Written by Diego Arreola Fernández, 2024 Pollution Prevention Fellow, University of Toronto Trash Team, Founder and President of Green Speaking, and Climate Positive Energy Undergraduate Summer Student Researcher (2023)
Last weekend, on October 3rd and 4th, we hosted LCOY Canada 2025 at the University of Toronto, and I still feel inspired thinking about everything we achieved together. For the first time ever, this youth climate conference came to U of T, and it was incredible to see the energy and passion that filled the room. We had over 50 in-person participants each day, and about 20 more joining virtually, all united by a shared belief that young people have the power to shape Canada’s climate future.
This year’s LCOY took place during Toronto Climate Week, which made it even more special. Our goal was to bring youth together from across Canada to discuss climate policy, justice, and solutions while drafting our National Youth Statement (NYS) for COP30. Over two days, we dove deep into Canada’s new climate commitments, explored the challenges of the energy transition, and shared ideas on renewable energy, climate finance, and activism.
We opened with a keynote on the role of youth in driving climate action, followed by thought-provoking discussions led by experts like Prof. Laura Tozer and Prof. Keith Stewart from the University of Toronto, along with organizations like Greenpeace, Iron & Earth, and Creative Fire. Panels on renewable energy, just transition, and youth engagement brought together voices from across sectors, including Global Affairs Canada, BMO, and Student Energy, with our dear Shatha Qaqish-Clavering (Lawson Climate Institute) joining us as moderator.
Day two focused on climate finance, justice, and youth action, topics that truly connected policy with people. We learned from inspiring speakers from Environmental Defence, Manitoba Youth Climate Corps, and the Climate Mobility Community Action Network, and we had an honest conversation about how climate impacts are unevenly felt across communities in Canada.
One of my favorite moments was the collaborative drafting of our National Youth Statement. Everyone’s contributions, both in person and online, came together in a document that reflects our generation’s vision for a just and sustainable future. We concluded by officially presenting the NYS to The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Seeing youth ideas handed directly to a federal leader was a powerful reminder that our voices matter.
This event would not have been possible without our incredible team and partners. A huge thank-you to our sponsors, the University of Toronto’s Lawson Climate Institute, Climate Positive Energy, the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS); and the University of Toronto Environmental Resource Network (UTERN), for believing in and supporting youth leadership.
We are also so grateful to the amazing organizations that made this happen: Green Speaking, Green Leading U of T, Student Energy U of T, Regenesis Toronto, Care About Climate, the Climate Mobility Community Action Network, and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network Québec.
Finally, thank you to every volunteer and participant who gave their weekend to be part of this. You made LCOY Canada 2025 a space of learning, connection, and action. Together, we proved that when youth come together, change becomes possible, and this is only the beginning.