.
Enlisting with the YCC could be just the antidote to the mental anxiety experienced by countless young people in the face of escalating climate disasters.
Canada needs a new youth corps, focused on building community resilience and the infrastructure and programs required to tackle the climate emergency. Not a compulsory form of youth service, but an attractive one.
This is why we have been calling for a national Youth Climate Corps, a program that would be government-funded and community-led.
You can help make this a reality. Visit our web page to take action and join the movement!
Youth Climate Corps Program Highlights
Thousands of climate mitigation and adaptation jobs
The YCC should fund thousands of both climate mitigation and adaptation jobs; work that both expedites the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and work that helps communities prepare for, respond to, and become more resilient to climate impacts and extreme weather events that are inevitably coming.
Apprenticeship style-program
The YCC could be a 2-year apprenticeship program with thriving wages and paid education.
Work in the field or at university
The duration of the apprenticeship could be spent in the field or in a partnership with a post-secondary institution.
Careers with meaning
It’s no secret that during the ‘great resignation’, people want to care about the work they’re doing. The YCC would provide in-depth training in a meaningful line of work.
Providing pathways for work
The program would provide an opportunity for a pathway into life-long careers in climate/energy transition jobs.
Prioritizing youth
Though the YCC should eventually open to all ages, it will begin with a priority of enlisting youth—with focus on systematically marginalized youth (Indigenous Peoples, Black, Brown, People of Colour, recent immigrants, lower income, 2SLGBTQIA+)
Traditional 'room and board' or in community training
The YCC has the potential for ‘room and board’ training or in-community apprenticeships.
To learn more about this exciting and momentous campaign, check out this inspiring 2-minute video. You can also watch a replay of our campaign launch, and read more on the YCC webpage.
To take action, click here.