In Season 3, Episode 20 of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Chris from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and shares a QuickFix from Shaurya recommending the Outrage and Optimism podcast for hopeful climate conversations. Chris explains CPAWS’s conservation advocacy and public engagement, then details CPAWS Southern Alberta’s Youth Conservation Collective (YCC), a program for 15 to 18-year-olds that supports marginalized youth and others with environmental passion through mentorship, networking, field trips, and youth-led conservation projects tied to CPAWS campaigns (e.g., coal mining impacts on waterways and trout, sustainable forestry and stewardship). YCC is funded primarily by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Chris cites Steve Irwin as an inspiration, encourages writing MLAs/MPs as climate action, and finds hope in building community, especially through YCC.

00:00 Welcome and QuickFix

01:23 Why CPAWS Matters

03:03 Youth Conservation Collective

04:00 Who Can Join

05:09 Mentors and Matching

05:56 Apply and Program Flow

07:18 Projects and Campaigns

09:09 Time Commitment

10:47 Year One Highlights

12:28 Building Conservation Community

13:18 Funding the Program

14:09 Chris Inspirations

15:17 Climate Action and Hope

17:12 Closing Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/c/outrageandoptimism

https://cpaws.org/

https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/education/youth-experiences/youth-conservation-collective/

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Climate Action Figures celebrates passing 2,500 podcast downloads, sharing a listener QuickFix from Linda in Indio, California about switching from plastic reusable bottles to aluminum, and discuss recycling energy savings. They interview grade 12 student Willow McGrath from St. John, New Brunswick, who describes how nature and camp shaped her environmental passion and her work leading Earth Ed Experiential Learning. Willow explains receiving a $3,000 Ocean Wise grant to run environmental education visits in local elementary schools, add green spaces like planters and an outdoor classroom, and create a 10-poster campaign with youth artists across Canada. She recounts representing youth at conferences, including Ottawa’s National Forum for Environmental Learning and the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, where youth co-wrote the Global Children’s Call to Action. Willow shares concerns about an AI data center proposed on wetlands, AI’s impacts on learning and energy use, her birch-tree magnetic field research, plans to study environmental science, her love of houseplants, and hope from like-minded communities.

00:00 Welcome and Milestone

00:42 QuickFix Aluminum Swap

01:45 Willow’s Nature Roots

02:45 Camp and Earth Ed

04:13 Ocean Wise School Program

07:02 Conferences and Youth Voice

10:04 AI Data Centers Concerns

13:24 Staying Balanced and Research

15:45 Future Career in Conservation

16:44 Plant Mom Climate Action

17:57 Hope and Closing Thanks

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On Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden interviews Paul Jenkinson. Paul explains how young people can connect with the climate movement through YOUNGO, the UN’s children and youth constituency, and describes co-facilitating YOUNGO’s Global Youth Statement—a major youth declaration with multiple versions (including five key demands) built from individual, organizational, and over 100 national youth conference inputs. He recounts presenting key demands to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and compares COPs in Dubai, Baku, and Brazil, calling Brazil the most chaotic logistically but more emotionally engaged politically. Paul also discusses European Young Engineers, his work designing net-zero-ready district heat networks in London, AI’s promise and regulatory risks, responses to renewable intermittency concerns, his reuse habit using jars at home, and hope from global youth collaboration.

00:00 Welcome to the Show

00:27 QuickFix Toy Car Library

01:13 Meet Paul Jenkinson

02:42 Finding Climate Networks

04:24 Joining Youngo via EYE

05:56 Global Youth Statement Explained

07:31 How the Statement Is Built

09:14 Presenting to UN Leaders

10:30 Inside the Brazil COP

12:13 Europe Views the UN

13:31 European Young Engineers

15:39 Paul’s Low Carbon Job

16:21 Heat Networks and AI

18:16 Answering Renewables Critics

20:53 Paul’s Climate Action Tip

21:36 Hope and Closing Thanks

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VPBDApCMj3s5gpbezkMDGMrFfOtBe8CK

https://youngoclimate.org/

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In the 70th edition of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Alice from Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region and shares a QuickFix from Linda encouraging thrift-store clothing and repurposing. Alice describes local wildlife near Kidepo National Park, current temperatures, and severe climate change impacts in Karamoja, including recurring food insecurity, water scarcity, long dry spells, strong winds, and declining soil productivity, and notes developed societies contribute to these effects. She explains her background in the Ik Indigenous community, their displacement from the park in 1957, and tensions between conservation benefits and loss of cultural sites despite compensation. As a 2024 Indigenous Youth Fellowship participant, she led projects on climate education, school clubs, tree planting, forest restoration, radio outreach, and women-focused entrepreneurship via energy-saving stoves. Alice’s climate action is planting and caring for indigenous trees, and she finds hope in grassroots action and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

