Green Tweens + Teens

Teens + tweens can SEE the change and BE the change. The results from a survey conducted by Habbo, the world's largest virtual world for teens, and Greenpeace International, of nearly 50,000 teenagers worldwide were released, revealing that 74 percent of teens believe that global warming is a serious problem and they are more concerned about the environment than any other global issue, including drugs, violence or war.

Green teens are growing in sheer numbers around this issue and have become a powerful force for change. Here are a few campaigns lead by teens or created for teens advocating for a more eco-friendly existance:

Teens Turning Green is a student led movement devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities. They lead the Green Prom Project, encouraging girls to wear vintage pieces to prom.

Teens for Healthy Schools was launched in the Spring of 2008 as another program of Search for the Cause, harnessing the inquisitive nature of teens to investigate their schools and find the greener alternatives available to replace toxic products and practices. More and more schools are signing up to join this force for change.

The EarthSeeds Initiative is a network of experts that provide growing organizations with the resources they need to thrive in sometimes hostile environments.

The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe.

Enviroteens was created by 13-year-old Katy Short-Hamiwka because she wanted to make an eco-difference in her community. The ambitious teen wanted to find some way to get involved in the green movement and donating money just wasn't an option. Instead of giving up, she created EnviroTeens.com.

Inconvenient Youth is a place where teenagers 13-18 can share their inconvenient ideas and action steps in order to help solve the climate crisis.

It is Cool the Earth's mission to engage kids and their families in climate change by motivating them to take simple, measurable actions to conserve energy. Collectively, these actions, and an increased awareness of energy, will make a significant impact on global warming. Cool the Earth is a grassroots, school-to-home program that was founded in 2007 by Marin County parents, Carleen and Jeff Cullen, who were inspired to take action after seeing the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."

GreenMyParents is a revolutionary, nationwide program to help young people teach their peers and parents how to work together to help the economy, earn money at home, and save the planet through simple, everyday actions. Scheduled to launch Earth Day 2010, this movement enables youth to bring their insightful perspective on how to reduce their parents’ use of resources and save money at home to make a huge difference in saving the planet and securing their future.