The 22nd annual Brower Youth Awards, a two-part virtual event, celebrated six inspiring youth leaders in the environmental movement. The Awards Ceremony, held virtually on October 14, 2021, featured special videos and speeches from the awardees.

The 2021 theme, "Our Power," highlighted this generation's unique ability to mobilize environmental activism and drive a paradigm shift during a time of ecological peril.

A flagship event of the New Leaders Initiative, presented by Earth Island Institute, the Brower Youth Awards has honored outstanding youth environmental leaders since 2000. Learn more at broweryouthawards.org.

While at Eckerd College, Alexandria Gordon significantly boosted voter turnout through Florida PIRG. Inspired by this success, she launched a campaign to address plastic pollution on campus. Her efforts led Eckerd to become the nation's first college to sign the "Break Free From Plastic Pledge," committing to eliminate nonessential single-use plastics.

Gordon now works with campuses nationwide to adopt similar pledges and advocates for a federal Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. Learn more at Brower Youth Awards.

Observing climate change framed as a future crisis rather than a present issue disproportionately impacting communities of color, 21-year-old Alexia Leclercq co-founded Start:Empowerment (S:E) in 2019. This environmental justice nonprofit bridges education and action, collaborating with activists, educators, and community members. S:E creates spaces for environmental justice education and action, championing abolition, transformative justice, and mutual aid.

S:E has reached over 500 students across five schools, implementing lessons and supporting student-led environmental and food justice clubs. Additionally, S:E established a micro-grants program to support youth pursuing community-based justice projects. Learn more at Brower Youth Awards.

Artemisio Romero y Carver co-founded Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) in 2019. This youth-led nonprofit advocates for climate policy, holding officials accountable for the planet and BIPOC communities through protests, lobbying, and voter education.

As a YUCCA steering committee member and spokesperson, Romero y Carver also served as policy director in 2021, helping pass three key climate bills. A 2020 Youth Poet Laureate, her art empowers the disempowered.

http://www.broweryouthawards.org/

Plastic pollution and food insecurity are pressing global challenges. Fortunately, small insects like mealworms offer promising solutions to these issues.

George Shenusay, an environmental science student at UCLA, leads a research team investigating mealworms' ability to consume plastic. His passion for sustainability began after accidentally breeding thousands of mealworms in middle school.

Since 2018, George's team has conducted their work at UCLA’s MIC and BHS lab. This research was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more about TEDx at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Overfishing, a critical issue often overlooked, significantly impacts our daily lives and contributes to Earth's destruction. As a student exploring the ocean, Evelyn is deeply concerned about its future. Documentaries revealed the harsh truth: our oceans are dying, and so are we.

Evelyn aims to raise awareness about this detrimental problem, fostering a more empathetic society that cares for marine life.

This talk was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Stephanie is an environmental advocate whose passion for sustainability stems from a desire to protect Indonesia's vibrant nature. She co-founded Project Planet Indonesia, a non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness and individual action on environmental issues.

Through their work, Project Planet inspires sustainable living and provides tools for change. They collaborate with students and schools, supporting service learning and community action related to sustainability.

This talk was given at a TEDx event, independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Have questions about the latest IPCC report or climate science and modeling? Join CCL's quarterly Ask Me Anything (AMA) with experts Dana Nuccitelli and Dr. Ben Santer.

Dr. Santer, a research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Nuccitelli, CCL Research Coordinator, are among the country's most respected climate scientists. For deeper engagement, consider reading Dr. Santer's "climate fingerprint" research and his recent essay for "The Hill" on the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

This talk explores whether individuals and households can influence governments and corporations in making long-term sustainable plans for the planet. It investigates the extent of this influence and if there is strength in numbers, challenging the idea that change is solely up to large entities.

Molly, a student at Francis Holland, Sloane Square, London, plans to study international relations with a focus on environmental politics. This talk was delivered at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

TED is hosting its inaugural climate change Summit this week as part of TED Countdown 2021.

Among the participants are sisters Melati and Isabel, students from the environmentally-focused Green School. Along with other motivated young people, they continue to explore how they can make a global impact.

Retson's urban-rural migration journey led to the establishment of NFGCS Farms Limited, a thriving farming community in Gate Nassarawa State, Nigeria. This initiative employs hundreds and provides essential amenities like healthcare and schools for the host community.

