Miami Beach, FL, March 3, 2023 – The climate leaders of tomorrow arrive in Miami Beach today for the third Future Leaders Climate Summit. The event, which takes place from March 3-6 ahead of Aspen Ideas: Climate, is organized by the Aspen Institute in partnership with the City of Miami Beach. Attendees, who are 18-30, hail from around the world and will spend the next three days engaged in discussions around climate policy, communications, advocacy, and individual action with climate and energy experts.
The summit is designed to offer young climate leaders the opportunity and access to networks and spaces that have historically excluded their voices. Their profiles can be viewed here. During panel discussions, workshops, and receptions, Future Leaders will explore topics such as impact storytelling, ocean action, environmental justice, social media for climate action, leadership development and career mapping, civic activism, and more.
“Climate change is a crisis that affects all of us, but no group stands to be more impacted than young people. They deserve our support,” said Nikki DeVignes, Director of the Future Leaders Initiative at the Aspen Institute. “The Future Leaders Climate Summit brings together individuals from around the world who are on the front lines of climate solutions, providing a unique opportunity to build networks, engage on the issues, and develop the skills required to lead us into a more sustainable future.”
Participants will engage with climate leaders across a spectrum of topics and backgrounds, including Climate Cardinals Executive Director Sophia Kianni; Florida State House Representative Anna Eskaman; American Conservation Coalition founder Benji Backer; WPLG 10 News Anchor Louis Aguirre; climate creators Isaias Hernandez (QueerBrownVegan), Abbie Richards, Kristy Drutman (Browngirl Green), and Alaina Wood (The Garbage Queen); Miami-Dade Artist-in-Residence Xavier Cortada; National Geographic Storytellers Lisa Lytton and Erika Larsen; Miami-Dade County Commissioners Eileen Higgins and Danielle Cohen Higgins; Aspen Institute leaders including Greg Gershuny, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Energy & Environment Program, and more. They will also hear a message from Representative Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z member of congress.
Following the summit, Future Leaders will remain in Miami Beach to attend Aspen Ideas: Climate from March 6-9, joining thousands of attendees and hundreds of speakers including Vice President Kamala Harris, Science Educator Bill Nye, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Singer-Songwriter Gloria Estefan, U.N. Special Adviser to Secretary-General on Climate Action Selwin Charles Hart, and many more.
The third summit expands upon the success of the 2022 summit, which took place during the inaugural Aspen Ideas: Climate with 100 Future Leaders taking part. A participant from last year, Julian Cauzae, recently wrote a commentary in the Miami Herald recounting his experience and emphasizing that Gen Z view climate change as a critical issue facing the world today.
For media: The Future Leaders Climate Summit takes place in the Miami Beach Convention Center. If you are interested in attending any of the summit, speaking to organizers or Future Leaders, or would like to review an agenda, please contact Clarke.Williams@aspeninstitute.org.