A critical conversation about Canada’s climate future took place in Ottawa this fall.
We're excited to announce that the report from the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly is now available!
This report includes a total of 23 recommendations in direct response to one central question – What do young Canadians want Parliament to do to meet Canada’s climate commitments in a way that reflects their values and priorities?
In September 2025, 33 young Canadians selected through a civic lottery deliberated for five days in Ottawa and delivered their climate priorities directly to Parliament, showing how deliberative democracy can cut through polarization and focus on solutions that reflect the values of a generation. Drawn from nearly 700 applicants, members represented every region and the full socio-demographic diversity of Canada.
The recommendations in this report call upon Parliament to prepare communities for escalating climate risks, to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, and to strengthen climate accountability.
Among their key recommendations, members urge Parliament to:
Phase out fossil fuel subsidies, linking any remaining support to strict emissions targets.
Invest in resilient, interprovincial/ interterritorial clean electricity infrastructure to strengthen national energy cooperation.
Work across party lines to accelerate the transition to clean energy and meet Canada’s 2030 and 2050 targets.
Embed youth perspectives meaningfully and continuously in climate decision-making.
Respect Indigenous sovereignty by ensuring Indigenous nations have leadership and ownership in land stewardship and the clean energy transition.
Importantly, they emphasize that this generation is not only prepared to demand solutions, but they are ready to be part of them.
The Assembly presented their recommendations to Parliamentarians in the Senate Chamber on September 21st.
Questions? We’ve got answers
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A Citizens’ Assembly brings together a group of randomly selected people who reflect the diversity of a community, region or country. Together, they learn about an important public issue, hear from experts and interest holders, and work with independent facilitators to develop practical recommendations for decision-makers.
Citizens' Assemblies are like juries, but instead of deciding on the outcome of a court case, they help decide what should happen on major issues like climate change.
More than 700 of these processes have happened here in Canada and around the world—bringing people together to solve tough problems, come up with creative ideas everyone can support, and get more people excited about being part of democracy.
Want to see what that looks like? Check out this clip from TVO’s Unrigged or this short video from a past assembly. -
Canada has made major climate commitments — including through the Paris Agreement — but we are not yet on track to meet them. With a new government in place, COP 30 taking place in November, and key decisions ahead, this is a crucial moment to bring the voices of a representative group of young Canadians to parliamentarians.
The Youth Climate Assembly is being convened with Environmental Leadership Canada and Senators for Climate Solutions to give 36 young people the chance to consider the country’s options, identify their priorities, and speak with one voice to federal lawmakers.
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On July 21 we ran a Civic Lottery. This means that 36 demographically representative individuals were randomly selected from the pool of volunteers to become members of the Assembly.
Our aim is to ensure the Assembly comprises members from every province and territory; urban, suburban, and rural/Northern communities; youth who identify as Indigenous; members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community; youth who identify as disabled; as well as ethno-cultural minorities. The aim is to create a group of participants that represent the diversity of Canada from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
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The Assembly is a chance for 18-25 year olds and Canada’s representatives in Parliament to learn from each other and work together on climate action.
The Senate caucus group, Senators for Climate Solutions, are committed to making sure the Assembly’s recommendations are taken seriously. They will also work with Members of Parliament in the All-Party Climate Caucus to help ensure the Assembly’s recommendations are known and considered.
The Assembly’s report will be made public to inform broader debate about what matters most to young people with respect to climate change and remind the public that youth are not just the future—they’re part of the solution now.
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You’ll participate in 3 online sessions in August and September, then gather in Ottawa for five days of learning, dialogue, and deliberation from September 17-21. We’ll hold one final online session on October 4.
You will:
Learn about the roles of MPs and Senators
Examine Canada’s climate commitments and current progress
Understand the major sources of emissions
Explore the economic and technological options available
Discuss regional perspectives and your generation’s values
Develop a shared set of recommendations for action
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Online Sessions:
Saturday August 9th, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Saturday August 23rd, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Saturday September 6th, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Saturday October 4th, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
In-Person in Ottawa:
September 17–21, 2025
To participate, you must attend all sessions. Travel and accommodation will be arranged for you.
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Anyone between the ages of 18-25 years old, as of July 21, 2025, who has lived in Canada for the last 5 years and is living in Canada during the Assembly was eligible to volunteer. They do not have to be a Canadian citizen.
Only one person per household could may volunteer to serve on the Assembly. Elected representatives, employees of municipal, provincial and federal departments working actively on related policy issues, or individuals employed by climate advocacy organizations are ineligible to participate.
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Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. It affects every region, industry, and generation. But young adults — who will live with the consequences the longest — are too often left out of the decision-making process. This Assembly will help to ensure that their priorities and values are part of shaping Canada's climate future.
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Not at all. What matters most is lived experience and a willingness to take in new perspectives while also contributing their own. The Assembly team will provide all the information and support members need.
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Absolutely. The Youth Climate Assembly brings together young people from across Canada with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and political views. We believe that diverse perspectives are essential to creating strong, practical, and widely supported recommendations.
At the same time, the Assembly starts from a common understanding: that climate change is driven by human activity, and that its causes and impacts are well established by science. This isn’t a debate about whether climate change is real — it’s a conversation about how Canada should respond, and what role young people believe parliamentarians should play.
There’s room for different views on priorities, policies, and solutions — and the Assembly is strongest when it reflects the full range of values and experiences found across the country.
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There is no cost to participate. All travel, lodging, meals, and reasonable expenses will be fully covered. We will work with you to remove any financial or logistical barriers to participation.
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This is a fully funded volunteer opportunity. The goal is to bring together young people from across Canada who care about the future—not as paid lobbyists or political insiders, but as regular people with real perspectives. All costs related to travel, lodging, and meals will be covered. Each member will also be offered $100 to help cover any additional out of pocket expenses, to be spent however you wish.
We will work closely with you to offer any additional support needed to make sure you can participate fully and comfortably.
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No problem. We will walk you through the process step-by-step, book your travel, and make sure someone is there to greet you when you arrive. You’ll have full support in the lead-up to the event.
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We are committed to making the Assembly accessible to everyone. If you have concerns or specific needs, please call us at 833-947-1147 or text us at 613-518-2748 and we’ll work with you to find a solution.
However, you must be able to attend every session in order to participate.
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The Assembly will operate in both English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be available during plenary sessions, and bilingual staff will be present throughout.
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You can still stay involved. We’ll send updates about the Assembly’s progress, share the final report, and keep you informed about future opportunities to take part in public dialogue.
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The Youth Climate Assembly is generously supported by the Trottier Family Foundation, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. Their support ensures that participation in the Assembly is free of charge and accessible to young Canadians from all walks of life.
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The integrity of this process is essential to its success. The Assembly is managed by an independent team of facilitators. The curriculum and process design is overseen by an external group of experts and advisors to ensure it is representative of multiple perspectives and appropriate for the participants. This oversight committee includes youth representatives.
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This project is being led by MASS LBP and Environmental Leadership Canada (ELC), in collaboration with Senators for Climate Solutions.
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