Climate Action Projects take a solutions-based approach to real world environmental challenges on campuses and in communities. Students work with Turning Green to conceive, develop, and implement innovative, feasible, high-impact Climate Action Projects (CAPs) across diverse topics — in partnership with our Turning Green team, mentors, ambassadors, experts, teams, friends, advisors, teachers, administrators, and community members. Each year, high school, college and graduate school student leaders from around the world ideate, refine, launch, and actualize CAPs during Project Green Challenge, as well as through programs like Project Green Course and our internships and fellowships.
Following five months of hard work (between the November PGC Finals and the April CAP presentations), PGC Finalists present the measurable impact of completed CAPs before a panel of judges, as well as what comes next on their activism journeys.
Browse the PGC 2025 Finalists’ Climate Action Projects below. You can see more from past years in the Turning Green CAP database.
Aarush Mahajan, Team Action For World, Carbon Conversations & Community Action Toolkit
The Carbon Conversations & Community Action Toolkit is a youth-led initiative based in Pune, India, designed to bridge the gap between climate awareness and policy engagement. Focused on demystifying carbon pricing mechanisms like Carbon Fee and Dividend, the project equips students with accessible tools to understand and advocate for climate solutions. The toolkit — featuring simplified explainers, infographics, videos, discussion guides, and policy postcard templates — will support Carbon Conversation Circles in at least three local schools. More than 150 students, guided by trained youth facilitators, will participate in structured discussions and send personalized postcards to local representatives. By turning abstract policy into tangible action, the project fosters grassroots political will and cultivates a generation of climate-literate leaders ready to shape a sustainable future.
Anas Muhammad, Fair & Green Future Initiative
The Fair & Green Future Initiative combines fair trade and sustainability to promote ethical consumption and climate-responsible production. It addresses two urgent challenges: ensuring fair pay for producers and reducing environmental harm through low-carbon, transparent supply chains. The project expands awareness of fair-trade principles, launches a national map of verified ethical producers, and distributes Champion Toolkits. It also advocates for climate-responsible sourcing through guides and outreach to policymakers and businesses, while supporting producers through wage transparency and vocational training. By empowering producers, inspiring communities, and influencing policies, the initiative shows that equity and climate action can go hand in hand — building a fairer, greener future for all.
Awungafac Asongu, Roots Reborn 2.0
Roots Reborn 2.0 is a youth-led reforestation and environmental education project in Buea, Cameroon, focused on restoring degraded land and cultivating climate leadership. Through Eco Learning Circles, the project brings together students, farmers, and women for hands-on training in agroforestry, composting, and waste upcycling. The team will plant and sustain 500 Indigenous trees across three sites: the University of Buea, Molyko, and Bokwaongo. They will also train 50 students and 10 farmers in sustainable practices. A Green Track Dashboard will document progress and amplify stories through the #OneTreeOneStory campaign. With support from the University of Buea, Environment and Rural Development Foundation Cameroon, and the Buea Municipal Council, the project blends science, creativity, and community to make sustainability a shared culture. Every tree planted is an act of restoration — of land, of community, and of hope.
Carolina Svetlana Novillo Bravo, Save & Share
Save & Share is a youth-led initiative focused on reducing food waste and supporting families facing food insecurity. The project collects surplus food — such as fresh produce and baked goods — from local businesses and redistributes it through a collaborative network of young people, community partners, and organizations. Alongside food collection, Save & Share fosters education around responsible consumption, resource efficiency, and social empathy. Through talks, campaigns, and hands-on activities, the project invites communities to rethink waste and recognize food as a shared resource. Rooted in the belief that climate action is also an act of care, Save & Share demonstrates how sustainability and solidarity can move together — nourishing both people and planet.
Cassandra Jordan, Earth Equality
Earth Equality is a global youth initiative advocating for environmental justice and stronger climate policies. It centers the voices of those most affected by climate change — often those with the smallest environmental footprints — and seeks to build a more equitable future through education, storytelling, and connection. The project combines local action with global outreach, using social media to share stories and build community. Whether through small wins or large-scale impact, Earth Equality believes that every step toward sustainability contributes to a better world for all.
Charles Amoani-Antwi, Team Sustainovators, EcoQuest
EcoQuest: Your Daily Climate Challenge is a mobile-friendly web app, designed to transform climate anxiety into daily action by gamifying sustainability and making climate habits accessible to youth. The app offers bite-sized quests like “Go meatless for one meal,” that build lasting habits and deepen climate awareness. Each completed quest earns users points, streaks, and badges, along with a simple “Why it Matters” explanation to reinforce learning. By turning overwhelming challenges into empowering routines, EcoQuest helps youth build confidence and take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future.
