Climate Action Figures

John Whidden

A safe place for youth to share steps they are taking to mitigate climate change.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Season 3, Episode 21: Carter

    Host John Whidden interviews Carter Mochinski from Lake Country, BC on Climate Action Figures. They discuss a QuickFix from Roger in Calgary about writing to companies as an investor, and Carter’s view that civic engagement with MPs/MLAs and corporations matters. Carter explains the Center for Global Education (CGE) and how it supports global climate education and youth participation. He shares highlights from attending COP30 in Belém, Brazil with CGE, including meeting Canada’s environment minister and interviewing a UNFCCC official, while criticizing limited youth access to negotiations and the presence of oil lobbyists. Carter describes nature-based AP Seminar education, learning from Syilx/Okanagan elders and 13-moon calendars, his political aspirations, and his personal climate action of eating less meat, using beans and chickpeas. He draws hope from 13-year-old UNICEF advocate Prasiddhi Singh. 00:00 Meet Carter 00:28 QuickFix Letters 01:46 CGE Climate Education 02:55 COP 30 Highlights 03:49 Youth Voices At COP 06:27 Fixing The COP Process 07:26 Nature Based Learning 09:28 Vitamin N Connection 11:16 Politics And Diplomacy Goals 15:00 BC Resource Tensions 16:21 Indigenous Wisdom 18:01 Food And Climate Action 19:15 Hope From Youth Leaders 20:26 Closing And Farewell https://corporateknights.com/climate-and-carbon/carbon-tax-crusader/ https://cgeducation.org/ climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    22 min

  2. 24 MAR

    Season 3, Episode 20: Chris

    In Season 3, Episode 20 of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Chris from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and shares a QuickFix from Shaurya recommending the Outrage and Optimism podcast for hopeful climate conversations. Chris explains CPAWS’s conservation advocacy and public engagement, then details CPAWS Southern Alberta’s Youth Conservation Collective (YCC), a program for 15 to 18-year-olds that supports marginalized youth and others with environmental passion through mentorship, networking, field trips, and youth-led conservation projects tied to CPAWS campaigns (e.g., coal mining impacts on waterways and trout, sustainable forestry and stewardship). YCC is funded primarily by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Chris cites Steve Irwin as an inspiration, encourages writing MLAs/MPs as climate action, and finds hope in building community, especially through YCC. 00:00 Welcome and QuickFix 01:23 Why CPAWS Matters 03:03 Youth Conservation Collective 04:00 Who Can Join 05:09 Mentors and Matching 05:56 Apply and Program Flow 07:18 Projects and Campaigns 09:09 Time Commitment 10:47 Year One Highlights 12:28 Building Conservation Community 13:18 Funding the Program 14:09 Chris Inspirations 15:17 Climate Action and Hope 17:12 Closing Thanks https://www.youtube.com/c/outrageandoptimism https://cpaws.org/ https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/education/youth-experiences/youth-conservation-collective/ climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    18 min

  3. 17 MAR

    Season 3, Episode 19: Willow

    Climate Action Figures celebrates passing 2,500 podcast downloads, sharing a listener QuickFix from Linda in Indio, California about switching from plastic reusable bottles to aluminum, and discuss recycling energy savings. They interview grade 12 student Willow McGrath from St. John, New Brunswick, who describes how nature and camp shaped her environmental passion and her work leading Earth Ed Experiential Learning. Willow explains receiving a $3,000 Ocean Wise grant to run environmental education visits in local elementary schools, add green spaces like planters and an outdoor classroom, and create a 10-poster campaign with youth artists across Canada. She recounts representing youth at conferences, including Ottawa’s National Forum for Environmental Learning and the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, where youth co-wrote the Global Children’s Call to Action. Willow shares concerns about an AI data center proposed on wetlands, AI’s impacts on learning and energy use, her birch-tree magnetic field research, plans to study environmental science, her love of houseplants, and hope from like-minded communities. 00:00 Welcome and Milestone 00:42 QuickFix Aluminum Swap 01:45 Willow’s Nature Roots 02:45 Camp and Earth Ed 04:13 Ocean Wise School Program 07:02 Conferences and Youth Voice 10:04 AI Data Centers Concerns 13:24 Staying Balanced and Research 15:45 Future Career in Conservation 16:44 Plant Mom Climate Action 17:57 Hope and Closing Thanks climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    20 min

