California has established its own Environmental Youth Advisory Council, a state-level initiative designed to engage young people in environmental policy, following the apparent discontinuation of a similar federal program under the Trump administration.
The California EPA’s Environmental Youth Advisory Council is seeking applicants aged 14 to 20 who wish to develop leadership skills, learn from environmental decision-makers, and contribute recommendations on state environmental policy. This initiative aims to fill a void left by the federal EPA's National Environmental Youth Advisory Council, which was launched in 2023 but appears to have expired without renewal under the Trump administration.
Officials confirmed that the federal committee's charter expired on June 5, 2025, and under federal law, such groups automatically terminate after two years unless explicitly renewed. The Trump administration has not officially announced the program's termination, but no new cohort was appointed, and its website has been removed. Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the California program will "give young people a seat at the table," enabling them to engage directly in climate action and influence environmental policy.
The launch of California's program coincides with the escalating impacts of climate change on the state's youth, including extreme heat, wildfires, and poor air quality. Young people under 20 constitute approximately a quarter of California's population. Experts note that children are disproportionately affected by climate extremes due to their developing physiology. This state initiative also comes as the Trump administration has pursued rollbacks of environmental protections, including California's clean car standards and the federal endangerment finding on planet-heating pollution.
Yana Garcia, California Secretary for Environmental Protection, emphasized the importance of youth perspectives, stating, "Young people everywhere will inherit the environmental legacy we build today. That’s why, at CalEPA, we believe young people should get a say in the decisions we make, and that their diverse perspectives should be heard and honored." Legislative efforts in Congress to codify youth advisory groups within federal agencies have not advanced.
The California program, funded through existing resources for travel and training, requires no application fee. It is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including small towns, tribal communities, and underrepresented groups, with no prior experience necessary. The inaugural cohort will consist of 10 appointees for a one-year pilot term, with plans to expand to 20 appointees for a full two-year term. Applications are being accepted through September 21.
