Fatih Amin
2025 Youth Climate Activism Award - Essay Entry
Fatih is an 18 year old from Quebec.
As an individual deeply passionate about environmental sustainability and climate action, my journey in climate activism has been guided by my passion and commitment to have a positive effect and change in the world around me. Throughout, the years, I have been involved with multiple organizations and initiatives to pursue my passion.
My involvement in environmental advocacy began during my participation in the one-year C-Vert Program of the YMCA in 2021-2022. This urban ecology program, designed for 14- 16-year-olds, aims to train young environmental leaders through community projects, workshops, nature outings, and sustainable development actions.
Beyond the program, I continued to volunteer till now by attending their events and supporting newcomers in the program. This sustained involvement allows me to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders and provide them with the guidance they need to make a difference.
My involvement continued in the Enjeux Ecocitoyennes et Plein Air academic program during my final year of high school (2022-2023 session). This program not only educated us about environmental issues but also required us to take concrete environmental initiatives. My group, consisting of me and two other classmates, organized a school-wide poster designing competition promoting recycling and composting, which raised awareness throughout the school and added an artistic touch to our environmental efforts. I would personally consider the competition a success, as we had a good amount of participation. We have offered the winners gift cards and hung their posters in important places on campus.
Since May 2023, Iβve served as a member of the Board of Directors of ENvironnement JEUnesse (ENJEU), an environmental organization in QuΓ©bec dedicated to empowering young people in sustainability and climate advocacy. This role has allowed me to contribute to strategic decisions, support impactful youth-led projects, and further promote environmental education across the province.
Building on this foundation, I had the opportunity to join Lab22βs youth committee, JEUNESSE22, in August 2023 (Iβm still a current member). Within this committee, I was able to meet numerous involved young people and be inspired by their local actions and their way of critical thinking on environmental issues.
One of the projects we did was producing two fanzines with the mission of raising awareness and inspiring anyone who would read them. As a group, we organized a successful launch event for the zines, attended by many esteemed guests β including the federal environment minister, Steven Guilbeault.
Launch event of Fanzineβs
The FlambΓ©e - Editions 01 and 02 - Image courtesy of Lab22βs website.
Moreover, through this platform, I had the opportunity to co-host and speak at a session during the Adaptation Futures 2023 conference, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Montreal. This event was a pivotal moment in my journey, allowing me to share notable initiatives taken by youths in Montreal and contribute to international environmental discourse.
Local Host: Katia Forgues, Laurence Fauteux, Fatih Amin, and Leila Pozzi, Lab22. (turn on CC for English subtitles)
I also co-facilitated workshops on environmental engagement with Secondary 5 students in January 2024 and 2025, impacting over 100 students and fostering inclusive dialogue and actionable solutions.
Workshop on Environmental Engagement
Intercollegiate Eco-Expo
Additionally, in Fall 2024, my college and JEUNESSE22 mate Leila Pozzi and I co-founded Intercollegiate Eco-Expo, an intercollegiate initiative designed to unite green clubs from various CΓGEPs across QuΓ©bec. The first event in the series, RΓ©flection dβAvenir, took place on November 8, 2024, at Dawson College and welcomed participants from CΓGEPs such as Trois-RiviΓ¨res, L'Assomption, BrΓ©beuf, AndrΓ©-Grasset, Valleyfield, Vanier, John Abbott, and Dawson.
This event fostered collaboration through interactive brainstorming sessions on project organization, finances, and outreach. By bringing together students passionate about sustainability, Eco-Expo aims to create a strong, action-driven network of environmental advocates across the province. In the future, I want to expand this initiative to a larger scale.
Four young people deeply affected by the climate cause who have chosen to take action, in their own way. With Salma Nassiri, Marie Maltais, Laura Fontaine and Fatih Amin (turn on CC for English subtitles)
I chose to attend Dalhousie University to study Environment, Sustainability, Society and Political Science. It is fascinating to learn about the largest global issues we face and the governance methods we can use to tackle them. Since coming to university, I have joined the environmental society, divest group, and I got a job as the Policy and Programming Coordinator at the Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office. Through this role, I run sustainability initiatives and events, and I am writing a sustainability policy for the student union. Last summer, I facilitated Climate Imagination Sessions in Sackville, inviting community members to imagine a sustainable future for our community. The ideas I gathered helped to inform the municipalityβs strategic plan and future actions. Looking ahead, I know I will continue to seek out opportunities to be engaged and empower others to take action.
β Overall, my journey in climate activism has been characterized by a deep passion for environmental sustainability and a commitment to effecting positive change.β
~Fatih Amin
Through my involvement with various organizations and initiatives, I have tried to empower individuals and communities to take action in addressing climate change. Moving forward, I remain dedicated to advocating for environmental stewardship and driving meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future for generations to come.
As part of the submissions application we asked participants to answer these 3 questions in addition to their essay or video.
What future goals do you have around your environmental and climate work, and do you have any future projects in mind?
I want to continue building spaces where young people can actively shape climate solutions and push for systemic change. My goal is to bridge the gap between awareness and action, ensuring that education on environmental issues translates into real, tangible impact.
One of my main focuses is expanding Intercollegiate Eco-Expo, an initiative/event I co-founded to bring together cegep students and collegial green clubs to showcase sustainability projects, and foster collaboration. I want to scale it up, making it a province-wide collegial federation for environmental matters, as a way to share knowledge, showcase sustainability projects, foster collaboration and expand climate activism. This initiative also aims to develop more youth-led initiatives, such as policy advocacy groups and hands-on sustainability programs.
Overall, the goal is simple: empower young leaders with the tools, networks, and confidence to turn climate ambition into climate action.
If you could share one message of hope for your community, what would it be? Briefly explain why you would choose this message.
"Every action counts."
A lot of people think their small actions donβt make a difference, but they do. Every choice we make, whether itβs using less plastic, taking public transport, or even just talking to friends about climate change, all these matters. Big change happens when a lot of people take small steps together.
Movements donβt start with huge actions; they start with individuals who care. When we all do our part, no matter how small, we create a ripple effect that leads to real change. So, donβt underestimate the power of your efforts, because every action truly counts.
Who or what inspires you to work on climate change?
I am inspired by the resilience of communities that continue to fight for environmental justice despite facing systemic barriers. Indigenous land defenders, young climate activists, and grassroots organizers remind me that climate work is about more than just reducing emissions, itβs about protecting people, cultures, and futures. Their courage and persistence fuel my own commitment to this work.
I also draw inspiration from nature itself. The way ecosystems work in harmony, how forests regenerate, and how the earth heals when given the chance. These remind me that solutions exist, and we just need to align with them. The climate crisis is scary, but knowing that people and nature have the ability to restore balance gives me hope. My role is to help amplify these voices, push for systemic change, and ensure that future generations inherit a planet where they can thrive.