Canada’s young people will bear the brunt of climate change, yet Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is systematically cutting them out of the policy decisions meant to mitigate it. A new report from The Pointer reveals that youth—who will inherit the consequences of today’s inaction—are being denied a seat at the table in climate planning. This exclusion comes despite Canada’s legally binding commitments to slash emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050.
The Carney government’s approach contradicts decades of precedent in which Canadian youth have been at the forefront of climate advocacy. From school strikes to courtroom battles, young activists have forced government accountability on issues like wildfire smoke, flooding, and melting permafrost. Yet their direct participation in shaping policy appears to have evaporated under the current administration.
Historically, Canada’s climate strategies have relied on youth input to build legitimacy. The federal government’s 2021 Emissions Reduction Plan, for example, incorporated feedback from youth-led organizations, acknowledging their role as stakeholders. But recent policy shifts suggest a reversal, with decisions made behind closed doors and without meaningful consultation.
The consequences of this exclusion extend beyond symbolic representation. Intergenerational equity—the principle that future generations should not suffer disproportionately from today’s policy failures—is being violated. Experts warn that without youth involvement, climate policies risk being short-sighted, failing to address the accelerating impacts of global warming that will define young Canadians’ lives.
The Pointer’s investigation highlights a pattern of marginalization. Youth climate councils disbanded, funding for youth-led environmental initiatives slashed, and invitations to climate summits rescinded. A former member of a federal youth climate advisory panel described the process as ‘performative,’ stating that meetings now consist of ‘one-way briefings’ with no opportunity for input.
This isn’t just a Canadian issue. Globally, young people are turning to courts to hold governments accountable. In 2021, a group of Portuguese youth successfully sued 32 European countries over climate inaction. Similar cases are pending in Canada, where youth plaintiffs argue that systemic exclusion from policy-making violates their constitutional rights.
The Carney government’s stance appears to prioritize economic transition over democratic inclusion, framing youth opposition as an obstacle to progress. But advocates argue that such logic is flawed. ‘You can’t build a sustainable future without the people who will live in it,’ said one youth organizer who requested anonymity. ‘Their exclusion isn’t just unfair—it’s a guarantee of failure.’
As wildfires rage in the west and floods devastate the east, the disconnect between policy and lived reality grows more dangerous. Without youth voices shaping the response, Canada risks repeating the mistakes of the past: policies designed for the present, with no regard for the future.
The government has not responded to requests for comment.