Mihir Rao
2025 Youth Climate Activism Award - Essay Entry
Mihir is a 17 year old from Alberta.
From organizing litter clean-ups in elementary school, to bringing together youth from across the province, the natural world around me is a wonder I have always sought to protect.
During my childhood visits to India, I keenly listened to my motherβs recollections of her hometown, Bengaluru, a city revered as the Garden City of India. I was captivated by the monkeys swinging from telephone lines and the parrots hidden in canopies above the streets; a charming reminder of human-wildlife coexistence. But with each new visit, I witnessed the increasing impact of urbanization on biodiversity, and noticed wildlife retreating and human populations expanding.
With this heightened awareness of human impacts on the environment, I began to see parallels in my own backyard. With each year, the river behind my house got foamier, the rocky island seagulls would perch shrunk as water levels rose, and off-trail foot traffic began to erode the hidden beach nestled between cliffs. Seeing the environment suffer the impacts of human action provoked a revelation that I had to be a voice not only for the environment, but for the people of my generation, as todayβs actions impact our future livelihoods.
Sophia and Mihir tell us about Canadian Rockies Youth Network.
I serve on the leadership committee of the Canadian Rockies Youth Network (CRYN), a youth-led organization fostering environmental stewardship across Alberta. As a leader and administrator, I co-lead initiatives that prioritize youth voice, hope, reciprocity, and regeneration.
Alongside my committee of 7 youth, I have gathered 35+ youth aged 13 - 19 annually in Kananaskis Country for 4 days of experiential outdoor learning (water testing, Indigenous-led hikes, and survival workshops), civic engagement (policy creation, advocacy strategy, and mock stakeholder debates) and presentations from youth in our network on eco-anxiety, conservation, intersectionality, and environmental successes.
Every year, youth leave the summit with developed eco-action projects to implement in over 7 respective communities. Throughout this journey, I have understood the value of community and the importance of showing up. Whether feeding goats and making honey in Lacombe, or understanding Albertan fisheries at a hatchery β CRYN hosts events in our satellite communities to highlight the inspiring work of youth across our network.
Each year, CRYN drafts and forwards a Youth Report to MLAs and stakeholders, effectively delivering youth input on the environment to the individuals and groups who need to hear our voices most.
Images courtesy of @youthcentralyyc on IG
Follow Mihir on LinkedIn
As a National Advocate with UNICEF Canada, I continue championing creating space for meaningful youth consultation on policies and issues that impact young people, such as climate change. On National Child Day, I addressed youth, adults, and decision-makers at the House of Commons, sharing my story in the advocacy space, and highlighting the power of youth co-leading mitigation approaches to such issues. The best decisions are those made symbiotically with the people they impact.
My work focuses on preserving the integrity and stories of ecosystems through education, resource-sharing, creating space for youth consultation, and community-building.
βI strive for a more just and sustainable world. I'm a strong communicator and critical thinker, amplifying my impact by constantly learning and growing.β
~Mihir Rao
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?
My immediate future involves representing the Canadian Rockies Youth Network at the Biosphere Instituteβs youth climate empowerment event, "Not the End of the World," where I'll speak on climate misinformation in the media and strategies to combat greenwashing through critical awareness. In the long-term, I recently met with a mentor of mine to continue my advocacy work in the conservation and environmental space in Alberta. Prospective future projects include youth advising on policy and organizational efforts, as well as a new youth mentorship program, with upcoming discussions to be scheduled to shape this collaboration.
As I pursue higher education, I aim to integrate environmental stewardship into my studies, focusing on climate change through a social lens and exploring sustainable grassroots and international development. My broader goal is to see environmental issues approached with less political division, fostering collaboration across diverse backgrounds. Through my advocacy, I will continue to bring together youth, adults, and decision-makers for dialogue, striving for inclusive spaces that encourage healthy debate for the betterment of our society and environment, moving towards more strategic and holistic solutions that value traditional land-based methods and local perspectives.
If you could share one message of hope for your community, what would it be? Briefly explain why you would choose this message.
To my fellow advocates, I share this message: be ungovernable. Don't be complacent when you see something wrong. Always speak up and speak your mind. It is your civic involvement and engagement that propels us forward.
The climate and environment is an intricate and intersectional issue that needs courageous voices. I recognize the profound impact of unbiased interactions and constructive leadership in empowering individuals to share their perspectives. Stories sway people, politics, and the world. Every person's unique background and experiences shape their worldview, and I thrive on engaging with diverse perspectives to enrich my own understanding. At its core, advocacy promotes reciprocity and inclusivity β essential traits for building a better, more cohesive society. Embrace possibilities and diverse viewpoints, and use your story to incite change! Tell the stories of young people, in the words of young people.
Who or what inspires you to work on climate change?
Advocacy is a journey where you can experience burnout and a lack of inspiration. It is also fundamentally a collaborative journey; you cannot navigate it alone. I actively seek out spaces to learn from the inspiring work of other young people. For instance, attending the Starfish Canadaβs Youth Environmental Changemakers Summit at a time where I was experiencing burnout provided a renewed sense of purpose and hope as I embark on the next phase of my environmental journey. Ultimately, it is the people who inspire me.
Inspired by my fellow advocates, I am firm in my belief that the most effective decisions are made in collaboration with those they affect. My goal is to foster spaces where individuals can cultivate meaningful relationships with the land and with each other, thereby nurturing a mutual commitment to protecting our planet and cultivating a source of support for one another.