Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) is introducing legislation today to create a Youth Climate Council to raise the urgency of and improve the District’s planning for climate change.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2024

Contact: Erik Salmi, 202-724-8072

Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) is introducing legislation today to create a Youth Climate Council to raise the urgency of and improve the District’s planning for climate change. The idea for the bill was first brought to Councilmember Allen by high school students in the District seeking a greater role in shaping policy.

“No one has more at stake in our fight against climate change than our kids,” Councilmember Charles Allen said. “They will have to live with the decisions – and indecision – of today’s leaders. When we talk about kicking the can down the road, our young people are the ones who will have to deal with it. Their perspectives can best represent future generations and push lawmakers and leaders to be bold on planning to head off, mitigate, and live with a warming world.”

The Youth Advisory Council on Climate Change and Environmental Conservation Establishment Act of 2024 creates a new government council with nominations split between the Mayor and the DC Council. The Mayor’s nominees would need to include college, high school, and middle school students. The nominees from the Council would need to represent each Ward.

The Youth Climate Council would meet quarterly, have wide discretion to weigh in on legislation before the Council and actions by the Executive and be part of the work of the District’s Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency (also created by Councilmember Allen).

“My hope is this can be a way for our children and young adults to participate in policymaking that’s so often happening without their input,” Councilmember Allen said. “We know young people have very informed perspectives. This can be a platform that gets more youth voices into our hearings and the public square, more broadly.”

The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George, Brianne Nadeau, Anita Bonds, and Brooke Pinto.

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