An Open Letter to Federal Political Leaders in Support of a Youth Climate Corps
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Une lettre ouverte au dirigeants politiques fédéraux en soutien d’une Brigade jeunesse pour le climat (Youth Climate Corps)
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An Open Letter to Federal Political Leaders in Support of a Youth Climate Corps
We write on behalf of over 180 organizations spanning climate, labour, Indigenous, faith, education, health and arts sectors, calling on the federal government to establish a Youth Climate Corps now. A national paid job training program where anyone 35 and under could apply and sign up to do climate adaptation and mitigation work in their communities. Over the two-year duration, YCC participants would engage in restoring ecosystems, responding to climate disasters, enhancing community resilience and safety, and building out new climate infrastructure we desperately need (renewable energy projects, building retrofits, high speed rail and more).
Collectively, our memberships and supporters total over two million Canadians. It is time to create an audacious and compelling new public program that mobilizes tens of thousands of young people to confront the climate emergency – this defining generational challenge – all while creating good, green jobs.
As representatives of our communities, we recognize the significant transformational power of a Youth Climate Corps, and its potential to provide youth with a path to meaningful employment while strengthening the resilience of our communities. A YCC would address both high youth unemployment and high rates of climate anxiety among young people. It would signal to young people that they are being invited to join in a grand undertaking, as they train for the jobs of the future.
We are, therefore, calling on the federal government to include in Budget 2025 an investment of $1 billion into the YCC for its first year, and to subsequently grow the program to accommodate demand. This $1 billion investment, and a commitment to pay the prevailing living wage of $25/hour, would allow the Youth Climate Corps to create nearly 20,000 full-time jobs per year. If implementation of the YCC is to occur in 2025, however, it will require an initial deployment of staff and resources in late 2024 to begin to roll-out the program, which is why we are also calling for an announcement of the Youth Climate Corps in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, with corresponding funding to get the program started.
After a summer of extreme and deadly weather, it’s clear that actions to date meet neither the speed nor the scale demanded by the climate emergency. All the while, youth unemployment has topped decades-high rates, worsening the impacts of the affordability and housing crises.
The Youth Climate Corps is a political winner: a policy proposal with significant support from people across the country and across the political spectrum. Support especially skyrockets among youth. When asked, 15% of those aged 18-35 said they would “definitely” enrol in a Youth Climate Corps, equivalent to roughly 1.3 million youth. Now that is the mobilization we direly need!
In order to transform communities and make a significant difference in the fight against climate change, a Youth Climate Corps must adhere to the following principles:
Good Green Jobs for All: Uphold workers’ rights and provide a pathway to long-term, dignified careers in the post-fossil fuel, carbon-zero economy of the future. Ensure the Youth Climate Corps is a public, accessible, and well-paying program that turns no young person away.
Build the Fossil Fuel-Free Future: Develop evidence-based programming in collaboration with Indigenous nations, industry, labour, youth, post-secondary, and climate experts so that youth are safely deployed on projects that maximize greenhouse gas reductions and pay thriving wages.
Centre Indigenous Knowledge and Sovereignty: Respect the inherent title and rights of Indigenous nations and centre the needs, knowledge and leadership of communities; nations must be able to give free, prior and informed consent to all projects on their territories.
Empower Local Needs and Priorities: Allocate ample resources with consideration to the needs of all of Canada’s regions, in alignment with regional and local climate action priorities.
Rooted in Justice: Build equity for systematically marginalized populations and under-served communities. Acknowledge, prioritize and tell the truth about historic and ongoing environmental racism that gravely impacts Indigenous communities and impoverished populations.
Make it Big: Create a brash and transformative new public program, not a non-profit organization or wage top-up program. The Youth Climate Corps must be government-funded and community-led at a massive scale to confront the needs of the climate emergency.
These times call for the transformational opportunities of a Youth Climate Corps. While action on the file is promising, now is the time to show that governments can act quickly and decisively in times of crisis. In order for the YCC to launch with the momentum it needs to succeed, it will need a significant announcement by the end of 2024. Conversely, waiting until the spring of 2025 to launch will leave this government unprepared and shorthanded to successfully launch a program of this size.
