Stay connected with the global community of young climate leaders, educators, and supporters who are transforming climate anxiety into climate action. From student insights to program updates, discover the latest from the CAVU community.
In a World of Climate “Doomism,” Inspiration Prevails This month, CAVU Education Coordinator, Lucy Sullivan, joined educators, students, and sustainability leaders at the NYC Green Schools Conference to share and discuss how solutions-based climate education overcomes “doomism” in young people. By Lucy SullivanCAVU Education Coordinator As I prepared my panelist notes for this year’s New…
2026 Student Showcase: Most Impactful and CIC Founder’s Award
We’re nearing the end of this year’s CAVU Student Showcase with our biggest awards remaining: The Most Impactful Award and the Climate Innovation Challenge Founder’s…
2026 Student Showcase: Most Outstanding Entry Awards and Most Creative & Engaging
Many of the critical problems climate change presents communities around the world cannot be solved through datasets and formulas alone. That’s why both of these…
2026 Student Showcase: Best Storytelling and Most Practical & Effective Concept
Across this year’s CAVU Student Showcase, students didn’t just learn about climate change—they told stories, built solutions, and showed what’s possible when young people are…
From Problem to Prototype: How CIC Inspires Innovation at Zebar School
In Ahmedabad, India, students at Zebar School for Children aren’t just learning about climate change, they’re engineering solutions. For the past three years, educator Ayushe…
A Day in the Life of a CAVU Educator: Inside a Classroom Full of Climate Innovators
By the time CAVU Program and Operations Director Rebecca VanArnam arrived at Fieldstone Middle School in New Jersey on Friday, December 19, the energy was…
Year-Round Classroom Garden Feeds Learners By Mercy Wambui Visiting classrooms remains the best part of my job and working directly with students and educators is…
The CAVU Youth Advisory Board consists of CIC alumni and young climate leaders who provide guidance on program development, represent youth perspectives in organizational decisions, and mentor current CIC participants.
Tanishreet Kaur is a 17-year-old student leader, researcher, and youth advocate from Punjab, India, currently pursuing Class 12. Her work centers on youth leadership and social impact, with a strong focus on turning awareness and ideas into meaningful action. She serves as District Interact Secretary for Interact District 3070, working with Interact Clubs across Punjab, Jammu & Himachal Pradesh to strengthen youth participation in community service and civic initiatives. She is also the Founder & Chairperson of a youth-led social-impact organisation focused on helping young people turn their skills and ideas into projects that address community and social challenges. Her experience combines research and advocacy with hands-on work in youth and public affairs. She has contributed to ESRAG South Asia’s ECHO Magazine, conducted research on human rights and civil society regulation, and worked with youth-focused organisations on policy, outreach, and global affairs. As a Climate & Nature Ambassador with Climate Cardinals × The Nature Conservancy, she creates research-backed climate content and works to make climate knowledge more accessible across communities and languages. She has also led student initiatives, facilitated workshops on sustainability and civic education, and represented young people on national and international platforms, earning recognition for her work in diplomacy, debate, leadership, and public engagement. Across these experiences, Tanishreet has developed a multidisciplinary perspective that brings together research, leadership, advocacy, and community action.
Gurveen Kaur is a Grade 12 student at Wood Blossom School, Kairon, India, and a youth climate advocate and environmental storyteller. Her environmental work began with leading Plastic to Purpose, a student-led initiative addressing plastic waste through collection, segregation and EcoBrick-making. She also led a student workshop on transforming plastic waste into EcoBricks and later documented the project for ESRAG South Asia’s ECHO Magazine, with her article subsequently selected for the ESRAG Global Monthly Newsletter as one of two entries from South Asia.
I am Arpan Bahadur Dotel, a 12th grader pursuing a level from Kathmandu, Nepal. Situated at the foothills of the Hindu Kush, Nepal is a region prone to climate disasters. I wish to introduce innovative solutions to climate change based on my roots and issues faced by my community.
Aarna Vyas is a ninth-grade student from Glen Rock, New Jersey with a passion for literature, travel, and technology. Inspired by first hand accounts of global warming on communities, Aarna is committed to using her public speaking experience to raise awareness about climate change and advocate for those impacted by it.
Neeharika Shrestha is a 16-year-old student of Rato Bangala School, Nepal and a youth climate advocate who is also the founder of Project Neeharika, a self-led initiative using music and community action to support children and promote environmental awareness. A violinist since the age of nine, she is passionate about climate change, action and creative storytelling. As a youth leader, she hopes to inspire young people to use their voices, ideas, and creativity to create meaningful change.
Joel Hoffman is a ninth grader at Santa Fe Preparatory School. He enjoys Shakespearean acting as well as playing many sports such as soccer and skiing. His love of the outdoors and recent wildfires near his home inspired him to create a video about wildfire prevention for the Climate Innovation Challenge which won a first place award from Climate Changemaker Teen Film Festival.
Shanaaya Chaudhary is a tenth-grade student at Zebar School for Children, Ahmedabad, with a keen interest in harnessing technology and sustainability to shape a better future. She is an active member of both the Interact Club and the TED-Ed Club at her school, where she channels her passion for leadership, communication and meaningful collaboration. Shanaaya is dedicated to amplifying young voices through creativity and innovation, striving to make a lasting, positive impact. Her work reflects a strong commitment to climate resilience, resource conservation, and community awareness with a focus on transforming ideas into meaningful action. She aspires to further explore how artificial intelligence and innovation can be leveraged to address urgent climate challenges, while also inspiring her peers to become active agents of change.