The National Youth Climate Activism Award honours students across Canada under the age of 20.
UP TO 25 prizes to be won!
Make up to a 5 minute video or write a short story of 500 words with photos, and tell us how you are taking meaningful steps toward improving the outlook for our planet with respect to climate change.
The award comes with a prize of:
➜ $500 (ages 14 & under) OR
➜ $1000 (ages 15-19)
2026 NYCAA WINNERS
British Columbia student Melody Silva combines environmental advocacy, scientific research, and creative storytelling to inspire climate action, helping young people transform climate anxiety into meaningful community engagement.
Manitoba student Amy Clark is using science and innovation to tackle real-world environmental challenges, from investigating radon exposure risks to developing sustainable energy technologies that could help reduce future carbon emissions.
Quebec student Leila Pozzi is exploring the intersection of climate justice, environmental law, and community advocacy, helping to ensure that environmental solutions are both effective and equitable for the people they affect.
Alberta student Gayatri Sakharkar combines scientific innovation, environmental education, and community leadership, inspiring others through award-winning research and her youth-led Bhumii Initiatives project.
British Columbia student Leonie Murdoch is inspiring environmental stewardship through education, community leadership, and her Eco-Excursions initiative, helping people connect with nature and understand the importance of protecting local ecosystems.
"It's hard to be sad for long when you start reading about all the amazing climate work that Youth are doing in Canada. In every community there are young people getting together to use their talents and rally energy toward climate action. Our work at the National Youth Climate Activism Award is simply about shining a light on people who are already doing world-changing stuff!"
As well as being the YCAA spokesperson, Luke is a folk singer and climate advocate. Check out his new Album and project ‘The Dandelion Resistance’
On October 25, 2019, Peter Allan, the Executive Director of I-SEA joined thousands of people marching for the planet’s health and to see Greta Thunberg speak on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Greta’s 10-minute speech was deeply inspiring, but more significantly, the passion and enthusiasm of the young people in the crowd were very moving.
“We’re starting to see through their lies and we will hold them accountable for their actions. We will be a constant reminder that they are failing and that constant reminder is what we are today, and every Friday, every single day that goes by without sufficient action being taken and when the science is being ignored. Because we are not just some kids skipping school or some adults who are not going to work. We are a wave of change and together we are unstoppable.” — Greta Thunberg
“My experience among 10,000 fellow humans and the power of Greta’s words, planted the seed for a passion project. In my role as Executive Director for the Institute for Sustainability Education and Action, I was able to manifest a literal dream.
It’s a simple idea but it’s a big idea: shine a light so that teenagers can see the positive efforts their friends are making. Shine a light so that adults, communities and politicians can see these young spirits on fire by virtue of an award that becomes a symbol of the power of youthful voices. These inspiring messages will populate out into the virtual world as good news stories that help us all push back against climate despair." — Peter Allan
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
The Youth Climate Activism Award, launched in 2022, is the first award to recognize the young change agents driving this unstoppable wave.
NYCAA ALUMNI VOICES
Payal Mehta has a plastic dream. This young climate leader from Guelph, Ont., was named a 2026 Starfish Canada Fellow for her work starting Reimagining Plastic , a youth-led initiative to raise awareness and take action on the impact of plastics in our environment and bodies.
Ahmad Chattha is passing on climate hope to the children who come next. This 18-year-old Toronto highschool student is determined to ensure that young children have stories of climate hope and resilience to lift them up.
Ashton Kerr connects and empowers people to take action for the environment. As acting director of partnerships and programs for Green Teams Canada, this 28-year-old North Vancouver resident shares the power and value of community organizing to create meaningful change.
Anne Liang, a 19-year-old Dawson College student in Montreal, organized and ran a thrift fashion show so successful that the college now plans to make it an annual tradition.
Veterinary medicine student Mikayla Astroff earned a Starfish Canada 2026 Climate 75 Fellowship for her work helping youth understand the impacts of climate change on our ecosystems.
Victor Yin shows people they are not alone in their grief and mourning over the climate. With his co-facilitator Christina Joy, the 25-year-old from Montreal hosts “Climate Death Cafés” to create safe spaces for these conversations. Victor is a 2026 Starfish Canada Climate75 Fellow.
Sofia Panzetta is helping restore balance to Pacific marine ecosystems. As climate change warms the ocean, the invasive European Green Crab thrives, threatening the health of clams, mussels and even salmon stocks.
We would like to express gratitude to our SPONSORS past & present.
Quebec student Anne Liang is turning environmental ideas into action through student leadership, sustainability initiatives, and large-scale community events that inspire young people to engage in climate solutions and sustainable living.