00:00 Welcome to Episode 70

00:32 QuickFix Thrifted Fashion

01:23 Meet Alice in Karamoja

02:25 Climate Impacts in Karamoja

04:02 Who Bears Responsibility

05:00 Ik People and Nature

06:38 Conservation and Displacement

08:58 Indigenous Stewardship

11:01 Passing Knowledge Forward

12:10 Youth Fellowship Project

15:06 Women and Clean Cookstoves

16:05 Indigenous Solutions Matter

16:43 Alice Climate Action and Hope

18:20 Closing and Subscribe

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In this episode of Climate Action Figures, John Whidden and Vaibhav discuss the urgent issue of global soil degradation, its impact on agriculture, and climate change. Vaibhav highlights the importance of sustainable farming practices and youth advocacy in addressing these challenges. He shares insights on soil health, the role of monoculture in soil degradation, and how more diverse, sustainable farming practices can regenerate healthy soils. They also touch on the significance of youth involvement in international climate negotiations and the Save Soil movement led by Sadhguru.

00:00 Introduction and QuickFix on Birds

01:20 Meet Vaibhav: Climate Advocate

02:30 Vaibhav's Journey in Sustainability

03:25 The Soil Crisis and Solutions

07:23 Global Movements and Policy Advocacy

13:59 Youth Involvement in Climate Conferences

19:27 Vaibhav's Personal Climate Action

22:05 Hope and Inspiration

23:34 Conclusion and Contact Information

https://www.birdscanada.org/

https://consciousplanet.org/en/save-soil

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Aryan returns to Climate Action Figures to discuss advancements in his microplastic-collecting robot, his awards at the National Science Fair, and his new project on pipeline inspection technology inspired by Calgary's water main break.

00:00 Introduction and QuickFix Tip

02:10 Aryan's Microplastic Robot

04:09 Science Fair Success and National Recognition

07:24 International Exposition in Abu Dhabi

12:02 New Project: Pipeline Inspection Robot

18:16 Climate Action and Final Thoughts

Real Talk Interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQehVNKuyU (11:00)

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In this episode of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Kim from Guyana, a math teacher and advocate for climate action. Kim shares her experiences biking seven miles to school in Rupununi, the local community's approach to climate change, and the role of Indigenous knowledge in environmental conservation. She discusses her work with the Indigenous Youth Fellowship program, teaching students about traditional skills and environmental awareness, and her efforts to reduce plastic use. Kim highlights the importance of small actions and Indigenous perspectives in addressing climate change.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:47 QuickFix from Emma

01:04 Meet Kim from Guyana

01:13 Bicycles in Rupununi

02:42 Climate Change Concerns in Guyana

04:28 Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Action

07:16 Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program

09:17 Kim's Teaching and Environmental Efforts

11:07 Kim's Climate Action and Hopes

12:19 Conclusion and Call to Action

https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/meet-our-2024-cohort-indigenous-youth-fellows,

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In this episode of Climate Action Figures, hosted by John Whidden, guest Abby shares her experience from a science and leadership course in Costa Rica. Abby discusses the impactful conservation efforts by Osa Conservation, focusing on creating wildlife corridors and integrating sustainable agricultural practices with local communities. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of strong biodiversity and combating climate change. Abby also shares her unique approach to reducing unnecessary AI usage in Google searches. The episode concludes with an inspiring story from a community garden that highlights the power of human connection in challenging misinformation and fostering inclusive dialogue.

We 00:00 Introduction and QuickFix from Heather

01:11 Meet Abby and Her Costa Rica Experience

03:22 The Science and Leadership Course

04:27 Osa Conservation and Community-Based Efforts

15:27 Challenges and Learnings in Costa Rica

18:06 Abby's Climate Action and Final Thoughts

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