***PRESS RELEASE***
4,000 San Franciscans Rally For The Environment At San Francisco’s Climate Action Youth Summit
The annual Climate Action Youth Summit, hosted by the San Francisco Environment Department, drew more than 4,000 attendees for a dynamic day of climate action, career exploration, and community connection
San Francisco, CA — Closing out SF Climate Week with a bang, San Francisco Environment (SF Environment) hosted its fourth annual Climate Action Youth Summit (CAYS), in partnership with the San Francisco Youth Commission, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, Creativity Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco schools, and a number of City departments and community based organizations. This year, more than 4,000 students, educators, and community members gathered at Yerba Buena Gardens where youth voices took center stage, highlighting CAYS as the City’s premier annual gathering place for the next generation of climate leaders.
“Young people aren’t waiting to lead, they are already doing it,” said Rafael Mandelman, President of the Board of Supervisors. “The Climate Action Youth Summit brings that leadership to life and challenges all of us to match their urgency and imagination.”
Since its inaugural year in 2021, CAYS has nearly doubled in size each year, growing into a signature, youth-powered gathering in the heart of San Francisco. This year, CAYS added an indoor component to its historically outdoor event, which featured concurrent workshops in Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, while still offering unique, experiential learning opportunities like the community clean-up challenge led by former San Francisco Giant Hunter Pence. Pence is also an environmental leader and co-founder of the sustainability-focused non-profit Healthy Planet Project.
“There’s so much hope in the next generation,” said Hunter Pence. “Young people are already showing up with passion and purpose around climate action, and it’s inspiring to see how ready they are to make a difference.”
CAYS reflects a simple but powerful idea: Climate action belongs to everyone. With featured lineups of youth presentations, interactive exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities, the event is intentionally designed for all types of learners. Engineers, water quality specialists, and community leaders were on hand to share how climate action shows up across careers and communities.
“Our San Francisco students have claimed this space for their environmental priorities, and they are choosing to lead,” said Tyrone Jue, Director of the San Francisco Environment Department. “The future won't be a space for adults to debate; it’s shifted to the next generation moving on the direct climate action our city and world needs.”
The indoor/outdoor conference-style environment aimed to connect older youth more directly with mentors and professionals to take a deeper dive into climate topics and build skills. From early learners to young adults, participants explored how their interests connected to climate solutions, and how they can shape future pathways.
High school- and college-aged students had the opportunity to participate in dedicated career development programming, including a Career Mixer, as they began exploring pathways into climate-related professions and fields of study. At the same time, younger students participated in hands-on workshops that helped spark curiosity and confidence, planting the seeds for future leadership. This new addition to CAYS supports the workforce development component of the 2026 Climate Action Plan, which aims to build the local workforce for transitioning the City away from fossil fuels.
“CAYS is a transformational experience that shows how climate connects to every part of our lives. As a young person, it’s easy to feel like we’re expected to fix this alone, but seeing thousands come together shows the power of community,” said Emily Yang, San Francisco Youth Commission. “When youth are given a voice, these spaces become hopeful and empowering. I hope every young person leaves inspired, knowing climate action isn’t about checking boxes, but staying curious, asking questions, and finding their place in the work.”
Click here to read the full Climate Action Plan.
To learn more about the Climate Action Youth Summit: https://www.sfenvironment.org/campaigns/climate-action-youth-summit
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Contact Environment Department: [email protected]