We stand behind this demand because the time to act on a Youth Climate Corps is now. The time to inspire hope, resilience, and optimism is now. The time to offer youth what they’ve been denied – the chance to serve as we collectively confront the task of our lives – is now.
Sincerely,
350 Canada
Alberni Valley Food Security Society
Alberni Valley Nature Club
Alberni Valley Transition Town Society
Amnesty Canada Climate Justice Advocacy Team
Anglican Diocese of New Westminster
Anti-Racism Coalition NL (ARC-NL)
BASA INC
BC Hydro Ratepayers Assn
BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF)
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation Assoc.
BetterTable.ca
Black Environmental Initiative
Calgary Climate Hub
Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment
Canadian Association of University Teachers / Association canadienne des professeures et professeurs d'université
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Community Challenge
Canadian Federation of Students - Newfoundland and Labrador
Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario
Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate
Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice
Central United Church
Centre for Civic Governance
Chase Environmental Action Society
Citizens Environment Alliance
Citizens for Public Justice
Citizens Network in Colwood
Citizens' Climate Lobby Canada
Clayoquot Action
Clean Air partnership
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL)
Climate Action Network Canada
Climate Caucus
Climate Justice Coalition - Moncton Seniors
Climate Justice Edmonton
Climate Justice Montreal
Climate Justice U of T
Climate Justice UBC
Climate Justice UofT
Climate Justice Victoria
ClimateFast
Collingwood Climate Action Team
Community of Atikokan sustainability initiative
Conservation Council of New Brunswcik
Council of Canadians
Council of Canadians - Nanaimo Mid-Island Chapter
Cowichan Climate Hub
CUPE Local 2316
CUPE Ontario
CUSP
CUSP - Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet
Dawson Student Union
Decolonial Solidarity
Denman Islanders for Climate Action & Social Justice
Divest UofA
Divija Madhani
dogwood
Down Syndrome Resource Foundation
Earnest Ice Cream
East Kootenay Climate Hub
Ecojustice
Ecology Ottawa
Edmonton Seniors for Climate Action
Edmonton Youth For Climate
EnviroCentre
Environmental and Conservation Sciences Student's Association
Environmental Defence
EOS Eco-Energy
Etobicoke Climate Action
Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Festival Cinemas Ltd.
First Things First Okanagan Climate Action FTFO
For Our Grandchildren
For Our Kids
For Our Kids Toronto
For Our Kids, Burnaby
Force of Nature Alliance
Fredericton Community Climate Hub
Fridays For Future Manitoba
Fridays for Future Toronto
Gaia-Tree I.S. Inc.
Global Sustainability
Gorge Waterway Action Society
Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet (GASP)
Grandmothers Advocacy Network
Green Career Centre
Green Economy Network
Green Neighbours 21
Green Orillia
GreenHeart Education
Greenpeace Canada
HACEN
HEC
Horizon Ottawa
Hummingbird Collective
Iron & Earth
IslamicFamily
John Talbot and Associates
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
Kent County Chapter of the Council of Canadians
LadySlipper Art
Lakehead University
Leadnow
Manitoba's Climate Action Team
Mawo
Mobius Books Ltd
New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance
New Horizons for Climate Action
New Westminster Climate Action Hub
Non-Academic Staff Association
Nuclear Free Thunder Bay
OneCity Vancouver
Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign
Ontariogreen Conservation Association
ORCIE (Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology)
Parents4climate
Peace Train Canada
Pembina Institute
Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance
Planetary Resilience Council
Plant Based Treaty
Public Interest Alberta
QueerSphere
re•generation
Recherche Independante de Retraité en Écologiey Research in Ecology
refuturists
Réseau Éducation aux enjeux environnementaux
Rotary Club of Nature Celebrators
Sackville United Church
Sacred Earth Solar
Sault Climate Hub
Scarborough Environmental Association
Science for Peace
Seniors For Climate
Seniors For Climate Action Now!
