Changes in the Arctic did not happen overnight, and some of the challenges the region (and the world) face, such as climate change, cannot be solved overnight. Younger generations will play an important role in addressing these challenges. The Arctic Youth Ambassadors is one group of knowledgeable youth from across the State who understand the Arctic and its people and can explain it from a youth perspective for their peers across the United States and around the world.
The Arctic Youth Ambassadors Program elevates youth voices in international arenas, empowers future Arctic leaders, and builds greater understanding about life in the arctic. By adding their voices to a global conversation about how to sustain our communities, cultures, and the environment, they lead solutions for our homes in the changing Arctic.
The program was established in 2015 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of State, in partnership with nonprofit partner Alaska Geographic. Currently, the program is hosted by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with Alaska Conservation Foundation, and World Wildlife Fund. As the lead nonprofit partner, Alaska Conservation Foundation coordinates the program, partnerships, sustained and growing youth leadership, and fundraising. This program aligns with the foundation’s Conservation Internship Program, Northern Latitudes Partnerships, and our partnership with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, among other work.
The program brings diverse youth from across Alaska to serve as ambassadors for their communities and build awareness of Arctic issues at convenings around the world. They have been involved in meetings in the United States and abroad, sharing their perspectives as youth from Alaska as far as Finland, Iceland, and France. They have pioneered youth involvement in the Arctic by starting their own projects, such as passing resolutions in intergovernmental organizations to creating documentaries about issues impacting their communities. Their stories have been shared in panels, interviews, blogs, and more.
