OFFICIAL ENDORSED DECADE ACTION
U.S. YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL FOR THE UN OCEAN DECADE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD!
Heirs To Our Ocean established the U.S. Youth Action Council for the United Nations Ocean Decade (U.S. YAC UNOD) in 2020 to ensure that young people can contribute meaningfully to critical decision-making this Decade. As the next generation of leaders, youth will inherit the challenges facing our Blue Planet, making their involvement today imperative.
Every August, youth are recruited to participate from across the U.S., U.S. Territories and U.S.-occupied lands.
NEW PROGRAM NAME
A NEW NAME TO BETTER FIT OUR MISSION
The U.S. Youth Advisory Council for the UN Ocean Decade has officially changed its name to the U.S. Youth ACTION Council for the UN Ocean Decade.
Why the change?
Alignment with core values and mission: “ACTION” better represents our long-standing commitment to hands-on efforts and action projects that each cohort develops to contribute to the preservation and restoration of our one-water system.
Focus on tangible outcomes: During the last half of the Decade we aim to drive real, measurable outcomes and change that support the health of our shared water planet and the next generation in alignment with the UN Ocean Decade’s Vision 2030.
We are excited to continue our work under this new identity and to further our contributions to the UN Ocean Decade’s Vision 2030.
5TH COHORT U.S. YAC UNOD
5TH COHORT NOW UNDERWAY!
This cohort is extra special as we’ve onboarded members from four U.S. states that have never before been represented on the U.S. YAC UNOD! Now, across all cohorts, we’ve reached a milestone with representation from 30 different U.S. states, territories and occupied lands!
Over the next eight months, U.S. YAC UNOD members will be hard at work on hands-on action projects related to policy, movement-building, education, and communications!
We can’t wait to see the incredible positive impact this cohort will have on our one water system! Stay tuned for updates as our members embark on this exciting journey over the next eight months!
Subscribe to our newsletterWORKING GROUP COMMITTEES
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
POLICY
Every year to date the Policy Working Group Committee of the U.S. YAC UNOD has organized a Hill Day event speaking with lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol regarding policies they felt seek a safer future.
To date, they have held over 250 meetings with federal lawmakers and their staffers to discuss bills such as:
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act
End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act
Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act
Magnuson-Stevens Act (Reauthorization)
Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act
Coastal Habitat Conservation Act
Offshore Pipeline Safety Act
Sustainable Agriculture Research Act
Farmers Fighting Climate Change Act
Farm Fresh Food for Families Act
WATCH YOUTH IN WASHINGTON D.C.
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
MOVEMENT
To date, the Movement Working Group Committee has engaged over 700 youth advocates and collaborators dedicated to furthering actions and opportunities aimed at including the next generation meaningfully in the Decade. Youth have accomplished this through:
Conducting ocean and water literacy community and school presentations
Coordinating nationwide plastic Brand Audits where youth contribute to data that’s used to influence the creation of a Global Plastics Treaty
Crafting social media campaigns to build community and engage diverse stakeholders
Involving communities in Hill Day success through a petition
Writing articles and Op-Eds
Developing and facilitating a youth webinar and workshop on youth engagement in the UN Ocean Decade
Organizing a Press Conference to share successes and calls to action after Hill Days
WATCH U.S. YAC UNOD Press Conference
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
EDUCATION
The Education Working Group Committee dedicates efforts to achieving ocean literacy and fostering intersectional understanding about water-related issues among diverse audiences. Members have achieved this through:
Developing Ocean and Water Literacy + UN Ocean Decade presentation toolkit in Spanish
Writing a children’s book series that share stories from the frontlines of climate change
Creating a 100+ page toolkit that rewrites the 10 Challenges of the UN Ocean Decade from a youth perspective
ACCESS EDUCATION TOOLKIT ON UN Ocean Decade 10 Challenges
CHALLENGE 10
VISION 2030 CHALLENGE 10 WHITE PAPER
Including youth voices under 25 is pivotal because when their perspectives are valued and integrated, they become catalysts for advancing the UN Ocean Decade’s priorities for decades to come.
As a member of the Expert Working Group for Decade Challenge 10, H2OO collected feedback from U.S. YAC UNOD members and H2OO Global Youth Leaders. This effort ensured that the perspectives and unique contributions of youth aged 16–25 were included in the Challenge 10 white paper. Notably, this is the only white paper that has incorporated youth perspectives in this manner.
READ WHITE PAPER on challenge 10U.S. YAC UNOD Impact
WHAT YOUTH ALUMNI ARE SAYING
WHAT U.S. YAC UNOD MEMBERS GAIN
Access to High-Level Opportunities:
Participate in real-world opportunities such as UN Conferences and other collaborative stakeholder events or working groups.
Real-World Skill & Leadership Development:
Participate in skill-building workshops led by experts on empathetic leadership, presenting, public speaking, policy advocacy, communications and storytelling.
Empowerment:
Gain confidence and tools to lead and implement 8-month national action projects.
Networking Opportunities:
Connect with a diverse group of youth leaders and professionals in the field of eco-justice, climate, ocean science and conservation.
Global Impact:
Contribute to advancing the UN Ocean Decade Vision 2030, aligning with the needs and priorities of your communities.
Expert Mentorship:
Receive guidance and support from experienced leaders and advocates.
FUND YOUTH-LED ACTION PROJECTS
The U.S. YAC UNOD Program including its youth-led action projects and the alumni support team are made possible by our community of supporters who believe in the power of youth to drive meaningful change.
Make a donation to help make this experience and opportunities such as the Hill Days accessible to diverse youth.
donate to power U.S. YAC UNOD actionsALUMNI OF U.S. YAC UNOD
U.S. YAC UNOD Collaborators
H2OO’s U.S. YAC UNOD operates in collaboration with the U.S. National Committee (USNC) for the Ocean Decade, which is housed under the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
