What do young Canadians want Parliament to do to meet Canada’s climate commitments in a way that reflects their values and priorities?
Commitment to Respond
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.
33 young Canadians aged 18-25 was selected through a civic lottery drawn from nearly 700 applicants. Assembly members represented every region and the full socio-demographic diversity of Canada.
Governance
No information available yet.
Structure
The assembly members were to participate in four online sessions in August and a five-day in-person meeting in Ottawa in September.
Evidence Base
No information available yet.
Developing Recommendations
Their recommendations include calls for Parliamentarians to work across party lines to meet Canada’s international commitments, to embed youth voice and representation in climate policymaking, to phase out public subsidies to oil and gas, and to accelerate the transition to clean electricity. They also call for expanded mental health support for Canadians facing climate-related distress and for the recognition of Indigenous leadership and sovereignty in land stewardship and the clean energy transition.
Furthermore the Assembly identified seven guiding principles for effective climate action -collaboration, intergenerational resilience, systems thinking, transparency,pragmatism, non-partisanship, and equity - and outlined six overarching priorities for Canada’s climate policy, including youth representation, accountability, innovation, justice, resilience, and education.
Wider Public Engagement
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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