Schools are uniquely positioned to cultivate students as social impact leaders because they are institutions built around learning, leadership, and community participation. They provide students with both the knowledge and the relationships needed to identify problems and implement change.

1. Students already have access to key stakeholders.
   Students regularly interact with faculty, administrators, facilities teams, and other members of their school community. Because these relationships already exist, students have clearer pathways for proposing and implementing initiatives than they might in unfamiliar institutions.

2. Schools can teach sustainability through practice.
   Schools do more than teach students about sustainability in the classroom; their own practices can demonstrate what sustainable action looks like. When a school adopts renewable energy, reduces waste, or changes its environmental practices, students can observe those changes firsthand and learn from an institution putting its values into practice.

3. Schools can extend their impact beyond their campuses.
   Schools are embedded within local communities and often have relationships with families, community organizations, local governments, and other institutions. As a result, student-led initiatives that begin at school can influence practices and conversations beyond the campus itself.

Each of our student ambassador teams takes on a school-based Climate Action Initiative (CAI) in one of three categories: renewable energy, zero waste, or climate education. Current CAIs include community solar subscriptions, rooftop solar installations, single use plastic elimination, green roof buildouts, community gardens, zero waste cafes, Terracycle, e-waste recycling, and more.

Our annual YCAA Interscholastic Conference brings New York City student activists together to:

• Hear from climate professionals through panels, keynotes, and more.

• Meet student activists across our 17-school network

• Attend educational workshops

• Collaborate interscholastic climate initiatives

• Showcase Climate Action Initiative (CAI) achievements and receive commendation

Representatives from the YCAA have spoken at UN High-Level Political Forum and General Assembly side events, as well as the Nest Campus, the United States’ largest climate-focused convening. YCAA leaders and ambassadors have also enacted community partnerships with both local and global organizations to develop the scope of their CAIs.