Back to SearchApplications are now open for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund. The fund will provide technical assistance and funding to activate tens of thousands of youth aged 15 – 24 years old, to design, produce, and govern urgent climate solutions in cities across the globe. Kitchener joins the fund alongside other cities from around the world, which together spans 38 countries across six continents, representing over 62 million residents.
“Kitchener’s youth have a significant role to play in combating climate change both locally and globally, and partnerships like this allow us to connect a global initiative like the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund with local initiatives being led by youth in our community,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “I’m so thankful for the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies and I can’t wait to see how the innovative ideas of our youth transform into meaningful change in the City of Kitchener and beyond.”
As part of the Youth Climate Action Fund, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic has launched an open call to youth to lead new and ambitious climate efforts. These efforts could include:
- Youth-led awareness, education, research, and development initiatives, including: youth-led climate education programs; youth climate hackathons; youth-developed climate surveys and research; youth-informed clubs or curriculum; and youth-designed public art and awareness campaigns.
- Youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects, including youth-led community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, and urban farming campaigns; youth-managed recycling and waste reduction programs; and youth-produced climate resilience workshops and disaster preparedness programs.
- Co-governed youth climate action plans, including: partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy ideas, decisions, or actions or the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards.
Applications open today, Friday, June 14, and close on Wednesday, July 31 at 4 p.m. Successful candidates will receive funds in fall 2024, and projects must be complete by the end of 2024.
The City, in partnership with GreenHouse, a social impact incubator, will be hosting workshops that can help eligible applicants develop their project proposals and grant applications. These sessions will walk applicants through the grant application, help develop strong answers in line with the evaluation rubric and cover some general tips and tricks for successful grant applications.
To register for the upcoming workshops, visit Youth Climate Action Fund | United College (uwaterloo.ca).
To learn more about the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund and submit your application, visit our project page.
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About the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund
Kitchener will receive $50,000U USD to distribute as microgrants to fund a groundswell of youth-led climate initiatives as part of this program. This grant will be administrated in partnership with ClimateActionWR and GreenHouse. From mobilizing tree-planting or public education campaigns to launching recycling or waste reduction initiatives to participating in mitigation planning or preparedness programs, efforts stemming from the new Youth Climate Action Fund will advance critical community goals such as meeting decarbonization commitments or help the community adapt to the climate changes being experienced.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.
About ClimateActionWR
ClimateActionWR is a collaboration between local organizations, community members, and municipalities within Waterloo Region focused on climate change mitigation. We are co-led by Sustainable Waterloo Region (SWR) and Reep Green Solutions (Reep). We facilitate action on our community climate action plan, measure and monitor progress, and engage the community on local climate action initiatives. The TransformWR strategy outlines our community’s pathway to reducing community GHG emissions.
About Greenhouse
GreenHouse is a social impact incubator for youth and community members who want to create impactful ideas and ventures that generate social or environmental change. Launched in 2013 by United College at the University of Waterloo, GreenHouse provides students with support and training to identify and validate issues and priorities for community action, carry out projects and ventures, while helping students develop leadership skills and foster an entrepreneurial mindset.
Changemaker Labs, an initiative of GreenHouse, stands out as a dynamic program committed to supporting youth-led climate action, welcoming a diverse group of participants. This includes not just post-secondary and high school students, but also community members from the wider Waterloo Region. By offering a range of activities and an inclusive participation model, Changemaker Labs aims to instill a sense of empowerment and responsibility in the realm of youth-led climate action. It encourages participants to engage actively in local climate initiatives, contributing towards the broader Canadian goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
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