California Environmental Youth Advisory Council

The mission of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA or Agency) is to restore, protect, and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality, and economic vitality for all Californians.

In furtherance of CalEPA’s mission and in recognition of the need for California youth engagement on environmental concerns, CalEPA developed a policy for youth engagement and launched the California Environmental Youth Advisory Council (CEYAC or Youth Council) to provide a framework for CalEPA and its Boards, Departments, and Office (BDOs) to improve communication and collaboration with California’s youth.

The California Environmental Youth Advisory Council serves as a CalEPA advisory body with three core functions: (1) Serve as a platform to engage California’s youth in meaningful dialogue with CalEPA and its BDOs on environmental issues, (2) Create space for mentorships and education on environmental advocacy that would empower young people to contribute to environmental stewardship, and (3) Elevate youth perspectives and priorities to be recommended in state-level environmental decision-making processes.

Key Information

Secretarial Memo

Timeline

Applications for the Founding Cohort will open August 12, 2026. The Founding Cohort will launch in Fall 2026.

Eligibility and Application

Eligibility

Applicants are limited to California residents and/or members of California Native American Tribes between 14 and 20 years of age. Out-of-state residents attending school in California are not eligible to apply.

Application

The application period will open from August 12, 2026 through September 21, 2026. The application will be posted here when available.

  • One Letter of Recommendation is required.
  • The Letter of Recommendation can be from:
    • An advisor (academic advisor, teacher, research advisor, etc.)
    • Peer (classmate, colleague, etc.)
  • The Letter of Recommendation cannot be from a family member.

Authority, Membership, Duties, and Guiding Principles

Authority

On June 18, 2026, Secretary Yana Garcia established California Environmental Youth Advisory Council through a policy memorandum. The Youth Council will serve as an advisory body to CalEPA. The authority to select Council members rests with CalEPA’s Secretary for Environmental Protection or her designee, with input and recommendations from CalEPA’s BDOs.

Membership

The Council will be composed of 10 to 20 California youth representing California’s geographically, culturally, socioeconomically, and racially diverse communities, including Tribes, urban and rural communities, and communities disproportionately burdened by environmental and health hazards. At least one seat on the Council is reserved for a member of a California Native American Tribe.

Duties and Scope

The duties of the Youth Council members may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Meeting on an up-to-quarterly basis with CalEPA and its BDOs to engage in discussions on policies and programs that may include climate change investments, water policy, waste reduction, circular economy, pesticides use, hazardous waste disposal and cleanup, Tribal environmental concerns, and environmental justice and equity initiatives.
  2. Learn about CalEPA and its BDOs’ areas of work to effectively fulfill the Council’s advisory role.
  3. Develop an agenda for the 2-year Council term.
  4. Provide youth input on critical environmental issues facing youth to CalEPA and its BDOs.
  5. Prioritize and address environmental justice concerns disproportionately affecting disadvantaged youth.
  6. Research and analyze existing environmental regulations, identifying areas for improvement or expansion to better address youth concerns.
  7. Draft policy recommendations and legislative proposals focused on specific environmental regulations and policies.
  8. Host public awareness initiatives to increase understanding of environmental issues for youth across California.

The Founding Cohort will consist of ten members and will function as a one-year pilot program to test the council’s structure, refine its processes, establish best practices for full implementation in future terms, and adopt founding governance documents such as the charter, operating procedures, and meeting protocols. Members will participate in up-to-quarterly meetings, which could include one annual in-person meeting. The Founding Cohort will be followed by a full two-year term. Members of the Founding Cohort will be eligible to reapply for the following full term.

Guiding Principles

The Youth Council is guided by the following principles and best practices:

  1. Recognize youth as inheritors of both environmental challenges and environmental progress, acknowledging their unique perspectives and long-term interests in shaping positive environmental outcomes.
  2. Facilitate the communication of youth perspectives to CalEPA and its BDOs, reflecting California’s geographically, culturally, socioeconomically, and racially diverse communities, including Tribes and communities disproportionately burdened by environmental and health hazards.
  3. Promote evidence-based discussions of environmental issues, programs, and policies, centering on environmental justice concerns and drawing upon youth’s lived experiences.
  4. Promote civic leadership and capacity building by equipping youth with knowledge, skills, and networks to become effective future environmental policy leaders.
  5. Facilitate meaningful youth participation by providing youth with relevant information and genuine opportunities to engage on policies and programs, as appropriate, at CalEPA and its BDOs.
  6. Encourage innovation and creative problem-solving by creating space for youth to propose solutions to issues under the purview of CalEPA and its BDOs.
  7. Support youth autonomy to set priorities, develop recommendations, organize their work, and bring their environmental advocacy to their schools and communities.

Contact Information

Please direct all questions regarding the Youth Council to YouthCouncil@calepa.ca.gov.