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For one reason or another, people tend to think that high school students, like myself, are either apathetic about the world or deeply disconnected from it. However, I can assure you that for most of us, the opposite is true. This is my story of how my concern and curiosity about climate change turned into an enriching co-op placement opportunity with the Community Climate Council.
Let’s rewind to 2022. I was in Grade 9 and decided to join the Eco Team with an interest in animals. At one meeting, we watched a TED talk by Greta Thunberg, and I was immediately inspired. When she was 15, she led school climate strikes to get people with political power to take stronger action and stop climate change. So, just like her, I also wanted to make a difference. I dove into books, such as “The 100% Solution: A Plan for Solving Climate Change” by Solomon Goldstein-Rose, “The Climate Book” by Greta Thunberg, and many more. Each book was on someone else's perspective on climate change, whether they are a student, president, or weather forecaster. Their opinions about this issue and ways we can solve it are unique, but the general concept is similar - climate change is here!
Understanding the urgency of climate change and what is at risk, (from indigenous rights to polluted ecosystems) allowed me to recognize the significance of small, local initiatives the team led at my school. After supporting their tree plantings, composting, educational field trips, and spreading awareness through presentations and recycling collections for a year, I became the EcoClub Team Leader! We occasionally went on different trips, such as to a regenerative farm like Goodlot Farm, a water treatment facility, Chris Gibson Park, and my favourite, the EcoBuzz conference hosted by Peel Environmental Youth Alliance (PEYA).
It was at this conference where I was first introduced to The Community Climate Council at a workshop they led on “Local Climate Impacts in Peel Region.” They spoke about local climate impacts, Highway 413, and introduced a new resource: the Climate Hub—a simplified database highlighting local climate impacts in Peel Region. We discussed the various effects of climate change on indigenous communities, Arctic ecosystems, invasive species, aquatic wildlife, and more. The workshop was both interactive and educational, featuring a fun Kahoot quiz that kept everyone engaged. I loved it so much that I decided to sign up as a volunteer, but little did I know that one year later, I would eventually contribute to this project myself as a co-op placement!
During my co-op placement, my work plan included scaling, outreach, incentivization, Climate Hub accessibility, social media content creation, and public outreach. I contributed to the Climate Hub by adding information about the climate crisis in Peel across various sectors and making this resource accessible to everyone.
As a Community Climate Council member, it was eye-opening to learn about environmental challenges that my community in Peel faces, yet not many people are talking about it. For instance, I attended a Brampton Incinerator Public Meeting co-hosted by Environmental Defense, Brampton Environmental Alliance, and the CCC. I learned so much about the Emerald incinerator, its impacts, and what we can do as a community. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any young people like me. But I was so fascinated by the Emerald incinerator. I had no clue this existed, even though I am a Brampton resident - that’s pretty crazy! This made me wonder - how many more youth don’t know what climate issues are happening right in their own backyards here in Peel?
The CCC also offers professional development opportunities to its volunteers and encourages us to attend local events happening in the area. One I attended was a Clothing Swap hosted by Reconnect Brampton, where I not only volunteered and engaged with community members, but also learned about the environmental impact of microplastics in fashion. I was inspired to see how people in my Brampton community care for the environment and other people, reusing instead of throwing away clothing.
I have learned so much about local climate impacts in Peel while I was at the CCC. Now I have the knowledge to strengthen the initiatives my school does in the future to make it more sustainable!
I loved my co-op placement and I am glad I was accepted. I recommend co-op to other high school students as it was an opportunity for me to test out my future career. You may not know what your job is about until you have tried it out!
To conclude, my co-op experience at the Community Climate Council was incredible. I didn’t only gain valuable skills, but this placement also deepened my passion for the environment. Thanks to the CCC, I am one step closer to becoming an environmental scientist. The opportunity to work with a dedicated team and participate in various impactful events has made me realize how crucial community engagement is in addressing climate issues. I am thankful to all the members of the Community Climate Council, for welcoming me, teaching me new lessons, skills and knowledge, and giving me the best experience ever! I encourage other co-op students to consider the environmental field as it could give them valuable skills and knowledge to mitigate climate change.
