An Open Letter to Federal Political Leaders in Support of a Youth Climate Corps

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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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