As Greece faces yet another devastating wildfire season, the urgency for a pragmatic and practical set of solutions has never been more clear. The fires that have once again ravaged our beautiful landscapes and impacted local communities are not just a symptom of climate change – they are a clarion call to action. Our country stands at a crossroads, and it is time to harness the power of our greatest resource: our youth.
One very effective way to do so is through a national youth climate corps. I am the co-founder of Ecogenia, a nonprofit dedicated to building a national youth climate corps for Greece, because I believe that young people are key to building a resilient and sustainable future for this country. A climate corps is not a silver bullet, but it is an enabler – a catalyst for accelerating the implementation of climate solutions across the country.
The concept of a climate corps is not new. Similar programs in other countries have shown that this model works. It is scalable, adaptable, and effective.
By learning from these examples and tailoring the model to Greece’s unique needs, we can build a program that not only addresses immediate threats like wildfires but also contributes to long-term resilience and sustainability. Here’s why a youth climate corps is critical to Greece’s future. Climate change is a complex challenge that requires not only technical expertise but also boots on the ground to implement a wide breadth of solutions.
The scale of the task.