May 9th, 2023
SDSN Canada, SDSN USA, and SDSN Mexico are pleased announce a new partnership with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to oversee and develop programming for the North American EcoInnovation Network. This EcoInnovation Network convenes university-based innovation centers from across the continent with the goal of encouraging youth-based innovation and entrepreneurship rooted in sustainability.
In pursuit of this work, expressions of interest are now being accepted for standing members to join the EcoInnovation Network Youth Leadership Steering Committee (YLSC). Up to 12 positions are available, with a maximum of four standing members from each of SDSN Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The submission deadline is Friday May 26 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.
To submit a formal expression of interest, please use the following google forms link (https://forms.gle/13KDt2k6qm6cLaz68). It’s important that interested parties should be part of the standing members of the corresponding SDSN National Chapter and should be part of their academic community, i.e. professors, administrative, faculty staff, etc.
The YLSC will manage work dedicated towards the design and implementation of a new Eco-Innovation Youth Leadership program focused on equipping youth aged 18-30 across North America to develop the mindsets, capabilities, and practices needed to lead transitions toward a just and low-carbon economy. Today’s world requires strong systems thinkers and innovators who can navigate complexity and uncertainty with agility and creativity. It is the goal of the YLSC to identify gaps and opportunities in existing Youth Leadership programming in North America, collate ideas, and design programming that will cultivate youth and community leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
Joining a diverse community of emerging change-makers, this program seeks those who are passionate about learning engaging, accelerating, and cultivating sustainable leadership capabilities in emerging transdisciplinary fields of innovation studies, transition management, green entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
Interested parties should have a demonstrable interest in helping create a talent pipeline of high caliber leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. YLSC members are expected to take part in a range of activities throughout the year (ending November 2023), as well as those specifically related to a co-design process resulting in program development. This will include opportunities to convene in-person as well as remote virtual programming.
Drawing on user-centered design thinking, the Youth Leadership program is to be offered to students as a module-based (style of learning in which the program is broken down into pre-specified units) curriculum using a flexible format drawing on online learning platforms. A distinguishing feature of the YL program offers participants the opportunity to complete the program by selecting a relative proportion of modules that best address their needs, priorities, and ambitions.
When submitting an expression of interest, you will be aske to submit the following information:
Personal information: name, email, institution affiliation, and a brief description of the party’s role.
Statement of interest, e.g. why the party wants to join the Steering Committee
For any additional questions or information about the YLSC and expectations of members, please contact Nicholas Palaschuk (e: npwpalas@uwaterloo.ca) directly.
About the SDSN
The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. SDSN is recognized as the largest post-secondary community working collectively on the SDGs, with over 1,700 member institutions worldwide and more than 50 national or regional chapters, of which Canada, Mexico, and the USA are considered strong leaders.
About the CEC
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) was established in 1994 by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States through the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, a parallel environmental agreement to NAFTA. As of 2020, the CEC is recognized and maintained by the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, in parallel with the new Free Trade Agreement of North America. The CEC brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including the general public, Indigenous people, youth, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the business sector, to seek solutions to protect North America’s shared environment while supporting sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.