February 20, 2015
Sonoma County youth aren’t waiting to take charge of their future. On Saturday, February 7, 2015, The Climate Center Youth Leadership staff traveled with 21 high school students representing 5 schools across Sonoma County to meet up with other students from the nine Bay Area counties to discuss transportation, clean air, climate change and a healthy San Francisco Bay Area at the second Youth for the Environment and Sustainability (YES) Conference.
Sonoma County youth dominated the conference and represented a quarter of the conference’s 90 attendees. They presented programs, participated in workshops and shared best practices from their respective schools and communities.Nine students from The Climate Center’s Youth Advisory Board showcased their successes through their statistics-based ECO2school model and with other efforts they are spearheading in their schools and communities to promote sustainable transportation options as climate change solutions. Conference attendees learned how “greenway commutes” to school (bicycling, walking, public transit) and neighborhood carpooling build stronger communities and a cleaner planet.
David Eik, a senior at Maria Carrillo High School commented, “The YES Conference connects young people who share a passion for environmental sustainability. Along with the ideas and positive energy, the conference gives me hope for our future.”
The YES Conference is part of the Spare the Air Youth program and is sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).
Amy Jolly, Center for Climate – Protection Implementation Manager, Youth Leadership