Seventh Generation Initiative
Shake Up The Establishment
Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health
Sierra Club BC
Sierra Club Canada
Silva Forest Foundation
Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition
Social Justice Co-op NL
South Fraser Unitarian Congregation
Stand.earth
Stop Sprawl HamOnt
Student Association for Geography & Environment
Student Christian Movement of Canada
Students Without Borders Academy
Sundance Landscaping
Sustainable Youth Canada
Syndicat étudiant uOttawa - uOttawa Students' Union
Tamarack Institute
The Environmental Rights Caucus of the New Brunwswick Environmental Network
The Global Sunrise Project
The Nulla Project
Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Toronto East End Climate Collective
Toronto350
Touch Grass Club
Transition Salt Spring
Tusket River Environmental Protection Association (TREPA)
UBC Centre for Climate Justice
Union House Arts
University of Alberta Climate Advocacy Club
University of Alberta New Democrats
University of Toronto's Student Environmental Resource Network
USW Local 1998 Executive Committee
Vancouver Cohousing
Vancouver Ecosocialists
Vote16 Canada
Water Watchers
West Coast Climate Action Network
West Kootenay Climate Hub
Wilderness Committee
Wildsight
Youth Climate Action in Toronto Project, University of Toronto Scarborough
Youth Climate Corps BC
Youth Climate Lab
Youth Involvement Project
Zero Waste BC
Lettre ouverte en français
Une lettre ouverte aux dirigeants politiques fédéraux en soutien à une Brigade jeunesse pour le climat (Youth Climate Corps)
Nous écrivons au nom de plus de 180 organisations à travers les secteurs du climat, syndicalistes, autochtones, religieux, éducatif, de santé, des arts, qui en appellent au gouvernement fédéral pour établir une Brigade jeunesse pour le climat (Youth Climate Corps); un programme national de formation professionnelle où n’importe quelle personne de moins de 35 ans pourrait appliquer pour travailler sur des projets d’adaptation au climat et d’atténuation des effets des changements climatiques dans leurs communautés. Pendant 2 ans, les participants s’engageraient dans la restauration des écosystèmes, dans la construction d’une réponse aux désastres climatique, dans l’amélioration de la résilience et la sécurité des communautés et dans la construction des nouvelles infrastructures climatiques dont nous avons désespérément besoin (projets d’énergies renouvelables, rénovation des bâtiments, trains à grande vitesse et plus).
Collectivement, nous représentons plus de deux millions de Canadiens. C’est le temps de créer un programme public audacieux et convaincant qui mobilise des dizaines de milliers de jeunes pour faire face à l'urgence climatique – ce défi générationnel – tout en créant des bons emplois durables.
En tant que représentants de nos communautés, nous reconnaissons le pouvoir transformateur d’une Brigade jeunesse pour le climat et son potentiel de rendre accessible à la jeunesse un chemin vers des emplois significatifs tout en renforçant la résilience de nos communautés.. Une Brigade jeunesse pour le climat permettrait de faire face aux hauts taux de chômage et d'anxiété chez les jeunes. Le programme indiquerait aux jeunes qu’ils/elles sont invité(e)s à rejoindre une grande entreprise, pendant qu’ils/elles s'entraînent pour les métiers du futur.
C’est pour ça que nous demandons au gouvernement fédéral d'inclure un investissement de 1 milliard de dollars pour la Brigade jeunesse pour le climat dans le Budget 2025. Subséquemment, le programme devra être agrandi pour répondre à la demande. Cet investissement jumelé à une assurance de payer un salaire minimal de $25/heure créerait presque 20,000 emplois à temps plein par an qui formeraient la Brigade jeunesse pour le climat. Toutefois, si nous voulons un programme fructueux qui débute en 2025, il faut un déploiement de personnel et de ressources en 2024. C’est pour cette raison que nous demandons aussi l’annonce de la Brigade jeunesse pour le climat dans l’Énoncé économique de l’automne de 2024 et le financement correspondant pour lancer le programme.
Après un été de conditions extrêmes et mortelles, c’est évident que les actions, à ce jour, sont insuffisantes pour affronter la vitesse et l’intensité de l’urgence climatique. En même temps, le taux de chômage des jeunes a surpassé celui de plusieurs décennies, aggravant les impacts des crises d’abordabilité et de logement.
