Lost in the mist where mountains hold their breath: rain carving stories into the earth, and the river below running thick with the memory of uprooted soil. (Photo credit: Leena Joshi)
Your hand grazes the bark of an old tree as you pause for breath, the weight of the humid air heavy yet alive with the scent of soil after rain. Around you, voices ripple through the clearing: young people from six different countries gathered in one place, some meeting for the first time in person after years of working together online. Their laughter carries across the forest floor, mixing with the calls of unseen birds. The moment feels simple, but it is profound: a living proof that when youth come together across borders, they can nurture both ecosystems and each other.
This is the spirit of Climate Conservancy, an international nonprofit built by and for young people determined to rewrite the narrative of climate despair into one of collective resilience. From its beginnings as a global grassroots movement, Climate Conservancy has grown into a network of more than nine thousand volunteers in over seventy countries. What binds this diverse community is not only a deep concern for the climate crisis but also an insistence that solutions must be human centered, hopeful, and rooted in justice.
Our initiatives are as varied as the communities we serve, yet each is guided by the same principle: conservation must be creative, inclusive, and rooted in the power of youth. Through the Chapters Program, we equip young people worldwide to launch local hubs of climate action, giving them the tools, mentorship, and network needed to address challenges specific to their regions. With ArtSea, we blend art and advocacy by engaging coastal communities and young artists to reimagine humanity’s relationship with the ocean. Art for Ocean Conservation expands this work onto a global stage, using creativity to spark dialogue about marine ecosystems and inspire tangible commitments to protect them. Meanwhile, Ground Guardians take conservation to the frontlines: young volunteers work directly with local communities to restore degraded landscapes, plant trees, and create sustainable livelihoods that protect both people and the planet.
Our climate action extends outwards into communities as well. From supporting youth in developing climate smart agriculture projects in rural settings, to empowering urban groups to advocate for greener policies, Climate Conservancy believes in solutions that are as diverse as the contexts they emerge from. One project in South Asia trained young leaders to integrate indigenous farming knowledge with new agroecological practices. Another in Latin America mobilized youth collectives to reimagine city spaces with rooftop gardens and clean energy cooperatives. Each initiative is connected by a common thread: young people leading with creativity, courage, and care.
CC chapter volunteers organizing a global climate strike in collaboration with Fridays for Future. (Photo Credit: Climate Conservancy)
Of course, none of this has been easy. Like many conservation organizations, we face challenges. One of the most persistent is skepticism itself: encountering those who question the urgency of climate change, or dismiss youth-led climate efforts as idealistic. Early on, our teams often found themselves having to prove the science behind their projects and even the credibility of their voices. Rather than react with frustration, we chose dialogue. We began hosting community conversations that invite local leaders, farmers, and policymakers to see the impact firsthand: mangroves restored, water tables revived, livelihoods improved. Over time, these exchanges have transformed doubt into trust. What we have learned is that empathy can bridge disbelief, and storytelling coupled with art can open minds. In many ways, this challenge has strengthened our resolve to lead with transparency, humility, and hope: showing that youth are not just the future of conservation, but its living, breathing present.
To sum up, Climate Conservancy is more than a nonprofit organization. It is a living network of hope, action, and imagination: young people refusing to surrender to despair, choosing instead to cultivate a future where resilience grows like roots beneath our feet. We are grateful to join the Conservation Optimism community, and we look forward to learning, sharing, and building together, one story and one acre at a time.