A chartered professional manager and innovative entrepreneur, Retson possesses over 15 years of expertise in Nigerian business management and consulting. His diverse background includes ICT, project management, business development, and financial instrument trading. He currently serves as National Coordinator & Secretary-General for NFGCS Farms Limited, dedicating his time to its success and leveraging his broad understanding of practical agriculture. He is also the convener of #occupynass & #occupynassunltd.

This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

While the climate crisis might suggest it's too late, internationally acclaimed marine physicist Jacek Piskozub believes we can still save our planet. A professor at the Institute of Oceanology PAN in Sopot, he is a world-renowned expert on climate change's influence on oceans.

Piskozub's research delves into oceanic circulation, sea-atmosphere interactions, and aerosol distribution. He asserts that current climate processes are accelerating much faster than natural historical rates. His strong stance, shared at the Gdańsk Climate Change Forum, advocates for the rapid reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as the sole solution.

This talk was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

With rising tides threatening low-lying countries, proactive measures are crucial to safeguard our cities. Joris van der Gun, a sustainability teacher and project leader for Blauwe Hotspot, offers vital insights on protecting against nature's challenges.

Specializing in water and climate, Joris shares his expertise with students and through the Blauwe Hotspot project. Recognized as a Sustainable Teacher in The Netherlands, he provides essential perspective on climate change and rising sea levels.

This talk was delivered at a TEDx event. Learn more about TEDx here.

While individual actions like composting are helpful, they are not the most effective ways to combat climate change. In this talk, youth climate activist Disha Ravi explains what *you* can do to prevent a climate apocalypse.

Ravi, a founder of Fridays for Future India, gained prominence after her arrest in the 'toolkit' case, where a social justice document was deemed seditious by the Indian government; she was later granted bail. She currently works as a culinary experience manager with GoodMylk, promoting accessible plant-based food.

This presentation was delivered at a TEDx event. Learn more at TEDx.

Dwarkadas Suresh, known as "Solar Suresh," advocates for ecological balance through sustainable living. He demonstrates this with his self-sufficient home, utilizing solar panels, rainwater harvesting, biogas, terrace gardens, and an Air-o-water machine that makes drinking water from air.

Suresh emphasizes personal contribution to avoid natural resource depletion, stating that a lack of curiosity and awareness hinders societal change. He asserts that sustainable living is a neglected concept, and eco-friendly solutions like solar plants are economically viable for homes, businesses, and institutions. He has successfully implemented these solutions and shared his vision at numerous institutions, including a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

TED is hosting its inaugural climate change Summit this week: TED Countdown 2021.

Angela Francis emphasizes that overcoming climate challenges hinges on proving to the public how a green economy transition can immediately improve everyone's lives.

The circular economy aims to eliminate waste by optimizing material flows. However, effectively managing these systems requires clear visibility. Digital platforms provide this crucial insight, allowing us to understand, monitor, and develop material flows.

This episode highlights two organizations utilizing digital platforms to foster a circular economy by connecting various stakeholders. We will hear from Garry Cooper, CEO at Rheaply, and Matthieu de Gaudemar, CEO at Kudoti.

Akshra Dalal's talk addresses societal challenges like pollution and climate change, presenting a surprising solution. She spearheads academic endeavors for JD Institute of Fashion Technology, both in India and internationally.

A graduate of Regents University, London, Akshra is a versatile leader, serving as a student counselor, corporate trainer, and curriculum developer. She leads the academic division across India, emphasizing quality and relevant education. Her projects include the London Research Programme with the University of Arts London and expanding the Academy overseas.

Featured in Outlook Splurge as a promising entrepreneur, Akshra has contributed to various education forums. This talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Nelida is passionate about sustainable tourism. Her talk brings ways for all stakeholders to achieve more sustainable and authentic tourism in small islands like Cabo Verde.

As a specialist in Tourism and Marketing, Hotel Management, and a certified trainer, Nelida has delivered world-class service across various tourism sectors for over 15 years, including airports, travel agencies, and both small and luxury hotels. She now shares her knowledge as a trainer.

This talk was presented at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

This month's call will explore whether carbon fee and dividend can bridge the Republican-Democrat divide. We'll hear from Dr. Ray Ward, a Republican state representative and family physician from Utah, who champions this policy. Earlier this year, Dr. Ward co-signed a Deseret News op-ed with two dozen other Utah Republicans, endorsing carbon fee and dividend as a viable climate solution.

For more details, access CCL's October Action Sheet, the October Pre-Call Video, and the Deseret News Republican Carbon Dividends Op-Ed. You can also register for the November 13-14 Conference or learn about the President Biden Campaign.