Darinka Lucy Cerna Oropeza, Team Green Tech, A Drop of Hope
A Drop of Hope “Una Gota de Esperanza” is a youth-led campaign in Lima, Peru, focused on protecting beaches and oceans by reducing plastic pollution. The project combines digital outreach, community education, and hands-on cleanups. The campaign begins with social media education on Instagram and TikTok, followed by virtual and in-person workshops in coastal districts. The final phase includes beach cleanups at two sites, supported by volunteers from Group for the Management of Water Resources, AIESEC at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and local partners. By blending awareness with action, Una Gota de Esperanza empowers youth to protect marine ecosystems and inspire sustainable habits across communities.
Diana Mazhari, Denge Org
Denge Org is a youth-led initiative focused on making climate education accessible and actionable. Named after the Turkish word for “balance,” Denge offers free courses on climate change and sustainable living, designed to ease the transition for those just beginning their climate journey. Recognizing that time, money, and capacity can be barriers, Denge provides free climate action consultations. After completing a three-month course, students and young professionals take a qualifying exam to become certified climate action consultants. These consultants then support new volunteers with weekly action plans — small, achievable steps — and offer ongoing guidance and motivation.
Isabelle Deon, Team What We Grew, Youth for Biodiversity
Youth for Biodiversity is a youth-led initiative that introduces children and teens to environmental stewardship through hands-on education and engaging community events. The project promotes biodiversity, soil health, and sustainable land care practices by engaging youth in workshops, planting activities, and creative learning experiences. Through collaboration with Rewild Long Island and the Girl Scouts of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the team will co-develop a pilot program where participants learn about native plants, pollinators, and regenerative gardening — and potentially earn a new badge recognizing their commitment to sustainability. By empowering younger generations to connect with nature, cultivate healthy ecosystems, and take ownership of local green spaces, Sustainable Gardening for Future Stewards fosters environmental awareness and action that can grow for years to come.
Joely Kim, Team Dandy Lions, The Abundance Box
The Abundance Box is a youth-powered initiative that rescues surplus food from cafeterias, grocery stores, farmers markets, and local farms and redistributes it to families in need. By diverting edible items from landfills, the project reduces food waste while increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Partnering with schools, supermarkets, and community organizations, volunteer teams collect, sort, and package “Bundle Boxes” that include fresh produce and recipe cards. School-based packaging events provide opportunities for youth to serve their community and learn about food literacy and sustainability. Through hands-on volunteering, educational outreach, and community partnerships, The Abundance Box empowers youth leadership, strengthens communities, and reduces food waste while supporting families.
Monica Annim, Team Bigfoot, Step Green Initiative
The Step Green Initiative is a youth-led project in Ghana transforming discarded coconut husks into durable, climate-smart footwear. By redefining comfort, culture, and sustainability, the team turns waste into opportunity and empowers youth and artisans along the way. The initiative centers on three goals: reducing waste through circular design, creating green jobs through artisan training, and educating consumers about sustainability in fashion. Workshops and outreach help raise awareness about the environmental impact of everyday choices and promote eco-conscious practices. By combining innovation, community empowerment, and climate action, the Step Green Initiative is walking toward a cleaner, more equitable future — one step at a time.
Purnima Kabir, Brick-to-Block Transition Hub
Brick-to-Block Transition Hub (B2B-TH) is a youth-led initiative in Sreepur, Gazipur, Bangladesh, working to replace polluting brick kilns with cleaner, safer building practices. Traditional kilns burn coal and destroy fertile topsoil, harming both the environment and the health of workers. B2B-TH introduces Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks — a low-emission, unfired alternative — and trains kiln workers in this sustainable technology. The project centers both environmental restoration and worker wellbeing, offering hands-on training and a pathway to safer livelihoods. The team will produce sample blocks, gather impact data, and build momentum toward a permanent hub for green construction. By combining climate action with care for frontline communities, B2B-TH is laying the foundation for a more just and sustainable future.
Sasha Gupta, Perfectly Imperfect
Perfectly Imperfect is a youth-led initiative in Marietta, United States, that rescues cosmetically imperfect produce from grocery stores and farms and redistributes it through reduced-price sales and donations. By challenging perceptions of what qualifies as “good” food, the project reduces waste and expands access to fresh produce. Partnering with organizations like PORCH Communities and local food banks, the team runs a twice-weekly pickup system, tracks rescued produce, and includes rotating educational info cards in each bag to raise awareness about food waste and sustainability. Through practical solutions and community engagement, Perfectly Imperfect empowers youth leadership and creates measurable environmental and social impact. It offers a scalable model for reducing food waste while inspiring deeper involvement in climate action.
Sidhi Sareen, Team Ecovisionaries, Youth Climate Innovation Network
Youth Climate Innovation Network (YCIN) is a global, youth-led platform that connects young innovators, creators, and activists with mentors, educators, and organizations. Through innovation challenges, project incubation, and community building, YCIN helps young people bring climate solutions to life. YCIN is a collective of youth responding to a world shaped by floods, fires, and decisions made without them. It’s for those who are done waiting for permission. The network meets young people where they are, offering guidance, resources, and space to move from concept to implementation — whether refining a local solution or building something global. Through collaboration, experimentation, and shared learning, YCIN supports climate action rooted in lived experience.