La Brigade jeunesse du climat est un atout politique: une proposition politique qui a un appui significatif à travers le pays et à travers le spectre politique. L’appui augmente spécialement chez les jeunes. Lorsqu’on leur a demandé, 15% des 18-35 ans ont dit qu’ils/elles s'inscriraient « définitivement » dans le programme, ce qui équivaut à 1.3 million de jeunes. C’est la mobilisation dont nous avons urgemment besoin!
Pour transformer les communautés et faire une différence significative dans la bataille contre le changement climatique, une Brigade jeunesse pour le climate dois adhérer aux principes suivants:
1. Des bons emplois durables pour tous/toutes: Maintenir les droits des ouvriers et ouvrières et créer des chemins vers des carrières dignes dans l’économie post-combustible fossile et net zéro du futur. Assurer que la Brigade jeunesse du climat reste un programme public, accessible et bien payé qui ne détourne aucun jeune.
2. Construire un futur sans énergies fossiles: Développer un programme fondé sur les faits, en collaboration avec les nations autochtones, l'industrie, les syndicats, les jeunes, les postsecondaires, et des experts climatiques pour assurer que les jeunes soient déployé(e)s sur des projets qui maximisent la réductions des gaz effets de serre et qui paient des salaires décents.
3. Centré sur les savoirs autochtones et la souveraineté: Respecter les titres et droits inhérents des nations autochtones et considérer les besoins, connaissances, et leadership des communautés. Les nations doivent être capables de donner un consentement préalable, libre et éclairé sur leur territoire.
4. Considérer les besoins et les priorités locales: Allouer des ressources en considérant toutes les religions du Canada, en suivant les priorités et plans d’actions climatique régionaux et locaux.
5. Enracinée dans la justice: Construire l'équité pour les populations systématiquement marginalisées et les communautés sous-desservies. Reconnaître, prioriser et dire la vérité sur l'histoire et le racisme environnemental qui persiste et qui impacte gravement les communautés autochtones et les populations appauvries.
6. Voir en grand: Créer un programme public audacieux et transformateur, pas une organisation à but non lucratif ou un programme de complément de salaire. La Brigade jeunesse du climat doit être financée par le gouvernement et menée par les communautés à large échelle pour faire face aux besoins de l’urgence climatique.
Notre époque appelle à des opportunités transformatives que permettrait une Brigade jeunesse du climat. Bien que l’action sur le dossier nous encourage, il est maintenant temps de démontrer que les gouvernements peuvent agir rapidement et décisivement dans des moments de crise. Pour lancer la Brigade jeunesse pour le climat avec l’élan qu’elle nécessite, elle aura besoin d’une annonce significative avant la fin de 2024. Inversement, attendre jusqu’au printemps 2025 pour la lancer laissera ce gouvernement sans préparation et en désavantage pour réussir la mise en place d’un programme de cette taille.
Nous sommes derrière cette demande parce que le moment d’agir est maintenant. Le moment d’inspirer l’espoir, la résilience et l'optimisme est maintenant. Le moment pour offrir aux jeunes ce qui leur a été refusé – la chance de servir alors que nous affrontons collectivement le défi de nos vies – est maintenant.
Sincèrement,
350 Canada
Alberni Valley Food Security Society
Alberni Valley Nature Club
Alberni Valley Transition Town Society
Amnesty Canada Climate Justice Advocacy Team
Anglican Diocese of New Westminster
Anti-Racism Coalition NL (ARC-NL)
BASA INC
BC Hydro Ratepayers Assn
BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF)
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation Assoc.
