Developing Canadian Youth as Leaders and Stewards of the Environment

This research paper, commissioned by the Lawson Foundation, explores how to better engage Canadian youth (ages 15–25) in environmental leadership and stewardship.

Key Findings:

• Few Youth-Led Environmental Initiatives:
  Only 8% of youth-led social change efforts in Canada have focused on environmental issues. There is significant potential to better support young people to lead in this area.

• The Importance of Developmental Needs:
  Adolescence and emerging adulthood are crucial periods for developing autonomy, competence, relatedness, and a sense of purpose. Environmental engagement opportunities can help meet these needs.

• Barriers to Youth Engagement:
  Young people often face barriers like limited access to decision-making spaces, a lack of mentorship, and challenges accessing funding, which limit their ability to lead environmental initiatives.

• Opportunities for Action:
  The report recommends supporting initiatives that empower youth leadership, investing in ongoing research, advocating for policy change, and shifting societal narratives to better value youth contributions to environmental stewardship.