National Youth Action Team
You(th) are the future
Are you a young person passionate about solving climate change? Are you looking to work with other youth across the country to advocate for effective climate legislation?
CCL’s National Youth Action Team (NYAT) supports youth under 18 to be active, engaged, and empowered in building political will for climate solutions. Join our team!
Questions before you join? Feel free to reach out to youth@citizensclimatelobby.org
Start here
Join the National Youth Action Team
Fill out this form and we’ll help you get started. You’ll hear from our team coordinator about next steps!
Join CCL’s National Youth Action Team
When it comes to climate change, youth can be powerful in ways that adults just can’t. We need you and your compelling voice in meetings with this country’s highest leaders. Our Members of Congress and their staff really pay attention when young people speak their truth.
And it doesn’t stop there! Together, we can organize and get others involved to make even more change.
Here’s some of what our team does:
- Lead youth-oriented campaigns on climate legislation
- Lobby our elected representatives, and train other youth members to join in
- Share information on climate advocacy skills, climate policy, and youth empowerment
- Create resources for youth to take climate action
Check out our most recent quarterly newsletter to see what we’ve been up to lately.
The NYAT is organized into four youth-led working teams — Actions, Outreach, Membership & Inclusion, and Communications. You have the option to choose which team(s) to work with based on your interests.
Our youth-led Working Teams meet on Zoom, and we come together for a Monthly Call on the first Sunday of every month.
Meet some of our youth leaders
Hear from a few of the young people powering our work — in their own words.
Franklin, 16
Shae, 17
Karishma, 17
National Youth Action Team Coordinator
Sharon Bagatell
Sharon supports youth under 18 and their adult allies to build a vibrant national youth network within CCL. She has over 30 years of experience as an educator, curriculum-developer, and program coordinator in a variety of formal and informal educational settings. When you join the NYAT, you’ll hear from Sharon to help you get started!
Get involved now
Current youth campaigns
Our youth lead several campaigns at once. Jump into whichever one speaks to you.
VOICE Project
The Youth Action Team's VOICE Project elevates stories from across the United States that show how climate change is affecting the future workers, voters, and leaders of America.
Climate Classroom
This flexible, multi-disciplinary middle school curriculum is designed to give students a toolkit of advocacy skills for climate solutions. Lessons are grouped into three modules.
See NYAT in action
High school CCLer leads lobby meetings in D.C.
High school student Marlowe Johnsen was published in the Laguna Beach Independent about leading climate lobby meetings in D.C.
Read more
September 2026 newsletter
The September 2026 newsletter from CCL's National Youth Action Team highlights the team's GOAT challenge, VOICE project, and more.
Read more
High school CCLer publishes op-ed in Fresno Bee
High school student Jimena Romero was published in the Fresno Bee this spring about her experience volunteering for CCL.
Read moreYouth are worried — and ready to act
85%
of people ages 16–25 said they are at least moderately worried about climate change and its impacts on people and the planet — with 57.9% very or extremely worried.
2024 Lancet survey of 16–25-year-olds across all 50 states & D.C. Source
74%
of young Republicans worried about climate change’s impact say so — alongside 86% of independents and 96% of Democrats. Climate concern crosses the political spectrum.
2024 Lancet survey, via Earth.org. Source
Youth resources
Training & toolkits
- Youth Lobby Training - Next date TBD
- Youth presentation starter kit
- Youth Leader Action Toolkit
Materials & forms
Stay connected
Frequently asked questions
Who is considered a “youth” volunteer?
We work with students ages 13–18. Volunteers younger than 13 are welcome to join a local, multi-age CCL chapter with their parent or guardian.
What does each NYAT working team do?
While we are all working to support climate solutions, we have four specific teams that organize different youth-oriented activities. You can choose to join a team based on your interests.
- Actions team — lobbying and other campaigns
- Outreach team — student outreach, outreach materials, presentations, the team newsletter and the VOICE Project
- Membership & inclusion team — welcoming, membership communication, and diversity & inclusion work
- Communications team — social media, the web page and the blog
Can I join the National Youth Action Team and a local CCL chapter, too?
Of course! We love for our youth members to be connected with their local CCL chapters, too. Once you're signed up as part of the Youth Action Team, we can help you get connected to a CCL chapter near you.
Ready to make your voice heard?
Join the National Youth Action Team and work with young people across the country for real climate solutions.