Sixth cohort will partner with City leaders and community organizations to advance climate action.
SAN ANTONIO (December 4, 2025)—San Antonio’s next generation of leaders is rising to the challenge of climate change. The newly renamed San Antonio Youth Climate Council is proud to welcome 30 students from across all ten City Council districts and 21 local schools. Founded under the visionary leadership of former Mayor Ron Nirenberg as the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives, the San Antonio Youth Climate Council is transitioning its name to permanently secure the initiative’s vital work and reflect its growing success as a national civic model. Together with community leaders, these youth will drive bold action on climate adaptation, equity, and sustainability, guided by the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP).
Now entering its sixth year, the Council provides opportunities to high school students, to engage directly with climate policy, co-create solutions alongside community partners, and advocate for a more just and resilient San Antonio.
“San Antonio’s youth continue to step up, lead with action, and advance climate resilience across our communities,” said Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. “Through the Youth Climate Council, they are ensuring that our collective response to climate change is timely, reflects the voices and leadership of young people, and helps build a healthy and resilient future for all.”
“The impact of the San Antonio Youth Climate Council reaches far beyond the city limits,” said Brittany Jayroe, EcoRise Senior Director of Youth Programs. “These students are demonstrating what is possible when young leaders are given the resources to drive meaningful progress. This Council models how cities can integrate authentic youth leadership into their core climate strategies, a powerful strategy for a thriving, resilient future.”
Their collective impact continues to grow each year as students turn ideas into meaningful, community-driven results. In 2023–24, Council members hosted drives to support community health and biodiversity, supported local gardening initiatives, and engaged peers in workshops on sustainable transportation and energy efficiency. These projects reached hundreds of residents and were spotlighted through EcoRise’s Meet the Council blog and the @EcoRise_Youth Instagram account.
This year, the new cohort will deepen that impact by learning from City leaders, designing school- and neighborhood-based climate action projects, and partnering with frontline organizations. “By serving on the Youth Council, I hope to learn more about the effects of climate change and how it changes our communities in San Antonio,” said new Council member. Evangeline S. “I want to get first-hand experience and create solutions with my peers that would make a real difference in people’s lives.”
The San Antonio Youth Climate Council was established in 2020 to include youth voices in the implementation of the City of San Antonio’s first CAAP. The last five cohorts have worked alongside community organizations, engaged in climate action using their City’s climate plan as a guide, and developed projects or suggested policy improvements that improve their communities’ health and well-being.
The Council is facilitated by the nonprofit EcoRise and is supported by a grant from the Wayne Hollomon Price Foundation. Learn more about the Council here. Community organizations and sustainability professionals in San Antonio can contact YouthPrograms@EcoRise.org to get involved in mentoring this year’s council members.
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EcoRise
EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. The national non-profit organization elevates student voices and advances student-led solutions to real-world challenges with programs focused on K–12 environmental literacy, climate justice, and equitable access to green career pathways. EcoRise supports more than 3,900 teachers and 218,400 students through a range of curricula, programs, and classroom grants. EcoRise has been activating students as sustainability leaders since 2008 in Texas and across the U.S. To learn more about EcoRise, visit EcoRise.org.
Media Contact
Laura Fuller, EcoRise
Laura@ecorise.org
