Empowering a
New Generation of
Environmental Champions
By Philippe Cousteau Jr.

A s headlines about plastic waste, devastating wildfires and species decline mount,
youth around the world are stepping up to the challenge of protecting our
critical natural resources. From 17-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg
to student-led beach cleanups, young people are providing a beacon of hope for a
sustainable future.

As the founder of EarthEcho International—a leading nonprofit dedicated to
engaging youth in environmental action—and recent first-time father, I’m convinced
that kids have the power to change our world for the better.

Engage young people authentically
and on their terms.

Acknowledge that the opinions and voices of our
younger citizens matter, no matter their age, and
engage them in ways that meet them where they are.

Naturalists and nature lovers often eschew tech-
nology, asserting that nature and technology are
mutually exclusive, when in fact they must coexist if
we are to engage young people in a relevant way.

28 Washington FAMILY MAY 2020
Like it or not, children live in a hyper-connected
world. Our budding environmental leaders can explore
the bigger picture with their devices through simple
acts like identifying new critters or plants on a nature
walk or recording a natural weather phenomenon for
citizen-science projects using apps like iNaturalist.

Helping our kids see the power of technology as a tool
and not as the experience itself positions them to develop
strategies to solve problems in ways we may have never
winyuu / iStock / Getty Images Plus
At EarthEcho, we’ve identified three basic approaches that can help engage young
people to make a positive impact on the planet and their communities.