Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summits on Climate Change and Public Health

The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE) joined forces with Putney Pre-College, an initiative of Putney Student Travel, to host the inaugural youth summer program on climate and public health in July 2021.

As part of the Center’s 25th anniversary, the Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summits trained students to be leaders in their communities through workshops, field-based activities, and meetings with scientists, health and policy experts, academics, energy innovators, and more.

The Youth Summits combined Putney’s extensive history of designing educational and innovative student programs with Harvard Chan C-CHANGE’s academic expertise and thought leadership on climate and health.

Full and partial need-based scholarships were provided for underrepresented students and communities to empower the next generation of climate and public health leaders. 

Confronting Climate Realities with Concrete Action

Sunday, July 18 –  Saturday, July 24

Like-minded high school students joined engaging educators and inspiring mentors in July 2021 for a climate change program with Putney Pre-College and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The students chose an Action Focus and dove into climate issues related to their interests, strengths, and passions. The students gained perspective from world leaders and politicians, met with inspiring advocates, scientists, renewable energy innovators, and entrepreneurs at the forefront of addressing the climate crisis. The students engaged with themes such as health, energy, water, transportation, and agriculture, and developed a capstone project focused on transforming their ideas into action.

Tackling Public Health Challenges to Address Inequities and Climate Realities

Sunday, July 25 – Saturday, July 31

High school students dove into issues of public health alongside peers, educators, and leading professionals from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The students chose an Action Focus based on their interests and explored how public health is intertwined with racial and social justice, economics, and climate change. They gained perspective from scientists, world leaders, and politicians about the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges and opportunities for navigating global public health issues. The students engaged with themes such as climate, pandemics, public policy, and air and water quality and developed a capstone project to transform their ideas into action.

This program was developed thanks to the support of Gina McCarthy, now the National Climate Adviser to the Biden/Harris Administration and former Director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE.

Check it out: Two of our speakers—Nadia Nazar, Co-founder of Zero Hour and Skye Flanigan, Program Manager at Harvard Chan C-CHANGE—were featured on CBS Baltimore. Watch now

Guest Speakers