How students and teachers across institutional levels have engaged with climate resilience in B.C.
By Ava Kleban
Published Jan 20, 2026
Youth involvement in climate action has increased significantly in recent years 1. More than ever before, youth are rising to the sociopolitical stage to advocate for environmental protection and climate change mitigation. This increase is not without good reason. Data suggests that youth are disproportionately impacted by adverse climate change effects, including mental health challenges, poor physical health, and displacement from their homes2. Current youth aged 15-243 will inherit the full responsibility of building resilience and creating adaptation strategies4,. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the impacts of climate change on the culture, lives, and communities of this demographic, as well as their knowledge and involvement in climate action.
While global conversations about youth climate change action often focus on large demonstrations or international policymaking, rural youth face unique challenges. Rural communities experience climate change in distinct ways, with direct consequences for their culture and ways of life. For example, many farming communities rely on stable climates for agriculture, forestry, and water security. Climate change can alter the landscape and ecosystem that are central to these economies. Limited infrastructure and resources can exacerbate the effects of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change. Thus, understanding how rural youth engage with climate resilience efforts can help inform more effective policies and support systems.
Across schools, students have organized climate change clubs, vegetable gardens, zero-waste programs, solar panel additions, and encouraged more sustainable behaviour. High schools, in particular, can be hubs of innovation, as students are often more in tune with the discourse on climate action, can join environmental groups both in person and virtually, and have greater access to the resources required to take on new initiatives. Post-secondary initiatives have also increased in recent years. As of November 2022, 80% of Canadian medical schools and their parent universities, as well as 50% of Canadian academic health systems, were engaged in some level of climate action and sustainability efforts5,6.
Despite rural engagement at the high school and graduate level, the role of rural universities in increasing climate change resilience remains understudied. Universities are hubs of knowledge, research, and activism. They play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of climate leaders, policymakers, and professionals, and can serve as testing grounds for sustainable technologies and community-driven climate action projects. The university years are a critical developmental period during which young people form lasting values, establish career paths, and develop leadership skills. Engaging students in climate resilience efforts at this stage is essential for shaping future climate governance. Some universities have pioneered successful climate initiatives, ranging from the adoption of renewable energy to the integration of climate education into their curricula. Examining these case studies can offer replicable models for other institutions, particularly those serving rural populations. If you would like to read more about climate education and youth engagement, please visit Chapter 9 of V.1.
Read to learn how Selkirk turned their food waste into nutrients for nearby farm!
See how UNBC joins the community and academics to discuss how the Prince George community can improve sustainability
Read on to find out VIU implemented short ‘micro-credentials’ to improve agricultural education in the Cowichan Valley
RHSRNbc and the CCEDARR project team are situated on the unceded, traditional, ancestral territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səlílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations