Mishka Caldwell-Pichette
2024 Youth Climate Activism Award - Essay Entry
Mishka is a 19 year old climate activist from Quebec. Her original essay is in French and if you’d like to view it in it’s original format here’s the PDF (or use our on page translator on the bottom right of this screen).
I live in Rouyn-Noranda, a city of 45,000 inhabitants more than 600 km from Montreal, the “big city.” Although it is not impossible to get involved and become aware of issues when living in less diverse areas with fewer people supporting various causes, it is more difficult.
At the beginning of my adolescence, I thought that the environment was not a cause for me because I was not in the streets of Montreal with thousands of other people. A few years later, I realized that my engagement would be different, that it had to reflect who I am; I dared and continue to do so.
I participated in citizenship schools at the Institut du Nouveau Monde, where climate, environmental, and justice issues were discussed. I told myself that I could be part of this movement; I joined the youth advisory committee JEUNESSE22 at Lab22, a laboratory for socio-ecological transition that actively works with young people.
Within this committee, I was able to meet other young people with values similar to mine and be inspired by their local actions and critical thinking on these issues. As a group, we created environmentally-themed podcasts—I co-hosted one on ecofeminism—and we produced two zines aimed at raising awareness and inspiring anyone who would read them.
Photo courtesy AQOCI website.
In December 2022, I participated in COP15 in Montreal, as well as the preceding youth summit, with a youth delegation from LOJIQ. We discussed with decision-makers and occupied some spaces, but I mainly learned a lot about the necessity of linking biodiversity protection to ecological transition, as well as the intersectionality of causes. The climate crisis is not just a climate issue: it is a social, economic, and political issue.
Due to my various engagements and as a young person, I was invited to give an opening speech at the 2023 Quebec Summit on Circular Economy by RECYC-QUÉBEC. In front of a room of professionals, my speech emphasized the importance of producing and consuming less, while connecting the environmental crisis to capitalism, individualism, patriarchy, and colonialism.
Mishka Caldwell-Pichette recognizes her luck in being able to participate in this major international event at just 19 years old. Photo Courtesy of Le Citoyen Val d'Or - Amos.
I have definitely continued to engage—and still do—up to participating in COP28 in Dubai with a delegation of young Quebec women with AQOCI. We all learned and unlearned a lot, broadened our perspectives, and put pressure on several Canadian and Quebec decision-makers (ministers and spokespersons in environment and economy). It was an extremely enriching experience, but also frustrating and shocking; the transition must be just, rapid, and complete, which was not everyone's vision.
As a young white woman, I have tried—and still try—to use my voice to advocate for climate justice for those who lack the means but need it the most; I also met many inspiring people who gave me the energy to continue my fight.
As part of the submissions application we asked participants to answer these 3 questions in addition to their essay or video.
What future goals do you have around your environmental and climate work, and do you have any future projects in mind?
I want to continue my fight for climate justice and continue learning about how to make it more inclusive and global. Personally, my environmental and climate work is mostly in youth groups and events, but it also has an international side, as I have taken part in COP15 (UN biodiversity conference in Montreal) and COP28 (UN climate conference in Dubaï). Through my different actions and participations, I have learned, unlearned and relearned a lot and continue to be critic, while becoming more and more radical.
In a close future, I would like to work with more youth for Quebec and from my region, Abitibi-Témiscamingue; its reality makes it hard for younger people to take part in activities, events and global movements for the environment and climate. I really want to empower teenagers with an interest regarding the climate crisis; I want to give them tools and opportunities that I was able to jump on since I have been 15, which helped me do so much more environment work.
The climate crisis and the road to climate justice is something we all have to work towards, in our own way and as much as we can.
If you could share with us one message of hope for our planet, what would it be?
Planet Earth is amazing and it is our home, people coming together to demand justice and protection for it is beautiful. It might not be quick and easy, but we will get there together, being hopeful, optimistic and sticking together. Community is important, no matter where we find it; it is even more important in times of crisis, no matter how big the crisis is. Without letting the younger generations find all the solutions to the climate crisis, we have so much to bring to the table and to question. Our voices must be heard!
Who or what inspires you to work on climate change?
A lot of people I met through events or groups on environment and climate crisis. I had an interest in the matter, enough to get me started, but to see so many people I learned to love also fight and put energy in their climate work inspires me so much more. Every marginalized community most affected by this crisis (Indigenous communities, global South communities, women, etc.) I met are also inspirations; I have the privilege to fight, they have the need to fight. I have a lot to learn from them and I must use my voice to help them.
I will also say seeing progress, even if it is just a little at a time, helps me stay motivated, wether it's a discussion with friends, family or politicians, an article, a new project, a speech, young climate activists, etc..