Youth Climate Summit Inspires Long Island Students to Lead Change
In an effort to cultivate the next wave of environmental leaders, over 200 middle and high school students from Long Island gathered at Stony Brook University for the 2026 Long Island Youth Climate Summit. This event aimed to energize young minds about climate leadership.
The summit, which took place on March 10 in the Student Activities Center Ballroom, featured a diverse range of presentations and discussions. Students from 13 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties engaged in sessions exploring climate science, advocacy, and potential career paths in sustainability.
Organized by Students for Climate Action and Renewable Energy Long Island, the summit was further supported by partners like Stony Brook Workforce Development and Collaborative for the Earth (C4E).
Melissa Parrott, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island, kicked off the event by emphasizing the summit’s theme of “climate optimism” and introducing keynote speaker Adrienne Esposito, who addressed the critical issues of activism and misinformation.
Esposito inspired the audience, saying, “By being here, you are also acting as activists. What does that mean? Activism gets a bad rap, but it simply means someone who desires change, and that is a good thing.”
She urged students to engage in civic activities, emphasizing, “Your voice matters. If you ever have a chance to go to a community meeting or a public meeting, even if you’re not the type of person who wants to stand up and speak, that’s fine. Just show up. Just being there in numbers causes elected officials to take notice that people care.”
The summit also featured Heather White, founder of One Green Thing, who addressed the emotional impacts of climate change on the younger generation, a topic she explores in her book on eco anxiety. White encouraged students to find their “service superpower” to contribute effectively to climate action.
“Hope and joy are not naive,” White said. “They are defiant. Because we are the ones that are going to get us through this. No one is coming to save us. It’s up to all of us.”
Students participated in exercises to identify their unique strengths and discussed how to leverage them in environmental advocacy.
Local leaders, including Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, highlighted regional climate issues like solar energy and waste management, while a panel of industry experts discussed careers in clean energy. Chad Marvin from the Long Island Clean Energy Hub encouraged early engagement through volunteering and internships, advising that this experience is key for future job opportunities.
Caroline Grattan of Applied Energy Services reassured students about exploring varied career paths: “So many options are ahead of you, but if you have a bunch, just go with it, explore your options and you’ll figure it out.”
Ryan Stanton from the Long Island Federation of Labor stressed continuous learning and adaptability, while Sydney LeGuillow of the Haugland Group urged students to remain true to their passions without undue pressure.
Adam Charboneau from Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences advised students to appreciate life’s moments and embrace curiosity: “I say that to slow down, enjoy the moments and see the world. Do it as a child would. It’s a set of gifts. Don’t get over-transactionary or over-transactional.”
Parrott closed the event by underscoring the importance of unity and dedication in the journey toward a sustainable future, reminding students, “There’s a lot of work to do. It’s going to be hard, but we can do it.”
Original Story at news.stonybrook.edu