“Everyday Climate Champions” Podcast Episode 5: Youth Taking Climate Action in Silicon Valley
Written by Mina Rios
Learn more about Climate Reality Bay Area’s podcast, Everyday Climate Champions here.
“I no longer feel afraid about climate change. I just feel empowered because I know that every day I'm doing my best on this issue. It is so rewarding seeing members of SVYCA make a huge impact.”
Listen to Episode 5: here
Transcript: here
Guests: Peri Plantenberg is a UC Berkeley student and Chair of the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA) Leadership Team
Host: Hasini Parepalli and Isabella Genereaux, High School Student Producers
Summary:
Deep concern over climate change has motivated many young people to want to take action. Youth in the South Bay can get involved by volunteering with Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA). Guest Peri Plantenberg, a leader in the SVYCA, explains how the youth-led nonprofit empowers teens and young adults to combat climate change through impactful education and policy initiatives. SVYCA offers organized leadership and advocacy workshops and supplies the necessary resources for its volunteers to become effective climate advocates.
Why This Matters:
Young people can work together to advance climate solutions. SVYCA exemplifies this work, where volunteer members speak at city council meetings, work with elected officials and send advocacy letters, sometimes with more than 100 signatures of support from constituents.
Key Takeaways
Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA) was founded by three adults in 2019 and has been youth-led since it was established. The organization’s efforts have benefited several communities in the area through strong adult mentoring, hard working youth, and strategic advocacy.
Members of SVYCA learn organization, leadership, time management, and career skills.
Teen co-hosts Hasini Parepalli and Isabella Genereaux discovered SVYCA when they decided to start addressing climate change.
Guest Peri Plantenberg, a UC Berkeley student, has been with SVYCA since its founding and says her experiences with the organization have changed her life.
Compelled by the organization's emphasis on driving significant community impact, Plantenberg has helped engage more than 17,000 people on environmental topics since joining SVYCA.
SVYCA addresses policy change at city, county, and state governmental levels.
SVYCA now has 11 student action teams, including: Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Los Altos, San Jose, Morgan Hill, Saratoga/Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, and the State Advocacy and Transit Advocacy teams.
The organization has grown from 15 students to more than 50 youth leaders, advocating dozens of policies, including 14 signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The measurable impact of SVYC initiatives begins with a single city, and then continues into other cities.
To help motivate the Fremont Union High School District to take action, SVYCA created a video curriculum on climate change solutions, engaging more than 8,000 students.
During a recent election, SVYCA led an initiative around Santa Clara County that helped educate the public on environmental topics and inform voters about elected officials’ views on climate issues.
In 2019, SVYCA was one of the advocates for all-electric building codes in the city of Cupertino, passing one of the strongest all-electric building codes in the state of California.
One of the most impactful projects SVYCA has led was a strike in 2019 with 2,000 attendees. The objective was to show elected officials that their constituents care about climate change and demand action. As a result, elected officials have become more receptive to SVYCA policy initiatives.
Organizing strikes, events, and initiatives is critical, but effective advocacy requires follow-up, demanding action from elected officials, and ensuring that intentions translate into policy.
Plantenberg says, “I believe that in this fight against climate change, by collaborating strategically with climate groups, working with elected officials and empowering others to use their voice, we have a good shot at safeguarding our planet.”
How to Take Action
Interested young people (or adults) can sign up for SVYCA by going to SVYouthClimateAction.org and going to the "Get involved" tab to fill out a short form indicating which team(s) they are interested in joining.
Volunteers interested in expanding action teams into cities other than those listed are encouraged to join. Once your form is submitted, team co-leads will reach out to extend an orientation invitation.
Related Websites:
SIlicon Valley Youth Climate Action: Learn more about the organization featured in this episode!
Youth Climate Action Coalition: An organization of high school students across the U.S. and 20 other countries, implementing climate solutions at their schools
Action for the Climate Emergency: An inclusive network of young people from all backgrounds in communities across the country, leading the fight for their future