My Future My Voice Unites 250 Young Environmental Leaders Across 115 Countries

WASHINGTON, D.C

They were told they would inherit a planet in crisis. Instead, these young leaders decided to save it.

On World Youth Skills Day, EARTHDAY.ORG is shining a spotlight on a new generation of young leaders through My Future My Voice, an international initiative that identifies, connects, and elevates young environmental leaders whose ideas, determination, and ingenuity are already changing communities across the world. 

“From space, the Earth’s natural contours are visible, but political boundaries are not. Environmental challenges transcend borders, and so must our collective action,” said Karuna Singh, Regional Director for Asia, EARTHDAY.ORG, who developed the idea for My Future My Voice.

Launched in 2020 to commemorate EARTHDAY.ORG’s 50th anniversary, My Future My Voice began by recognizing 50 young environmental leaders from 16 Asian countries. The program. now connects 250 Youth Ambassadors across 115 countries, creating a global platform for young changemakers working to protect the planet and advance sustainable development.

The network of Youth Ambassadors includes TEDx speakers, researchers, educators, filmmakers, authors, policy advocates, founders of social enterprises and nonprofit organizations, and youth representatives at United Nations Climate Change Conferences and other international sustainability forums. Many have received prestigious national and global honors, including the Diana Award, Queen’s Young Leaders Award, Indira Gandhi Award, and Global Kids Achiever Award. Others have been recognized among leading “25 Under 25” lists or selected as finalists for The Earthshot Prize.

Together, they are influencing public discourse, mobilizing communities, developing innovative solutions, and contributing to environmental policy.

This year, My Future My Voice Ambassadors partnered with local governments on waste management and plantation programs in Nepal; promoted traditional packaging and sustainable agriculture in Samoa; supported the use of organic fertilizer in Uzbekistan; organized community clean-ups in Vietnam; and led plantation drives in Kyrgyzstan.

My Future My Voice also connects its Ambassadors with distinguished environmentalists through the Inspiring Dialogues for Environmental Action Series (IDEAS). Speakers have included internationally recognized scientists, ecologists, conservation biologists, marine experts, renewable-energy pioneers, and award-winning wildlife filmmakers. Through these exchanges, young leaders gain practical knowledge, strengthen their advocacy skills, and learn from the experiences of those who have shaped global environmental action. IDEAS will now expand from a webinar series into a podcast, making these conversations accessible to wider audiences.

While the initiative currently spans six continents, EARTHDAY.ORG is seeking to recognize outstanding young environmental leaders from countries not yet represented in these.

Young changemakers under 35 with a proven record of successful environmental action may nominate themselves or be recommended by others. Suggestions may be sent to [email protected].

Established by the United Nations, World Youth Skills Day recognizes the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and abilities needed to build stronger societies. As climate change increasingly shapes economies, public health, food systems, infrastructure, and national security, environmental leadership has become one of the defining skills of this century. Communities will depend upon young people who can solve problems, communicate across cultures, build consensus, apply science, and transform innovation into action. On this World Youth Skills Day, EARTHDAY.ORG calls on governments, educators, businesses, philanthropies, and civil society to continue investing in youth leadership, climate literacy, and environmental education. 

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About EARTHDAY.ORG

EARTHDAY.ORG is the global leader in Earth Day advocacy, education, and environmental action, mobilizing individuals, communities, businesses, and governments in more than 190 countries. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, the organization has worked to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement through initiatives that advance climate action, environmental literacy, conservation, and civic engagement worldwide.