Twelve young Canadians were selected by the federal government to advise on climate and environmental policy. Less than two years later, our council was quietly dissolved by email. 

More than two years ago, the federal government opened a recruitment campaign for its second cohort of the Environment and Climate Change Canada Youth Council (ECCYC). Seeking the bright minds of young environmental advocates around the country, the government’s open call was followed by several months of essay applications, video statements and security clearances as aspiring candidates from across the country, aged 18 to 29, crossed their fingers in hopes of being chosen. 

By the end of the process, twelve of us, ranging from undergraduate students to early-career environmental professionals, were selected to voluntarily contribute our time. We came from across the country, representing all regions of Canada, including Canada's North, where the Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average. 

Our cohort was convened with the promise of helping bring youth perspectives into federal climate policy. We were given a mandate to provide advice, share lived experiences and help bridge the gap between decision-makers and the generation that will bear the consequences of climate change the longest. 

But over the past year, that promise quietly unravelled. 

After meeting briefly, early in our term, communication........

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