BetterTable.ca
Black Environmental Initiative
Calgary Climate Hub
Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment
Canadian Association of University Teachers / Association canadienne des professeures et professeurs d'université
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Community Challenge
Canadian Federation of Students - Newfoundland and Labrador
Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario
Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate
Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice
Central United Church
Centre for Civic Governance
Chase Environmental Action Society
Citizens Environment Alliance
Citizens for Public Justice
Citizens Network in Colwood
Citizens' Climate Lobby Canada
Clayoquot Action
Clean Air partnership
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL)
Climate Action Network Canada
Climate Caucus
Climate Justice Coalition - Moncton Seniors
Climate Justice Edmonton
Climate Justice Montreal
Climate Justice U of T
Climate Justice UBC
Climate Justice UofT
Climate Justice Victoria
ClimateFast
Collingwood Climate Action Team
Community of Atikokan sustainability initiative
Conservation Council of New Brunswcik
Council of Canadians
Council of Canadians - Nanaimo Mid-Island Chapter
Cowichan Climate Hub
CUPE Local 2316
CUPE Ontario
CUSP
CUSP - Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet
Dawson Student Union
Decolonial Solidarity
Denman Islanders for Climate Action & Social Justice
Divest UofA
Divija Madhani
dogwood
Down Syndrome Resource Foundation
Earnest Ice Cream
East Kootenay Climate Hub
Ecojustice
Ecology Ottawa
Edmonton Seniors for Climate Action
Edmonton Youth For Climate
EnviroCentre
Environmental and Conservation Sciences Student's Association
Environmental Defence
EOS Eco-Energy
Etobicoke Climate Action
Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Festival Cinemas Ltd.
First Things First Okanagan Climate Action FTFO
For Our Grandchildren
For Our Kids
For Our Kids Toronto
For Our Kids, Burnaby
Force of Nature Alliance
Fredericton Community Climate Hub
Fridays For Future Manitoba
Fridays for Future Toronto
Gaia-Tree I.S. Inc.
Global Sustainability
Gorge Waterway Action Society
Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet (GASP)
Grandmothers Advocacy Network
Green Career Centre
Green Economy Network
Green Neighbours 21
Green Orillia
GreenHeart Education
Greenpeace Canada
HACEN
HEC
Horizon Ottawa
Hummingbird Collective
Iron & Earth
IslamicFamily
John Talbot and Associates
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
Kent County Chapter of the Council of Canadians
LadySlipper Art
Lakehead University
Leadnow
Manitoba's Climate Action Team
Mawo
Mobius Books Ltd
New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance
New Horizons for Climate Action
New Westminster Climate Action Hub
Non-Academic Staff Association
Nuclear Free Thunder Bay
OneCity Vancouver
Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign
Ontariogreen Conservation Association
ORCIE (Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology)
Parents4climate
Peace Train Canada
Pembina Institute
Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance
Planetary Resilience Council
Plant Based Treaty
Public Interest Alberta
QueerSphere
re•generation
Recherche Independante de Retraité en Écologiey Research in Ecology
refuturists
Réseau Éducation aux enjeux environnementaux
Rotary Club of Nature Celebrators
Sackville United Church
Sacred Earth Solar
Sault Climate Hub
Scarborough Environmental Association
Science for Peace
Seniors For Climate
Seniors For Climate Action Now!
Seventh Generation Initiative
Shake Up The Establishment
Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health
Sierra Club BC
Sierra Club Canada
Silva Forest Foundation
Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition
Social Justice Co-op NL
South Fraser Unitarian Congregation
Stand.earth
Stop Sprawl HamOnt
Student Association for Geography & Environment
Student Christian Movement of Canada
Students Without Borders Academy
Sundance Landscaping
Sustainable Youth Canada
Syndicat étudiant uOttawa - uOttawa Students' Union
Tamarack Institute
The Environmental Rights Caucus of the New Brunwswick Environmental Network
The Global Sunrise Project
The Nulla Project
Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Toronto East End Climate Collective
Toronto350
Touch Grass Club
Transition Salt Spring
Tusket River Environmental Protection Association (TREPA)
UBC Centre for Climate Justice
Union House Arts
University of Alberta Climate Advocacy Club
University of Alberta New Democrats
University of Toronto's Student Environmental Resource Network
USW Local 1998 Executive Committee
Vancouver Cohousing
Vancouver Ecosocialists
Vote16 Canada
Water Watchers
West Coast Climate Action Network
West Kootenay Climate Hub
Wilderness Committee
Wildsight
Youth Climate Action in Toronto Project, University of Toronto Scarborough
Youth Climate Corps BC
Youth Climate Lab
Youth Involvement Project
Zero Waste BC