Museum of Science and New England Aquarium Cohost Boston Youth Climate Summit 2024 as an Incubator for Youth-Driven Climate Action

BOSTON (October 10, 2024) – As part of Year of the Earthshot, a yearlong exploration of climate solutions and sustainability, the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium are cohosting a two-day Youth Climate Summit for 100 students from across Massachusetts. On October 18 and 19, teenagers from Greater Boston and beyond will come together for interactive climate action workshops, lightning talks with environmental leaders, and a climate justice resource and career fair. Keynoted by the “father of the environmental justice movement” Dr. Robert Bullard, the Boston Youth Climate Summit 2024 empowers young people to take an active role in developing and implementing sustainable solutions.

“This past year, we have dedicated the Museum’s programming—onsite, online, and in classrooms—to climate solutions and sustainability,” said Tim Ritchie, president of the Museum of Science. “As part of our mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone, we are committed to giving young people the resources and support they need to bring climate action into their schools and communities. Our Center for the Environment is spearheading the Boston Youth Climate Summit for just this reason: to elevate youth voices on climate justice right here in Massachusetts.”

“The New England Aquarium works not only to protect the ocean and marine animals from the unprecedented impacts of climate change, but also to inspire others to take action, as well,” said New England Aquarium President and CEO Vikki N. Spruill. “The youth members of our ClimaTeens program share our passion to help mitigate the impacts of climate change on our ocean and on our planet and bring climate change education to the community. We are delighted to support them and other youth participating in the Youth Climate Summit.”

An incubator for youth-driven climate action, the Youth Climate Summit takes a solutions-based approach to the environmental education gap, equipping emerging Gen Z leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to create and implement sustainable initiatives. Kicking off at the New England Aquarium on the evening of Friday, October 18 with an opening celebration, participants will enjoy reusable bag craft making, appetizers and mocktails at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank, and dinner and dessert alongside the main exhibits. The Summit brings students to the Museum of Science on Saturday from 8:30am to 6pm for a day of hands-on climate solution workshops designed to prepare them to effectively advocate for their communities and the environment. Environmental Justice leader Dr. Robert Bullard welcomes students to the Museum, hosting a Q&A at that afternoon’s Environmental Justice Resource Fair.

Museum and Aquarium staff, along with participating climate partners, will work with students to delve into energy and policy, upcycling, gardening and sustainable recipes, citizen science, environmental justice, and climate leadership. Partnering organization The Wild Center will work with students to develop their own climate action plans and create “green teams;” fellow student Angela Zhong leads a session on getting involved in environmental policy; and Florida Community Innovation founding director Caroline Nickerson covers the fundamentals of citizen science projects, empowering participants to take action in documenting our changing climate.

As part of the day’s activities, participants in a new series of environmental justice convenings, “Champions for Environmental Justice,” will present a round of lightning talks about their work. From Greenroots, Inc. to the Environmental Protection Agency, Boston, to the Center for Sustainable Communities, partners will offer students a bird’s eye view of the environmental and climate justice movement. Massachusetts Clean Energy Center leads a panel on clean energy careers, introduced by their Chief Executive Officer Dr. Emily Reichert.

“The Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium are bringing together partners across industry, academia, government, and the public to confront our most pressing scientific problems today, climate change chief among them,” said David Sittenfeld, Director of the Center for the Environment and co-principal investigator at the NIHHIS Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring. “Our Youth Climate Summit is designed to engage and empower the next generation of climate leaders, giving them a seat at the table with established environmental organizations and elevating their ideas and voices on a problem that affects them profoundly.”

The Boston Youth Climate Summit 2024, a capstone of the Year of the Earthshot, is organized by the Center for the Environment at the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Robyn Day, Media Relations Manager / rday@mos.org