Program on the Environment

Youth are often marginalized in climate communication. Despite being among those most affected by environmental change, they are frequently positioned as passive recipients rather than active contributors to environmental solutions. When young people are equipped with scientific knowledge and storytelling skills, they can become powerful agents of sustainability who inspire their peers and local communities. This project aims to empower youth leadership by integrating storytelling with data-driven engagement through the Sustainability Ambassadors program in King County. Using a mixed-methods approach, comprising four sequential surveys, participant observation, and reflective analysis. The study explores how youth participants develop confidence in facilitation, leadership, public speaking, and agency within collaborative climate initiatives. Findings highlight the importance of structured mentorship, iterative feedback loops, community engagement, and peer-to-peer learning as key mechanisms that cultivate youth agency and leadership. The results demonstrate that when youth are supported in telling their own climate stories and engaging directly with their communities, they not only strengthen their individual and collective voices but also deepen youth-led initiatives and local sustainability efforts, contributing valuable insights to education for sustainability and the broader field of environmental communication.