Students in grades 9 through 12 in San Mateo County who are interested in climate change and taking local action are invited to apply for the Youth Climate Ambassador (YCA) Leadership Program by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1. CEC founded the program and continues to help host it with  the San Mateo County Sustainability Department, San Mateo County’s Office of Education and WestLight Energy.

YCA helps students build leadership skills, take action to address climate change, connect with peers who have similar interests, implement a Community Impact Project, learn more about the climate crisis and local solutions, and join a network of fellow high school students ready to take action together. Participants are paid a stipend to complete the program. Learn more and apply online at sustainsmc.org/YCA.

Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) is now accepting applications for its 2026-2027 Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Young people ages 15 to 24 in San Mateo County are invited to learn how to drive environmental and social change in their communities and advise SSMC’s board of directors, while gaining valuable advocacy and leadership experience alongside local government and industry leaders. Applications are due Sept. 1. For details, visit SSMC’s Youth Advisory Council webpage.