Australian Youth Climate Coalition

Yeah, what's really exciting is we are starting to see just a little bit of movement in this space.

We had a fairly thorough look and there's one employer, and I'll give them a shout out here, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

So at this point in time, or at least when we published and researched the article over the last two years, they're the only employer to introduce a specific climate change leave entitlement.

The way it looks is it's five days paid leave in circumstances where where an extreme weather event affects an employee, their family or their community.

In 2024, Georgia co-founded EcoMind, Australia's leading youth climate, mental health, and wellbeing charity, working to empower young Aussies to sustainably care for themselves, each other, and the planet.

A Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellow with a master's in climate from Columbia University, Georgia now serves on the board of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

She believes that emotions are both the gateway and a barrier to climate action, and that a sustainable planet starts with sustainable minds.

I asked her how she manages to balance hope and despair in the climate space, and her answer might surprise you.

Yes.

So that's amazing.

So, um, I don't know how you find the time, but you're also on the board of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

Um, so how does that role bring together your skills and experience from all the other stuff that you've, you've done and are doing?

He's a critic and cultural commentator and his latest compelling book is Brave New Wild, Can Technology Really Save the Planet?, Climate Justice Organiser and Youth Advocate, Grace Vegasana.

She's the National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, or the AYCC, and she's the co-founder of the People of Colour Climate Network.

Futurist Claire Marshall, who was the recent lead of the National Futures Initiative at the Adelaide-based Australian Centre for Social Innovation.

And asking the questions is the environmental commentator, TV host and author of children's books like How To Save The Whole Stinkin' Planet, A Garbological Adventure.

And I, for one, enjoyed reading your book as study for this panel.

Next, Grace, I want to hear from you because when it comes to the future, young people have the most future left to live, so a huge stake.

And you obviously are representing many people in the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

We hear a lot of perceptions of what youth are thinking and feeling when it comes to the future.

Reachout.com is a great site.

Organisations like the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

I think some of the key tips really is to try and engage with ideas rather than making it personal, right? And being inquisitive.

So asking people questions.