  4. 10 MAR

    Season 3, Episode 18: Paul

    On Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden interviews Paul Jenkinson. Paul explains how young people can connect with the climate movement through YOUNGO, the UN’s children and youth constituency, and describes co-facilitating YOUNGO’s Global Youth Statement—a major youth declaration with multiple versions (including five key demands) built from individual, organizational, and over 100 national youth conference inputs. He recounts presenting key demands to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and compares COPs in Dubai, Baku, and Brazil, calling Brazil the most chaotic logistically but more emotionally engaged politically. Paul also discusses European Young Engineers, his work designing net-zero-ready district heat networks in London, AI’s promise and regulatory risks, responses to renewable intermittency concerns, his reuse habit using jars at home, and hope from global youth collaboration. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:27 QuickFix Toy Car Library 01:13 Meet Paul Jenkinson 02:42 Finding Climate Networks 04:24 Joining Youngo via EYE 05:56 Global Youth Statement Explained 07:31 How the Statement Is Built 09:14 Presenting to UN Leaders 10:30 Inside the Brazil COP 12:13 Europe Views the UN 13:31 European Young Engineers 15:39 Paul’s Low Carbon Job 16:21 Heat Networks and AI 18:16 Answering Renewables Critics 20:53 Paul’s Climate Action Tip 21:36 Hope and Closing Thanks https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VPBDApCMj3s5gpbezkMDGMrFfOtBe8CK https://youngoclimate.org/ climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    24 min

  5. 3 MAR

    Season 3, Episode 17: Alice

    In the 70th edition of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Alice from Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region and shares a QuickFix from Linda encouraging thrift-store clothing and repurposing. Alice describes local wildlife near Kidepo National Park, current temperatures, and severe climate change impacts in Karamoja, including recurring food insecurity, water scarcity, long dry spells, strong winds, and declining soil productivity, and notes developed societies contribute to these effects. She explains her background in the Ik Indigenous community, their displacement from the park in 1957, and tensions between conservation benefits and loss of cultural sites despite compensation. As a 2024 Indigenous Youth Fellowship participant, she led projects on climate education, school clubs, tree planting, forest restoration, radio outreach, and women-focused entrepreneurship via energy-saving stoves. Alice’s climate action is planting and caring for indigenous trees, and she finds hope in grassroots action and intergenerational knowledge transfer. 00:00 Welcome to Episode 70 00:32 QuickFix Thrifted Fashion 01:23 Meet Alice in Karamoja 02:25 Climate Impacts in Karamoja 04:02 Who Bears Responsibility 05:00 Ik People and Nature 06:38 Conservation and Displacement 08:58 Indigenous Stewardship 11:01 Passing Knowledge Forward 12:10 Youth Fellowship Project 15:06 Women and Clean Cookstoves 16:05 Indigenous Solutions Matter 16:43 Alice Climate Action and Hope 18:20 Closing and Subscribe climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    20 min

  6. 10 FEB

    Season 3, Episode 16: Vaibhav

    In this episode of Climate Action Figures, John Whidden and Vaibhav discuss the urgent issue of global soil degradation, its impact on agriculture, and climate change. Vaibhav highlights the importance of sustainable farming practices and youth advocacy in addressing these challenges. He shares insights on soil health, the role of monoculture in soil degradation, and how more diverse, sustainable farming practices can regenerate healthy soils. They also touch on the significance of youth involvement in international climate negotiations and the Save Soil movement led by Sadhguru. 00:00 Introduction and QuickFix on Birds 01:20 Meet Vaibhav: Climate Advocate 02:30 Vaibhav's Journey in Sustainability 03:25 The Soil Crisis and Solutions 07:23 Global Movements and Policy Advocacy 13:59 Youth Involvement in Climate Conferences 19:27 Vaibhav's Personal Climate Action 22:05 Hope and Inspiration 23:34 Conclusion and Contact Information https://www.birdscanada.org/ https://consciousplanet.org/en/save-soil climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    25 min

  7. 3 FEB

    Season 3, Episode 15: Aryan

    Aryan returns to Climate Action Figures to discuss advancements in his microplastic-collecting robot, his awards at the National Science Fair, and his new project on pipeline inspection technology inspired by Calgary's water main break.  00:00 Introduction and QuickFix Tip 02:10 Aryan's Microplastic Robot 04:09 Science Fair Success and National Recognition 07:24 International Exposition in Abu Dhabi 12:02 New Project: Pipeline Inspection Robot 18:16 Climate Action and Final Thoughts Real Talk Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQehVNKuyU (11:00) climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    24 min

  8. 27 JAN

    Season 3, Episode 14: Kim

    In this episode of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Kim from Guyana, a math teacher and advocate for climate action. Kim shares her experiences biking seven miles to school in Rupununi, the local community's approach to climate change, and the role of Indigenous knowledge in environmental conservation. She discusses her work with the Indigenous Youth Fellowship program, teaching students about traditional skills and environmental awareness, and her efforts to reduce plastic use. Kim highlights the importance of small actions and Indigenous perspectives in addressing climate change. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:47 QuickFix from Emma 01:04 Meet Kim from Guyana 01:13 Bicycles in Rupununi 02:42 Climate Change Concerns in Guyana 04:28 Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Action 07:16 Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program 09:17 Kim's Teaching and Environmental Efforts 11:07 Kim's Climate Action and Hopes 12:19 Conclusion and Call to Action https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/meet-our-2024-cohort-indigenous-youth-fellows,    climateactionfigures@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/climateactionfigures https://www.instagram.com/climateactionfigures/ https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateActionFigures

    13 min
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About

A safe place for youth to share steps they are taking to mitigate climate change.

Information

  • Creator
    John Whidden
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Climate Action Figures
  • Show Website
    Climate Action Figures